Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 21:33:56 -0700 (PDT) From: Fred Rafael Rednor <fred_rednor@yahoo.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: Gitane vs Peugeot, was Re: [CR]question about peugeots, px-10's
> When are we going to hear from the Mercier > and Lejeune camps? Peter, What do you want to hear about LeJeune? That the correct spelling is LeJeune? That the LeJeune frames were made "somewhere in France" and shipped to the "factory" in Maisons-Alfort for paint and assembly? That sometimes the details were a bit rough, although the overall appearance was very appealling? That despite the rough paint, the ride/geometry was always spot on? That after reading "A Year In The Merde" (please see my other email) I finally understand my visit to LeJeune in 1983? Please forgive me, Peter, I couldn't control myself. I love those LeJeunes - and I own two of them - but I have no illusions about them. I'll tell you this, though. I still race a circa 1976 LeJeune track bike and rode 10 laps (30 miles) on it the other day at Hains Point in D.C. It actually is quite a comfortable bicycle. Cheers, Fred Rednor - Arlington Virginia (USA)
I also think LeJeunes are special bikes. I've owned two, and despite the sometimes iffy paint and decals (like so many bikes had back then anyways), they are just "right" in many ways, and the workmanship is pretty good, IMO. My current one is a circa 1972 CdM (red, of course...) with the trademark seat cluster and stay treatments, plus that funky little brazed-on loop for the rear derailleur cable housing on the seatstay - gotta love that!
Greg "a tout a l'heure" Parker Ann Arbor, Michigan (where it is still no longer 95 degrees F - yes!)