Well, Peter, if you're fighting the Italocentric nature of the hobby, it's a losing battle. I know I've been losing that battle for almost 10 years. So we'll be unlikely to get another French jersey out of Alex - just glad I preordered two of the Peugeots/BP's.
Some days I don't even have the energy to fight it, for example I'm just finishing up sorting out the recently acquired pink Torpado.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
"P.C. Kohler" <kohl57@starpower.net> wrote:
> I'd love to have a Mercier jersey. The link Chuck S. has, "Trad-Tex" has
one, so I will pursue that. I have been told Alex at Vintage Velos won't
"do" French. Too Bad.
>
> Ron Gurth
"Won't do French?" Hmmm.... I guess he explains the Peugeot-BP jersey by the fact Eddy wore it for a few seasons, then. It's one of their best sellers so maybe that's why. It of course would have nothing to do with the fact that Peugeot c. 1965-1975 was one of the great cycle teams of all time.
I've long since given up understanding or even appreciating the overwhelming Italocentric quality of classic lightweight cycling. And I say that having grown up with a dad who collected Alfa Romeos (seven in all!) and having an intense interest in other things Italian and speaking the language a fair bit. And owning and absolutely loving a 1973 Cinelli SC for the past year. What's not to like about anything Italian?
But you gotta really put the blinkers on if you're excluding France, of all countries, in the equation. Amazing, really. These are the people that call it the TdF so they don't have to use the word. I am pretty sure Coppi, Bartali ecc. rode to victory with Simplex derailleurs. But someone will tell me they were really designed by Italians and secretly made there.
So, yep, you wanna buy some classic FRENCH wool jerseys... go to TradTex. Which is, of course, a German company. Go figure.
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA