Recent content by gavr

I think that's right. These big companies were being driven by the bean counters and they were always under pressure to cut costs.

Suit yourself! If it's the first you've heard of it, how do you know it's rubbish? "French bicycles were produced in numbers so large that quality control became an issue and parts were often substituted, swapped, or otherwise thrown together to meet high production demands, sometimes resulting...

The QC was said to be a bit variable, there's no doubt that some shoddy frames got through, even at the high end.

Re: Dave has shut up shop and the business has been wound up. I thought he died but I'm assured not...

Re: Sorry it's not mine and I'm not commenting. As I said, the information is all in the two threads

I have but it's parted up. Want it? Send me a pm. Id sell the parts too but they're quite rare now in that condition. The frame has a few minor dents which I didn't bother fill and it was a little rusty but it was inspected and resprayed at Bob Jackson, to stabilise it as much as anything else.

I don't think I should comment because it's not mine. The information is all in the build thread - follow the link in the first post

Re: That's not good

Re: Occasionally! I had to move the bike on though.

Try the distributor if you've not already done so https://www.veloduo.co.uk/collections/velo-orange

I used Sun CR18s on mine - SJS sells them in a choice of drillings. There's not much choice in tyres though.

Re: The tube is just to help keep bits of crud / rust out of the bearings. Not strictly necessary, no

Re: I have the HCW 11. It's very thin, so if that's seized I think you'd have a problem. If it's not seized a normal pin spanner might work but I'd try a drift and a few sharp taps first

Great write-up Ray - especially the safety notes (my neighbour once poured CS down a sink full of hot water and ended up in A&E). It's a tough job indeed freeing a seatpost, nice one ;-)

Now gone :cry: