[CR] FOR SALE: super cool 1950s Stella Randonneur bike LOOK!

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PX-10LE)

From: "Charles Andrews" <chasds@mindspring.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 17:06:56 -0700
Subject: [CR] FOR SALE: super cool 1950s Stella Randonneur bike LOOK!


For sale is this Stella Randonneur bike, probably from the late 1950s, but hard to tell exactly. 57cm c-t seat; 56cm c-c top. Has some very trick features, including the flat-rail aluminum cage Pearl saddle in good shape; shellac'ed cloth bar-tape. Matching OEM fenders, racks, and lights with generator. Lights do not work, but may just need new bulbs. 650b wheels with nice michelin tires, note the mafac canti brake levers, Huret suicide front shifter, Le Cyclo rear derailleur with 4-speed cluster. Pretty gothic-style Stella graphics on the down-tube are faded but completely intact. Note normandy hubs with nice matching-all-around Huret brass wingnuts, and the lovely Stella headbadge.

Picture link below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21078245@N03/sets/72157624136715175/

Everything works! derailleur shifts well with the chain on the big chain-ring, not so well on the inner ring, as crank spider is slightly out-of-true, could be easily fixed with a bit of judicious cold-setting. Recently I thought the chain and derailleur were incompatible, but I was wrong, the derailleur mounting cage just needed a bit of adjustment to align the derailleur cage with the freewheel. Now it runs and shifts like a charm. The Cyclo is famous as one of the finest-shifting derailleur systems ever made, and it's true. It is.

OEM racks are adjustable, with some cleaning and lubrication.

This is a complete and original artifact from over 50 years ago, straight from Paris a few years ago, where it was used regularly by its former owner for many years...it's ready to be the perfect go-get-coffee-and-groceries bike. There is some soiling and corrosion, and the usual wear here and there, but a bit of time with a toothbrush, cleaner, and a rag and scotchbright used carefully and you'll have it glistening.

The spokes have some corrosion on them but are holding up so far. They can be cleaned up, with care. The rear wheel is out-of true, but could be trued up fairly well I think.

It's a bike that'll reward some careful cleaning and adjustment with constant compliments. I did some preliminary clean-up on it to make sure it would clean up nicely, and it will. I didn't want to remove all that nice Parisian grime after all...better you do it and leave what you want {g}

The shellac'ed bar tape worked out very well too, quite nice looking and feeling and should last virtually forever.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21078245@N03/sets/72157624136715175/

$799 shipped in CONUS. Or make me an offer. I"m selling this at a loss at this price. I will deliver within 100 miles of Los Angeles for a modest fee.

LOCALS! If you pick up the bike, price is $675!!.

Charles Andrews Los Angeles

"Somebody has to be tireless... or the fast buck operators would asphalt the entire coast, fill every bay and slay every living thing incapable of carrying a wallet."

--John D. MacDonald