[CR] Flandria & Superia road bikes - where are they?

(Example: Framebuilders:Tony Beek)

From: "Bob Hanson" <theonetrueBob@webtv.net>
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 23:32:24 -0600
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR] Flandria & Superia road bikes - where are they?


David,

I have a small catalog (6-1/4"x 8-1/2"), printed in Belgium but written in English and apparently intended for the US market, it mentions the US distributor and gives contact info. It is undated, but it mentions "75 years of technology..." if that's any help. I would guess c.1970 (?). It also briefly mentions their motorcycle and lawn mower divisions.

The bikes shown are mainly childrens bikes - from Stingray/Chopper types to miniature juvie road bikes,... then a 24" tire 10-spd racer (for ages 8-11),... a folding bike,... 3-speed roadsters... an exercise bike... 10 spd Mixte frames and standard frames.

Finally, on the last page - the one just after the Jerseys, hats, water bottles and touch-up paint adverts, there is eventually mention of the more serious bikes:

"Professional":

F12-10: 10-speed derailleur with 27" x 1 1/4" tire F12-D10: 10-speed deraolleur with sew-up tires

"This model is a big step up from the F11 series, equipped with: cotterless cranks and alloy rims, Campagnolo frame and fork tips. This is the first step up to long range touring and racing. Quick release hubs and center-pull brakes. Available in 21" - 23" - 25" frames."

"Competition":

F13-D13: "fully equipped with Campagnolo components. A replica of the bicycle of champions, built with Reynolds 531 Tubing. The frame is hand-finished to perfection. Equipped with Campagnolo components all the way. frame sizes 21" - 25". Special order forms available. Colors: red, black, green." ................

So, basically David they were selling garbage to the US market. The last model mentioned above was the "Good" bike, but it sounds like you'd really have to special order this one, and who knows where they would actually source it from.

Yes, a great disappointment for me to discover, as well. I think the company was interested in simply offering nothing more than standard Schwinn-level bikes for export to the US. Probably just the low-end family bikes they assumed we wanted.

I only hope there were some of their top level bikes produced and sold in Belgium, at least.

Bob Hanson Albuquerque, New Mexico

-------------------------- David Patrick wrote:

I am a bit miffed in that I've been watching various Belgian sales/auction sites for 3+ years now to see if any Flandria and/or Superia top-of-the-line road bikes turn up for sale, and not one bike or frame has appeared.

Both Flandria & Superia sponsored major pro teams for many years and, to my knowledge, built their high-end team bikes in-house. Merckx was on the Superia team at one point and Freddy Maertens was on the Flandria team for many years, among many other well-known and successful pro riders. I know Flandria was basically an industrial conglomerate, also manufacturing & mktg a line of motorcycles, washing machines, clothes washers & dryers and I think home heating furnaces. Superia was a split-off company from Flandria, as the two brothers who ran Flandria had a falling out and legend has it that they split a Flandria factory in half, with one brother then starting Superia in the other part of the building.

But where are their high-end road bikes? Were they ever imported into the U.S.? Or were the pro teams basically just used to promote each company and it's numerous products, and high-end bikes were never really a focus of either Flandria and/or Superia? I am just really surprised that I have seen absolutely no such items for sale in Belgium.

Any comments? Any sightings? Any catalogs out there? Your consideration is appreciated & thanks.

Dave Patrick
Chelsea, Michigan