[CR]Dilecta photos for your viewing

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

From: "Bob Hanson" <theonetrueBob@webtv.net>
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2006 16:01:30 -0700
To: wheelman@nac.net
Subject: [CR]Dilecta photos for your viewing
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Ray,

Many thanks for sharing the great photos... I Hate You! [just kidding] - I meant to say, I truly LOVE that bike.

When I saw the photo of the Stem

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/wheelman_nj/detail?.dir=48f7re2&.dnm=457dre2.jpg&.src=ph

I was reminded of the stem on my old Helyett Speciale track bike [now,sadly, moved on] and wondered if yours was also a model 37 "adjustable" - on my track bike, of course, the clamp was dropped down. The red enamel blaze in the cutout was the give way. Sure enough, I checked your prior archived posts, and Philippe it is. Perhaps the one thing the French over-chromed so excessively and well that they now often do still survive intact.

The cranks chainrings and even the Lyotard mod.460 pedals...

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/wheelman_nj/detail?.dir=48f7re2&.dnm=4d8dre2.jpg&.src=ph

they might be something plucked from one of my own bikes - and not necessarily a French bike. I just love the components and the entire setup.

And, that "nib" on the pedal near the crank arm does a fine job of preventing shoe-rub damage to the cranks; had more makers incorporated something like that on far more pedals, and we'd not be seeing so many severely gouged Campy crank arms today.

I noticed you settled on what appears to be perhaps a Huret Jubilee front derailleur. I'm afraid I can't help suggest what may have been correct, but I would not be very concerned about it for now. To be honest, when lacking the a "correct" front changer on one of my own bikes, I will generally opt during the interim for an even more implausible choice; I favor the Dura-Ace 7400 series - 7 or 8-speed models - essentially because they have very little noticeable makers logos or scribblings cluttering them up and they offer a very shiny chromed cage and such a seek profile that they tend to draw very little attention directly to that piece itself (well, in my opinion).

Personally, were it my bike, I'd use the adjustable stem just to experiment with finding your ideal extension length on the bike, and then begin a quest for another French stem. One with a similar top-nut expander bolt, but in alloy. Those steel Philippes probably weighed as much as an alloy stem and a loaded handlebar bag combined.

Again, a really stunning bike!

Enjoy!

Bob Hanson Albuquerque, NM USA

------------------------------ Ray Homiski submitted:

Back in October I reported to this list that I bagged a Dilecta randoneur bicycle at the T-town antique swap which was a week before the road swap meet. I spent some time cleaning it up, changing out the Suntour front derailleur for something French and also changing out the Weinman brake levers in favor of Mafac to match the cantilevers already in place. It turned out pretty nice so here are some photos for you to look at. I took it out for a ride but do not have proper old leather cycling shoes so the heel of my foot kept hitting the rear derailleur hanger.

A couple of weeks ago Mike Schmidt and I went for a favorite ride along the canal in Millstone NJ. I brought this bike and Mike brought a Alex Singer. We swapped bikes at the beginning of the ride so I did not have to worry about the hanger problem. Mike can give a better review of the ride than I can at this point. I know the Singer rode beautifully but that is another story for another time.

Other than changing those two items out the bike is equipped just as I purchased it. I believe it to be mid 50s to early 60s. It is a neat bike to look at but unfortunatly it is not my size. Still a good addition to my collection.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/wheelman_nj/album?.dir=48f7re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ