Unknown frame (french?)

[Battersby]

I've just spent more than I should have on this.

Vintage c.1980's Rare French Randonneur Audax Bicycle Frame Singer Herse Vitus | eBay

From the 1980's (I think) built with Vitus tubing and SuperVitus dropouts. These cannot be combined by them. Typical of French build design. Top Tube: 22" ctc. Seat Tube: 22.5" ctt. Simple, functional with nothing superfluous.

www.ebay.co.uk

It had all the details on it I've been looking for. Guess no one has any idea of a builder? Either way it will be off to the painters to me sprayed in either eggshell blue or purple.

 

[grantoury]

Looks well built. Those dropouts remind me of Jo Routens, but the rest less so.

@Guinessisgoodforyou @Woz

 

[Woz]

That looks very well built and will make a great project. Simplex gear lever bosses if you don't know already.

Won't be easy to ID this since it's very probably custom hand built even though there are a few distinctive features.

 

[Battersby]

That looks very well built and will make a great project. Simplex gear lever bosses if you don't know already.

Won't be easy to ID this since it's very probably custom hand built even though there are a few distinctive features.

I did notice the bosses. From what I can read the band on simplex retrofrictions should work?

 

[Woz]

I'll dump these here to help your research - just a quick scan for bikes with some similar features but I have not dug deeper:

https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2475255776.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2463348396.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2462657439.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2472340009.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2475893973.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2454297574.htm

 

[Battersby]

I'll dump these here to help your research - just a quick scan for bikes with some similar features but I have not dug deeper:

https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2475255776.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2463348396.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2462657439.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2472340009.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2475893973.htm
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2454297574.htm

Maybe Jean Valero? Frame number stamping looks the same and so do quite a few features.

Jean VALERO Montpellier - Forum Tonton Vélo

 

[Woz]

I did notice the bosses. From what I can read the band on simplex retrofrictions should work?

My understanding is the levers were available for French and Italian frames. The band is probably just the French Simplex boss in reality.

A good read here.

https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_components/simplex-retrofriction-levers/

Roll a dice, and perhaps an older Huret will fit too.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I saw that myself. No idea of the builder as it has quite a few common features with a few constucteurs.

 

[Woz]

- Indeed, Jean Valero looks close. The internal top tube routing looks similar on this:

https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2346224956.htm

 

[Battersby]

- Indeed, Jean Valero looks close. The internal top tube routing looks similar on this:

https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/2346224956.htm

Jean Valero (Montpellier) : Randonneuse 650B de Robert - Forum Tonton Vélo

This has very similar features as well!