[CR] Re: Keep Only One

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

From: <Stronglight49@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:59:29 EDT
Subject: [CR] Re: Keep Only One
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


Only ONE! That's an evil thought.

I'd have to go with a current favorite... one I've been toying with lately: 1971 Motobecane "Le Champion". ... Double-butted 531 tubing with simple Prugnat Professional lugs, Campagnolo 1010 dropouts.

Photos here show it as currently built, and not intended to be even "period correct" although not too far off either:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stronglight/sets/72157604489762935/

Not fancy and not what I'd even consider a "Racing bike" - it has uncommonly generous clearances all around - even by later 1970s standards. This is exactly what I want in a bike these days. It now even has mudguards and will still accept even wider tires. It does simply everything I want a bike to do, and rides beautifully. I could even add a rack and it is sturdy enough to haul a fair bit of luggage without feeling a noticeable strain. Just rides smooth, smooth, smooth, even for long hours in the saddle. As an ONLY bike I'd probably switch over to TA Cyclotouriste chainrings with the existing Stronglight 49d crank arms, but everything else would likely remain the same.

I would say this bike compares closely to a 1969 Raleigh Professional ... (The White ones) with center-pulls, and more like the "International" than the later Italian-styled Professionals of the 70s.

BOB HANSON, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA

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