Happy New Year to all.
I've just posted twenty-five photos of my 1977 Rene Andre Randonneur on my Flickr site. For those Francophiles amongst us, this bike will show how the famous randonneur shape had evolved over a period of forty years or so since Andre Reiss (Reyhand) set the standard. Obviously others such as Berthoud, J-P Routens, J-M Duret have carried the flame on from the end of the 70s.
Very very little is known about this particular builder except that he was riding with the greatest sportifs in the 30s, is thought to have contributed as a frame-builder of some of Fletcher's top Special CNC frames, as well as building for Maury and Camille Dardenne. Fred Delong described him in one of his 1970s books as one of the finest French constructeurs.
The bike shown was ordered on the 31 December 1976 and handed over to M Deflaceliere, the proud new owner on the 17th April 1977. I find it interesting that the builder's diagram shows only one measurement - that of the length of the seat-tube. Obviously French customers have ultimate faith in their chosen builder's design skills and competence. Now..that's the sort of customer I prefer.
Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/
Coming shortly to a Flickr site near YOU- my latest acquisition - an ANGLO-FRANCO-ITALIANO Stallion of a frame...yes..that's just the frame. Prizes will not be awarded for anyone guessing where it really was built due to the British government having just increased tax rises allround..and cuts elsewhere in our incomes. Next UP after that..So who actually built Jacques Anquetil's personal frames?
Norris Lockley
Settle UK