Castorama Raliegh??

Matt_wood55 · Aug 17, 2011

I bought this bike a couple of weeks ago knowing that it was not a Raleigh, but not knowing what it really was (nor did the owner). Turns out it's a Vitus, but I am not sure which model.

Note that the seat tube has been shaped to reduce wheel base. The tub would be rubbing the tubing if it weren't like this (vertical drop outs also)

Anyone have any idea exactly what it is??

Cheers

DxMachina · Aug 17, 2011

looks like it was designed for 650a / 650b wheels and been refitted with 700Cs - no way it can have been designed like that surely.....?

**not an expert**

edit to add
Vedett'Email is a french metalworking company. Maybe some sort of skunkworks job done by one of their employees...

Ivo · Aug 18, 2011

It can certainly be designed for 700c wheels. Frames especially made for criteriums were that short. Sometimes the seattube was dented to make space for the rear tyre, as with this frame.
In the pro-world it was quite normal that the bikes were built by someone else and resprayed in the colours of the bike-sponsor.

KermitGKona88 · Aug 18, 2011

The Criterium theory would stand up well as the frame only has 1 set of bottle mounts most stage frames would have 2

Matt_wood55 · Aug 20, 2011

Hi

Forgot to mention - the sticker on the top tube has the name Rene Gendron. Has anyone ever heard of him?

Rides like a dream by the way. Not sure what grade tubing, but feels great.

Matt

Castorama Raliegh??

Matt_wood55

Senior Retro Guru

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