[CR]What is the quickest way to tell if a bike is French?

(Example: Framebuilders:Norman Taylor)

Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 20:06:27 -0800 (PST)
From: "Don Wilson" <dcwilson3@yahoo.com>
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]What is the quickest way to tell if a bike is French?

Still plugging on my mystery bike. Several persuasive guesses of a British bike, likely a Raleigh. But, it has Stronglight 93 cranks, a Strong seat post, an Ideale Peau-Mousse seat, Mafac Racer brakes and an Ava alloy stem (Allen head fastener for tightening in head set). Plus it feels possibly French now that I've ridden it with a decent pair of Mavics that let one feel the frame/fork work. The seat post is about 27.5 mm. My caliper is not state of the art. Again, it weighs and plinks like butted tubing. How can one tell, short of pulling the cranks from the bottom bracket and checking the threading? I'd like not to.

Still investigating...

Don Wilson Los Olivos, CA

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