French curiosity - 1983 Verdon

[bduc61]

Never seen this bike

a completely unknown maker - Verdon !

salvaged it as an historical curiosity
probably one of the first french attempt at MTB

dated thanks to the Maillard Helicomatic rear hub from 1983.

Not even cantis but Weinmann 900 central pull calipers
uninteresting Sachs Huret derailleur and Nervar crankset - lack the style of the duopar or TA triple !
Dia compe Levers and Sachs thumbshifter
but one interesting feature
somme very nice Ambrosio Alu rims - they are 37mm wide !
with very rare Wolber Soissons tanside tyres

I guess only the seatpost is non original - the Italia Touring is probably right

Never seen such long wheelbase :shock:

 

[mikee]

Very cool

Mike

 

[legrandefromage]

It looks like a 26" cruiser rather than an MTB?

http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=133633

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

Awesome vintage loveliness – classy!

 

[bduc61]

Re:

Hardly any info is to be found on this bike in France.
Luckily a UK Gitane Catalog mentions it in 1984

Bad luck that its the "budget" version of the Alpin, which had, a "fourche a plaquette" , Mafac cantis, same commands and wheels and better tubing for the frame
But I can't make out the derailleurs and crankset .
Maybe Suntour ARX in the back or a shimano ?
and the black crankset ?

 

[legrandefromage]

So its 1984 then?

 

[bduc61]

So its 1984 then?

we don't have the 83 catalog ! so no certainty about the definite year :|

 

[legrandefromage]

They would have been remarkably quick to bring an 'All Terrain' bike to the market ahead of or at the same time as Specialized. The Bullmoose bars are a clue as they would have been copied from the Ritchey bikes?

 

[bduc61]

They would have been remarkably quick to bring an 'All Terrain' bike to the market ahead of or at the same time as Specialized. The Bullmoose bars are a clue as they would have been copied from the Ritchey bikes?

spe first model was the stumpjumper in 81

quite possible for the "retarded" frenchies to launch something in 83 ?


I am checking in France about first availibility of this model - as it is possble that the hub was in the stock available so 83 manufactured :idea:

In the spe archive, the first catalog is unfortunately only 85

 

[themountie]

I have one of these but mine has the same label as yours but mine has Gitane on the down tube