> It seems like once a vintage French bike that requires those sorts of
> components the Japanese collectors covet gets parted out, it almost makes
> better sense to pitch the frame into a dumpster than to try to do anything
> halfway correct with it.
I must disagree of course. In a day or two you can put together a mid-70's french build kit using Normandy sport or comp wheels with mavic rims, Simplex SX410 mechs, and maybe an SR-royal (copy of simplex) seatpost for $150 - $200. You can even get a NOS ideale 2001 seat from mel pinto or whatnot. The stronglight 93 crank would be the most expensive part (hint : buy it with french thread and get greg parker's NOS atom 700 pedals to save $$$).
Your 1962 bike instantly becomes a 1980 bike updated for racing, its still 100% french, and the pretty girls will look at you at the local cafe like you're a young hunk on a 1980 bike, not an old fart on a 1962 bike (flame-retardant suit : activated!)
It's a darned shame to waste ANY nice frameset ...
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA