While pedaling streets that straddle and crisscross the Brooklyn-Queens border, I came across this:
It looks like a decent bike, but the frame is obviously not custom or even the product of a small-volume builder. That is why it caught my eye: Rarely, if ever, are mass-produced mixte or women’s frames found in such a large size.
I tried, but couldn’t, determine its provenance. A couple of details, like the heart-shaped cutout in the seat lug, led me to think it’s Japanese because my old Nishiki had a similar detail. Also, the largest mass-produced diamond frame on a 700c-wheel bike—71 cm—was made, ironically, in Japan by Panasonic.
On the other hand, the shape of the twin laterals made me think of French bikes. Also, the only part that seems to be original—the Weinmann centerpull brakes—indicates a European bike of some sort.
I would love to know more about it—and how it ended up on Halsey Street by the Brooklyn-Queens birder.
It looks like a decent bike, but the frame is obviously not custom or even the product of a small-volume builder. That is why it caught my eye: Rarely, if ever, are mass-produced mixte or women’s frames found in such a large size.
I tried, but couldn’t, determine its provenance. A couple of details, like the heart-shaped cutout in the seat lug, led me to think it’s Japanese because my old Nishiki had a similar detail. Also, the largest mass-produced diamond frame on a 700c-wheel bike—71 cm—was made, ironically, in Japan by Panasonic.
On the other hand, the shape of the twin laterals made me think of French bikes. Also, the only part that seems to be original—the Weinmann centerpull brakes—indicates a European bike of some sort.
I would love to know more about it—and how it ended up on Halsey Street by the Brooklyn-Queens birder.
Very unusual to be sure. Somehow, i doubt that it's a Japanese bike; they tend to build few bikes over about 56cm, Panasonic notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteMy guess would be European origin. Libertas of Belgium comes to mind- i remember a young racer i saw back in the 70's whose stock Libertas was about a 70cm, and it wouldn't surprise me that Libertas would also have built tall mixtes. Without actually checking BB or headset threading though, its origin is just a blind guess.
Nice find!