Re: [CR]Why the French component makers are gone

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 17:11:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: "scott davis" <francopedia@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Why the French component makers are gone
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <3D6D539B.1EBE791E@earthlink.net>


The French virtually owned the world bike market from entry-level to lower high end bikes such as Peugeot PX-10s until about the mid-70s. Weinmann and Universal were Mafac's only serious competition. Lyotard, Pivo Atom, Sedis, Simplex and Huret were standard equipment on virtually every entry-level derailleur bicycle. Campy's low end Valentino was a joke and the Record and NR equipment was reserved for high end models. Shimano and Suntour were seen as a low price alternative for dept. store bikes.

So in response to the question, why did the French bicycle industry die in the 70s and 80s? Answer: for the same reasons that nearly killed the US auto industry: 1. Arrogance 2. Failure to respond to the market. 3 Quality Control 4. Japanese Competition.

As a case in point, I worked for the retail division of Bauer Cycle Supply in the 1980s. Bauer distributed French Motobecane and Japanese Mariuishi bicycles.

When the French representatives for Motobecane asked about their bikes, we told them their brakes had safety issues,their saddles were uncomfortable and that their frames and rims were too delicate, they responded with "These are French bikes and that is how French bikes are." Conversely, we told the the Maruishi reps from Japan that their bikes were too heavy and that they needed to get rid of the funny handlebar tape, change to hip paint colors and chop off those giant pedal reflectors. They listened to our suggestions and made improvements.

Besides, virtually every Mariuishi built up without problems. While every Motobecane was a mechanical adventure. For example, rear wheels were often undished, forks out of alignment, paint scratched and rims bent, fixed cups loose, pedal holes w/out threads.....

Despite or maybe because of the quirks of the old French bikes, I love that stuff. Until the age of index, the French were the most innovative designers in the bike world. Their use of ornate nervex lugs and pin striping deliverd that final je ne se quois.. They revolutionalized the use of dural. Simplex's use of delrin--although not very durable-- was way ahead of their time. Until the record crankset arrived, TA and Stronglight were the best and lightest available. Stronglight also experimented with needle bearings in the 60s. Top spring derailleurs, originating in France are still utilized by modern Campy and Shimano designers.

Today, Trek and Cannondale are 2 of the most popular bike brands on the planet. What happen to all of the Japanese bikes? What goes around comes around. Jean Guy Scott Davis in St. Paul, MN


--- Chuck Schmidt wrote:


> Jan Heine wrote:
> >
> (cut)
> > Of course, Shimano took it one step further (Total
> integration - you
> > cannot substitute, whereas with Campy NR, you
> could), and almost did
> > Campy in! I am glad they recovered to their
> current strength.
>
> Shimano SIS (Shimano Integrated System) and
> Campagnolo Nuovo Record were
> different decades.
>
> The thing that hurt Campagnolo was trying to get
> their indexing
> C-Record, Croce, Chorus, etc. to work with all the
> different brands of
> freewheels available at the time instead of going to
> cassette. That and
> the mt. bike parts that were a disaster.
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> SoPas, SoCal
>
> .
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> Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
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