> It was my folly to buy an old Peugeot frameset on ebay that had been
> stripped of its rare early French aluminum bits, then attempt to piece
> it together into a roughly period-correct French bike using parts I
> bought on ebay and from members of this list. I don't know why I did
> it, but the allure of Daniel Rebour drawings, Simplex bike parts, a
> very generous helping of French patina and a bit of unobtanium lust
> were involved. People I admired, admired old French bikes. I imagined
> myself building this bike, riding it to the cafe, smoking a Gauloise
> (I don't smoke) and making eyes at the pretty filles. (I'm married.)
> I'd throw a stern French intellectual book in the hand-stitched seat
> bag and ride through the bright Provençal sun back to my meager
> garret, all the while thinking of my next great cycling adventure. I'm
> making all this up. I'm too young to even remember when this bike was
> in new or in style, or even when it was old-yet-still-useful. I got
> the idea of it in received wisdom, mostly from this list. I blame you
> all.
These parts are all for sale on ebay now, please see:
...or search for seller fletchermbike.
The parts for auction are from the 1950s through 1970s and are comprised of Peugeot, Simplex, Mafac, Lyotard, Huret, Cyclo, Milremo, Stronglight, Atax and GB.
"Everything's a dollar in this box." - Tom Waits, "Soldier's Things"
Morgan Fletcher
Oakland, CA