Gosh that's sweet!.... Thanks for sharing the unwrapping with us.
The proportions and details look perfect, nice fork offset, lowish bottom bracket, flat fork crown with epaulets... Oh yeah, quite a classic.
I know that this is a little thing, but the front of that Brooks Professional saddle has what I've come to see as a "French cut", showing the front of the frame and having a slight point at the bottom. Perfect.
Some big silk tubulars would be just dreamy on that bike.
Ed Braley
Falmouth, Maine
USA
Monde
> Yes...I succumbed to John Barron's "threats" and "saved" the NOS LeJeune
> Champ du Monde. I did bid on it when on eBay, but his reserve was too
> high for my budget. So I groveled and begged and pleaded and John and I
> made a compromise. The bike is a perfect complement to my French
> equipped Champ du Monde of the same vintage. There were some very
> minor issues and even though minor, John immediately offered to take the
> bike back.
>
> As I was out of town, I had the bike delivered to A-1 Bicycles in St
> Louis, owned by Ray Florman, Jr. When I did return, I went in to pick
> up the bike. I asked Ray if he would like me to open it there and
> before the sentence was finished, he was handing me a case cutter
> saying, "I want to see this thing!" I let Ray open it so I could
> document the event. This was a once in a lifetime thing for me and Ray
> said it brought back memories. Unfortunately my camera batteries died
> and my reserve batteries proved to be dead also. But there are a few
> pics to be shared.
>
> Pictures of the assembled bike are right out of the box. There is some
> work to be done to make it right, so it will be torn down and thoroughly
> cleaned and prepped. One interesting thing is the spoke holes in the
> hubs are all countersunk on the outer sides. Almost too much in my
> eyes. I also thought it interesting that the rims were the "lower end"
> Super Champions and not Competition, Arc en Ciel, Medaille d'Or or
> Italian make. Maybe the latter SC models came later, I do not know.
> The wheels will probably only be used for show, anyway as I am building
> some small flange Record hubs with Mavic Mod E rims for riding. The
> flutes on the cranks still show machining marks. My other NR/SR cranks
> are more finished in appearance. Brake cables from the factory are cut
> really short and are not soldered on the ends.The bike weighs in at just
> under 23 lbs. Not svelte, but light enough.
>
> I guess I will be in the market for a NOS or near NOS Cinelli bar to
> replace the scratched one on the bike.
>
> I am a happy camper. I am hoping to learn a bit of the story behind the
> bike...working on that. Pictures at the link below.
>
> http://www.wooljersey.com/
>
> --
> Lynn Travers
> Hazelwood, Missouri USA