Cool shop bike: Le Chemineau ladies bike

     I am excited about this edition. The bike I am sharing today is a Le Chemineau ladies bike and is easily one of my favorites in the shop. First, a little background on the marque. It was started by Joanny Panel and Claudius Bouilllier around 1911 in St. Etienne Loire, France The word Chemineau is an antiquated one meaning wanderer or vagrant. They established a patent on their derailleur system in 1912 and were advocates of derailleur use in bicycles. They operated until about 1958, and then disappeared. Le Chemineau were imported in the USA by only one man, James Armando. He was a former Olympic racer who lived in Hartford, Connecticut.
     The bike has the proprietary derailleur system and early index shifter. It functions well. 650B demi balloon tires on early Mavic rims laced to Prior high flange hubs. Easily one of the most beautiful hub sets ever produced, in my opinion. Le fol alloy fenders, the rear fender has a platform built into it for carrying items with two leather straps, very rare. Ideale saddle. Simplex rod operated front derailleur. a really cool feature is the chain oiler below the front derailleur. The spout is not there, but basically oil was in the seat tube and when you turned the spout down, you could oil the chain. These have been on a couple of  Le Chemineau bikes I have seen. Modified front chainguard is attached to the frame. Neat little chain slap protector on the chain stay. Early Zefal pump is attached via brazed on pump pegs on the back of the seat tube. Unknown cranks with early Stronglight chain rings that are attached with chain ring bolts I am not familiar with, maybe home made, but definately well done.Unknown, perhaps proprietary brakes which utilize brazed on cantilever studs for a stiff and responsive brake, ahead of their time. Also the fact that the rear brake is under the chain stays, much like mountain bikes many decades later. Beborex brake levers are some of my favorites. Incorrect bars and stem. Unknown pedals, perhaps early Lyotard with cut strips of tubular tire that are wired together to be easy on shoes. Smart idea! Radios rear light and generator with a ball and socket mechanism on the head light so it can be angled and held in place with a set screw! Very cool!
     When I first saw the head badge, I thought it was a grave stone. Which I thought was a bit morbid and hilarious at the same time! I learned later that it is actually a mile marker, still very cool. The bike also retains all the original frame decals. We also have the men's mate to this bike, which I will showcase as well. The ladies bike is the better of the pair, being much more deluxe. It has so many neat features, it really is a special machine! Enjoy!

Brown Bilenky

On a 200km brevette this weekend, I met up with a rider friend of mine and it was the first time I have seen his new bike.
This Bilenky was built as the ultimate randonneuring bicycle. The rider has logged many miles and had gone through numerous bikes contemplating what his ideal bike would be. This is what he came up with. 650b wheels, barend shifters, non-aero brake levers, numerous braze-on eyelets for racks and lowriders, and S&S couplers. One funny braze-on is for the number plate for his PBP placard, he was unable to attend this year, but there is always 2015.
I really like the brown and orange color scheme.

 "This machine goes further" is a Woody Guthrie reference

Beautiful french bike used as display on PBP

When I arrived at one of the last controls on Paris-Brest-Paris this year, I was shocked to see this beautiful french bike tied to a barrier as a decoration. Sure, I have seen other bikes placed throughout the route(towns are judged on their display and support of PBP), but this seemed different. This was a 1950s French blue ladies bike with Lefol fenders, dual Luxor le Paen 65 headlight, 650b wheels. I want that bike. For an instant, I thought about how I might get that bike, but that was a sleepless PBP thought. It is similar to our LaPeyle we have, seen below in an artsy Iphone picture.
Here is a video that our bike was used in, of my friend's band, Sun Airway, and directed by my friend Ricardo of Klip Collective.

Copake NY bicycle swap meet pictures pt.2

A hobby horse, precursor to the what we know as the bicycle. The rider would straddle the bicycle, and push along, it was before they employed pedals and drivetrains and tires and . . .you get the idea.

All the bells and whistles on this Monark Silver King. What a beautiful late 1930s aluminum bicycle.

A mid 1960s Schwinn Paramount that was for sale at the Copake swap. The handlebars and saddle were changed, to make it more casual.

Nice pile of Schwinn balloon tire bikes- Black Phantoms and such.

Jo Routens touring/camping 650b bicycle.
it was not for sale
(more pictures here)

Copake NY bicycle swap meet pictures pt.1

Here is the first series of interesting bicycles found at Copake Auctions annual swap meet. The weather this year was absolutely beautiful.

Unknown French build with modified Stronglight crankarms, Prior hubs, Lefol fenders, 650b wheels. Beautiful chrome bike, definitely in the "chrome bike club!'

1930s? Stayer bike frame. BSA fits on it and wooden rear wheel. this would take a smaller(24") front wheel and the fork would be turned around "backwards" so the rider could draft as close as possible behind a motorcycle.

very nicely restored 1880s Tricycle

Pair of late 1940s, early 1950s Shelby Donald Duck bicycles.

restored turn of the century pneumatic safeties.