At 11:18 PM -0800 11/20/09, john strizek wrote:
>Does anyone have any familiarity with a brand called; Rando Cycle?
>This may be a French brand. I am looking at a frame with with this
>stamped on the underside of the bottom bracket.
Rando-Cycles still exists. The brand is owned by a Greek-American, Monsieur Domela. Their bikes are geared toward expedition touring, rather than lightweight randonneuring. Last time I visited earlier this year, Domela told me they weren't making many bikes any longer, but preferred to import Surly Long-Haul Truckers instead.
If you are in Paris, it may be worth a visit. Next door is Rando-Boutique, who have a few nice old randonneur and racing bikes in the shop window. These include a Routens that we photographed for "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles" and a Labor "Tour de France" with single-sided attachment for both wheels, similar to the one in "The Competition Bicycle."
They are easy to reach by Metro.
Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
2116 Western Ave.
Seattle WA 98121
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com