While riding (or walking) Paris streets, one encounters bikes not normally (if ever) seen in the United States, even in New York. In the 11th Arrondissement, a lively area between the Place de la Bastille and Place de la Republique, I spotted this:
I had a difficult time photographing the whole bike because it was so closely parked. Nontheless, I got to see the tidy lugwork and worn but tasteful paint job. The only identifying mark I could find was the "S" on the head tube, so I don't know its provenance. Somehow I don't think the frame is from a constructeur, as nicely done as it is. Perhaps seeing such basic equipment, such as a long-cage Huret Eco derailleur (not the Duopar; this one was almost never exported to the US) and a lower-end swaged triple crankset (from Nervar or Solida, perhaps), prejudiced my judgment.
.jpg)
What I couldn't help but to notice were some details one almost never sees on a bike in the US. One example is the front rack in the first photo. It, like the rear, is attached to the fender, in the manner of the constructeurs. I can't help but to think that rack was designed with panniers in mind.
I also loved the "guards" around the front and tail lights. Those, along with the fenders, rack and wide tires, show that this bike is meant to be ridden in all sorts of conditions.
The wheels are obviously not the originals: The hubs look like the sort found on basic-level repair wheels. I wonder whether this bike originally had a set of touring wheels with, say, Mavic MA3, Super Champion/Wolber 58 or Weinmann Concave rims and a nicer set of hubs--like the Maxicar?
.jpg)
Whatever the original intent purpose, and the provenance, of this bike may have been, it looks like a classic Parisienne!
