Re: [CR]SMG Cycles

>
> The Lotus look-alike frame found by Robert Clair, but badged up and
> engrave
> d as an "SMG", is in fact of French origin.
> SMG was the brand name of the frames made by Jean Frelat, a constructeur,
> b
> ased at Pavillons-sous-Bois, just to the east of Paris. He was very well
> kn
> own in the late 70s and early 80s, a time when he built quite a lot of
> fram
> es for leading French amateur riders, on both road and track, who were
> from
> that general region of France. He also sponsored several French lady champ
> ions such as Isabelle Nicoloso and Valerie Simonet, both of them track
> ride
> rs. Valerie was the French sprint champion in 1981.
> Jean was quite an innovative builder, being well known for bronze-welded
> lu
> gless frames and internal routing of all cables.
> The frame that Robert has come across sounds as though it is the
> top-of-the
> -range SMG, called the SASEBO model. As such all the oval tubes - probabl
> y with rounded ends for easy use with lugs - oval stays and possibly fork
> b
> lades - would be from the AMR - Camus Aero 7 tube set. If the tubes are r
> egular aero section ie without tubular ends, then they will be Columbus
> Aer
> o ones. The frame will probably not have a rear chainstay bridge, to
> enable
> the rear wheel to be brought close to the seat tube.
> It's a long time since I saw this Frelat model but I think that the
> drop-ou
> ts were one of Frelat's patents, designed to enable the frame to have
> longe
> r and shorter wheelbases, depending on use. The CAMUS-tubed version was
> int
> ended for use in pursuit racing and the Columbus-tubed one for sprinting
> an
> d vitesse. As I recall he also had front fork drop-outs that gave a choice
> of two positions.
>
> SMGs are quite rare frames. ..and worth buying in.
>
> Hope that helps..
>
> Norris Lockley, Settle Uk
> Just what the origin of the SMG is, I never did find out=0A=0A=0A