"M. France" could refer to Manufrance, which is a spot in St. Etienne France, where a lot of bicycle manufacturing was made, back in the day (60's-70's).
Agreed, it looks very cool! But yeah, I’ve had the same experience with wide-ish flat bars on vintage ‘10-speeds’. Makes them slightly less twitchy with narrow bars, but they are what they are. Toe overlap looks pretty wicked on it too. Anyway, another fantastic video!
Thanks friend. I’m almost tempted to try a set of bullhorns… but I don’t think I’m feeling that ambitious about it. I’m enamored with 3 speeds at the Moment.
Love old french steel bikes, especially the lesser known ones with lugs like yours. nice job saving it from the scrap pile! I drove 6 hours once to buy a rusty 70s motobecane frame. yes, I did.. and I'd do it again!
@@EriebyCycle Entirely your decision,however I can tell you from experience in restoring French bicycles, it can get really pricey if you go down that rabbit hole.
@@xMrsmileyfacex I don't figure I'll be doing a proper restoration anytime soon. I'm not sure I want to sell it though. I'm interested, for the time being, in having a high end French bike that I don't know what to do with. I hope that makes sense. Like, I want to savor owning it for a minute before I decide to sell it. Any idea who make it?
@@EriebyCycle I'm not entirely sure. Roger Rivere could of been a factor in the production of this road bike. His name and likeness were also on a few Colnago's. He was a major French bike racing figure of the 60's and 70's. Still looking into it. The Nervex lugs are a huge tell tho. Is it French threaded? This frame has me intrigued.
Great video mate. So funny 😂 the tyres are close but still run 😅 hope the swap meets is epic and you sell the wheels and the frame. Don't care much for eclipse, the vampires are always out so I stay in doors with a juicey stake 😂👍
Cool looking bike! Rat Rod to the Max! What size tires did you fit? I have built up bikes that looked good, but didn't feel good to me. I consigned them at the bike shop, and would see some other person riding it, and loving it!
That looks a cool bike, shame it doesn't ride as you'd like. Making it 3 speed would be awesome. I'm chucking mine back to 3 speed after having another snapped chain derailleur fiasco.
@@EriebyCycle I've an Ali road frame heading my way which I might just give the 3 speed treatment to. If you read Sheldon Brown's website 3 speeds were all the rage back in the day, I thought it might be fun to throw one on a modernish frame.
Mornin' Josh! Somehow satisfying listening to the tire hairs grazing the brake. Any ideas on its twitchiness? Head tube and rake's looking relaxed to the point that they would just fight back against any steering input. Forty years ago, met this guy who was talking about how bikes just naturally want to go straight. He launched an old beater (riderless) across a slightly declined parking lot and it rolled a good 100 ft before finally tipping. Great video and as usual, you've delivered the perfect daystarter here, my friend. Incidentally, will be thinking of you as I try to cram a SRAM 11-36 cassette onto my Shimano equipped road bike this week in search of a few more hind teeth. Some super lumpy gravel riding's beckoning...
Hiya friend. No clue about the twitch. I made an old Nishiki Olympic into a single speed, crammed 700x38 tires in it, and used a straight riser bar only to find it to be one of the most pleasant bikes I own. It must be a geometry thing that I just don’t get. I’m woefully ignorant to those sorts of things. Best of luck with your gearing adventure, and thanks always for your kind words.
@@EriebyCycle if you catch up to "that far ahead" if you would let me know, and also the weight. So I can check with Pony Express, or Mr. Brown to see what a shipping charge might be. (I'm in NC).
I can see the discomfort. The saddle has a weird angle that doesn't line with the cockpit. The front end looks overly responsive like you said "twitchy" but damn it, it looks so cool. You did great on the build. Unfortunate it doesn't ride well. Cool addition to the fleet tho!! Happy Wednesday!
Hi friend. I seem to have a difficult time getting a saddle to be comfortable in a standard angle. I’m like the princess and the pea… I seem to either feel like I’m sliding out the front of the bike, or my bits are falling asleep. I will admit that I didn’t spend any time fussing around with this one. I rode it and hated it so that was it… and I’m quick running out of space for this stuff. Thanks a bunch! Happy Wednesday. Dreary and cold here today.
@EriebyCycle i seem to have the same problem too. I get better adjustments with the old seatpost bracket styles. At least it looks cool though. Lol! Yeah it's cold and ugly here too. High 30s. Flooding. But hey... did you hear about the Solar Eclipse? Lmao! I'm jkn. Who hasn't?!
@@billywood9717 I guess we’re in NASA top 10 places to view it. It’s over the top here. I’m glad people are hyped about it, but wish they’d tone it down a notch or two.
She may not look like much, but at least she's slow. If you build up a 3 speed you better use a Shimano.. something about an English or German hub in a French bike that seems unsavory.
Hahahahahaha!!!!! Well... I happen to have an abundance of English 3 speed hubs, and I'm sure I've been referred to as unsavory more than once. We'll see how it goes.
"M. France" could refer to Manufrance, which is a spot in St. Etienne France, where a lot of bicycle manufacturing was made, back in the day (60's-70's).
Hey!!! That’s great information! Many thanks!!!
Just a killer build!! Great stuff
Thank you so very much! Greatly appreciated!!!
Cool looking bike !! Have fun this weekend at your swap !
Thanks Chuck. All the best from the Great Lakes.
Well done
Thank you.
All the best from Lake Erie.
Agreed, it looks very cool! But yeah, I’ve had the same experience with wide-ish flat bars on vintage ‘10-speeds’. Makes them slightly less twitchy with narrow bars, but they are what they are. Toe overlap looks pretty wicked on it too. Anyway, another fantastic video!
Thanks friend. I’m almost tempted to try a set of bullhorns… but I don’t think I’m feeling that ambitious about it. I’m enamored with 3 speeds at the
Moment.
Love old french steel bikes, especially the lesser known ones with lugs like yours. nice job saving it from the scrap pile! I drove 6 hours once to buy a rusty 70s motobecane frame. yes, I did.. and I'd do it again!
There's something about the crusty ones I guess. 6 hours is dedication!!!
This bike is rad! Love the patina.
Thanks so very much!!!
cool bike, I really like the tire selection.
Thank you! Much appreciated.
Yep.. definitely a cool looking bike😎
Thanks so very much!!!
Nice save 👍
Thank you!
Cool. Your station is a treat. This bike deserves a little better treatment. Begin with tires. And bars..
Thanks for the kind words. I’m considering passing this on to someone who might enjoy it more than me.
Love the build! I would say it's a shame that you're tearing it down but it's not. French bikes never die, they just change form
Thanks friend. I'm becoming less, and less sure of what I'm going to do with it as I learn more, and more about it.
The fancy lugs you were talking about are called Nervex Lugs. You have a high end French racing bike.
Thank you very much! That's great information. Much appreciated. Maybe I better not sell it... even though it's trashed.
@@EriebyCycle Entirely your decision,however I can tell you from experience in restoring French bicycles, it can get really pricey if you go down that rabbit hole.
@@EriebyCycle are you looking to sell the frame?
@@xMrsmileyfacex I don't figure I'll be doing a proper restoration anytime soon. I'm not sure I want to sell it though. I'm interested, for the time being, in having a high end French bike that I don't know what to do with. I hope that makes sense. Like, I want to savor owning it for a minute before I decide to sell it. Any idea who make it?
@@EriebyCycle I'm not entirely sure. Roger Rivere could of been a factor in the production of this road bike. His name and likeness were also on a few Colnago's. He was a major French bike racing figure of the 60's and 70's. Still looking into it. The Nervex lugs are a huge tell tho. Is it French threaded? This frame has me intrigued.
Yes! Excellent build! Love the vintage to SS or fixie rigs- but French to me means funky threading? What’s the bottom bracket?
Believe it or not - it's standard thread.
I'm german and we have standard bsa and italian here in Europe. So maybe you mean italian, not french.
This is SICK. Great job! Do you have photos you can share? I'd love to tag it as a reference/inspiration for future bike builds. For the look!
Hey, thanks a bunch. Mighta put some photos on the instant gram. Can’t remember.
Great video mate. So funny 😂 the tyres are close but still run 😅 hope the swap meets is epic and you sell the wheels and the frame. Don't care much for eclipse, the vampires are always out so I stay in doors with a juicey stake 😂👍
Thanks pal!
Lol at the vampires!!!
Cool looking bike! Rat Rod to the Max! What size tires did you fit? I have built up bikes that looked good, but didn't feel good to me. I consigned them at the bike shop, and would see some other person riding it, and loving it!
Hi friend. Those are 700x38. I suspect this frame will go on to someone else sooner or later. I think I want to savor owning it for a minute first.
The Stem being Custom is likely a Nitto whereas the handlebar being a Concept was a Univega branded component.
Thank you. I've never had a Univega, I wonder where the heck I got that from... I appreciate the info.
Here in the U.K. Raleigh fitted Custom stems to some road bikes, no idea who made them though.
@@ashwaite8949 That’s good to know. I have a Raleigh Superbe project in the works at the moment. Thank you.
I'm a big fan of the rat bike look. Shiny parts on a rusty turd of a frame.
Me too.
Thanks a bunch.
That looks a cool bike, shame it doesn't ride as you'd like. Making it 3 speed would be awesome. I'm chucking mine back to 3 speed after having another snapped chain derailleur fiasco.
Thanks friend. I have some sort of strange love for three speeds that I don't understand.
@@EriebyCycle I've an Ali road frame heading my way which I might just give the 3 speed treatment to. If you read Sheldon Brown's website 3 speeds were all the rage back in the day, I thought it might be fun to throw one on a modernish frame.
@@Cobwobbler I support this idea 100 %.
Any of the old “customer” stems were generally made by Sakae
Great info! Thank you!
Mornin' Josh! Somehow satisfying listening to the tire hairs grazing the brake. Any ideas on its twitchiness? Head tube and rake's looking relaxed to the point that they would just fight back against any steering input. Forty years ago, met this guy who was talking about how bikes just naturally want to go straight. He launched an old beater (riderless) across a slightly declined parking lot and it rolled a good 100 ft before finally tipping.
Great video and as usual, you've delivered the perfect daystarter here, my friend. Incidentally, will be thinking of you as I try to cram a SRAM 11-36 cassette onto my Shimano equipped road bike this week in search of a few more hind teeth. Some super lumpy gravel riding's beckoning...
Hiya friend. No clue about the twitch. I made an old Nishiki Olympic into a single speed, crammed 700x38 tires in it, and used a straight riser bar only to find it to be one of the most pleasant bikes I own. It must be a geometry thing that I just don’t get. I’m woefully ignorant to those sorts of things.
Best of luck with your gearing adventure, and thanks always for your kind words.
What's your price on the frame and fork? I'm in NC.
I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.
@@EriebyCycle if you catch up to "that far ahead" if you would let me know, and also the weight. So I can check with Pony Express, or Mr. Brown to see what a shipping charge might be. (I'm in NC).
@@drpulpit I’d be delighted to.
Some tweaks will make you love this unit.😊
You might be right... never know what could happen.
Cool bike but I can relate.
I'll bet. It seems like the ones that look the least awesome are the ones I end up liking the best.
I'm not sure at all but maybe a longer stem would help the twitchiness
Maybe. But the risk is reach, and I'm not a fan of being all stretched out.
The vintage bikes last a long time
Yes they do.
Man. I was looking forward to riding my black single speed with you…until you said you hated the bike 😂😂😂😂
The Cobra Commuter is my go to single speed... it's still available for riding.
Double Agree on the "...the bike is awesome."
Thanks a bunch. I wish it rode as well as it looks.
I can see the discomfort. The saddle has a weird angle that doesn't line with the cockpit. The front end looks overly responsive like you said "twitchy" but damn it, it looks so cool. You did great on the build. Unfortunate it doesn't ride well. Cool addition to the fleet tho!!
Happy Wednesday!
Hi friend. I seem to have a difficult time getting a saddle to be comfortable in a standard angle. I’m like the princess and the pea… I seem to either feel like I’m sliding out the front of the bike, or my bits are falling asleep. I will admit that I didn’t spend any time fussing around with this one. I rode it and hated it so that was it… and I’m quick running out of space for this stuff.
Thanks a bunch! Happy Wednesday. Dreary and cold here today.
@EriebyCycle i seem to have the same problem too. I get better adjustments with the old seatpost bracket styles. At least it looks cool though. Lol!
Yeah it's cold and ugly here too. High 30s. Flooding. But hey... did you hear about the Solar Eclipse? Lmao! I'm jkn. Who hasn't?!
@@billywood9717 I guess we’re in NASA top 10 places to view it. It’s over the top here. I’m glad people are hyped about it, but wish they’d tone it down a notch or two.
She may not look like much, but at least she's slow. If you build up a 3 speed you better use a Shimano.. something about an English or German hub in a French bike that seems unsavory.
Hahahahahaha!!!!! Well... I happen to have an abundance of English 3 speed hubs, and I'm sure I've been referred to as unsavory more than once. We'll see how it goes.
little bit of dremel for shedding a good 2 mil at the front brake's eheh
Brilliant!!! Thanks for that!
M. France = Monsieur France, obvs
I was not briefed about that.
Cringe at the commentary…
This probably isn't the channel for you.
Thanks for stopping by though.