Don,
Singer is closed Tuesday mornings, too. Also, check for religious and school holidays, which can close shops on short notice. Most also are closed during lunch. Visit between 2 and 6 pm - the most likely time a shop will be open.
Rando-Cycles changed their hours, they now are closed Mondays like everybody else. Metro Porte de Vincennes. There are two shops - one a bike shop, the other the repair and frame building shop.
When calling a shop, ask for the closest Metro. And when you are there, try not to ask passers-by for information on finding it. The French custom means that they cannot say "I don't know" and are more likely to send you off in the wrong direction than not. And with Europe having no rhyme or reason to their street names, people know remarkably little on how to get places, even if they are two blocks from where they have lived all their lives. (In other words: prepare to get lost!)
The ride at Singer on Sundays is only for their club, and not huge by any means (5-15 riders). So make sure to ask whether it is OK to show up if you plan to. Also, they leave early - 8 am or thereabouts.
Overall, beyond the Singer shop, there isn't that much of interest left in Paris. Bicloune is nice, they sometimes have cool older bikes for sale. Otherwise, there aren't many shops at all - most have gone away, sadly.
Have fun!
--
Jan Heine, Seattle
Editor/Publisher
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
http://www.mindspring.com/
Hi, I'll visit Paris next week and from searching the archives, I put together a list of shops that I might want to see. I was wondering if anyone had additional suggestions, or any other information for someone interested in "Paris Bike Shop Touring" next month. My interest is 50-50 randonneuring and vintage ~10-speed lightweights.
Thanx in advance,
- Don Gillies San Diego, CA
================================ Cycles Alex SINGER 53, avenue Victor Hugo 92300 LEVALLOIS PERRET Tel. 01 47 37 42 14
If you are planning a visit to the SINGER shop in PARIS be aware that #1 they are closed on MONDAYS....... but huge SUNDAY AMs rides from shop, and it's closed in August like many shops.
================================ Rando Cycles (bikes) - Rando Boutique (accessories next door) 1 rue Fernand Foureau 75012 PARIS Tel. 01 40.01 03 08
(that's in the north-eastern part of the city, I think in the 19th arrondissement) http://www.rando-boutique.com Our shop open 10 am hours to 1 pm and 2pm to 7 pm is closed Wednesday and Sunday.
================================ La Maison du Velo - Paris 10* 11 rue Fenelon Tel. 01 42 81 24 72
Good "BOBish" bike shop in Paris: La Maison du V lo - near Gard du Nord train station.
================================ Bicloune - Paris 3* 93 bd de Beaumarchais Tel. 01 42 77 58 00
Near the Place de la Bastille. Bicloun is apparently the place for old bikes and old parts.
================================ Cycles Laurent 9 bd Voltaire, 11e, Tel. 01 47 00 27 47
Pros or owners of racing bikes frequent this shop.
================================
http://www.fattirebiketoursparis.com/
Bicycle Tours (in English) starting march 1st. American owned and operated.