I bought this frameset on eBay a year ago. The only markings in the bike are VALGAN and CHAMBORD - which would be the model, I assume. It is beautifully made in every way (except for the cheap French enamel) and the Super-Vitus 971 Extra Leggere frame & fork are a real delight to ride and quite light in weight at 5# 13oz (2.6 kilos) total for the 60cm frameset. Now, I'm just curious if anyone has ever come across this brand before.
I have checked through the CR archives, and there were a few comments around 2000-2001, and then again in 2004 as well. Nobody knew anything about the bikes. But, I was hoping that some clever researcher may have now stumbled across more data regarding the builder... or Importer... or even a shop which may have once sold these.
After examining everything about the bike for clues, I'm fairly convinced that it was, as someone suggested, a small No-Name contract builder who picked up the slack for one of the big St. Etienne companies... and then also built some for himself, too. Another thought I've had is that possibly a small French exporter had hoped to break into the US market for high-end bikes with their own moniker, and then just went bust. Or lastly, perhaps a small US importer or even a small bike shop had hoped to cash in on marketing a brand of their own. Unfortunately, this appears to date from the late 1970s, just when the French bike market was collapsing. But, these are just my speculations. No location for the builder or company or whoever produced or had even sold the bike originally.
In any case, I have some photos of the bike now which can be seen here:
http://community-2.webtv.net/
It is truly a delightful bike and was a fine bargain at $129 + $25 shipping for the frameset, including a Stronglight S-5 "Super-Competition" headset and "Competition" BB which seemed virtually unused... just like all of the Gold Mafac Comp.and Gold Super LJ components which the seller had parted out from the bike at the same time. And, yes, the rear SLJ derailleur sold for only $4 less than my frameset.
So, just to satisfy my curiosity, please do let me know if or where you may have seen one of these before - if at all.
Thanks Much folks!
Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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