Welcome to The Velo Collective
The definitive resource for vintage French bikes.
A Rusty 1976 Peugeot PFN 10
Surprise! Sometimes, when you go to see a used bike, your first impression is sheer disappointment. Perhaps because the photos of the bike weren't very clear on the ad, or the description wasn't accurate. In this case, the owner had placed one single photograph of...
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A Jacques Anquetil Super Vitus 971 Review
The Rider Jacques Anquetil is France’s greatest cyclist, five times winner of the Tour and winner of 8 tours in total. For 19 years, he dominated his sport with his graceful riding style, and was considered a very intelligent and articulate rider. His era was the...
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The River Ride: Cycling on the Dordogne
Let's Get All Folksy I don't know of any French folk songs about rivers or journeys, but this ride could be sung like one of those old American folk tunes: I took my Bianchi down to the river Where with every twist And every turn My trail followed with her.. Well...
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Riding a Steel Bianchi in the Dordogne
The Bike: Late 1990's Bianchi, Full Cromo Tubes and Forks 57cm 24 Speed, 3 x 8 Campagnolo Mirage Groupset Rigida Rims, Steel Spokes Riding in the Region The Dordogne isn't like the flat and wide open spaces of Normandy. It is a hilly, rocky place, that affords it...
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British Eagle Touristique, a Classic or Not?
The Touristique British Eagle are not a celebrated name in the British bike industry. Search on forums for British Eagle bikes and you'll come across descriptions such as "decent" and "competent" for the models that this brand produced. Yet, if there is a bike...
read moreRemove a Quick Link or Master Link from a Chain – Video
Removing a Quick Link They are a clever piece of modern bike technology, simple and effective, but they can be a real pain to remove once they are fitted. Quick links can prove to be quite stubborn to removal methods by hand, especially ones that have been on a...
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Peugeot PFN 10 Stuck Seatpost – Conclusion ( Video )
The Impossible Task When I took possession of this rather beaten Peugeot bike I could have never envisioned the problem I was about to face. This seatpost, after hours and hours of attempted removal, never even budged a millimetre in the end. Even if I'd seen it move...
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Bottom Bracket Cup Removal Direction: A Visual of French, British, Swiss and Italian Threads
Pre-1982 French and Italian Drive Side Cups It's easy to forget which direction bottom brackets cup turn for removal. I thought I'd provide a visual guide, as it's always the best way to memorise. Before 1982, French bikes had different threads and sizing to other...
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Sometimes They Come Back: Wrecked Atom 600 Pedals
Destined for the Junk Bin I wrote a blog recently about finding an abandoned Peugeot in a barn, and it so happens that these Atom pedals were on that crusty bike, which was in a terrible state. These pedals were totally frozen in position on that old Peugeot. I'm not...
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Look KG 271 Carbon- Regretfully Sold
1986 Tour De France, mid 1980's, and that rivalry: LeMond v Hinault. It's become one of the great events in the history of the race, and I was in my teens at the time. I remember seeing those Look bikes and wishing I had one. LeMond's 1986 winning KG 86 bike has...
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The Mysterious History of Lapierre Bikes
What's So Special About Lapierre? Dijon sits about 250km north of Saint Etienne, that cycle powerhouse of the vintage era. Famous for its mustard, Dijon is a city I've always wanted to visit, but never managed to see. One of France's largest brands, Lapierre, is...
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1976 Huret Challenger v Simplex Criterium Review
Challenger v Criterium It's 1976, and you've just bought yourself a new French bike. Not an expensive one, mind you, as inflation is at a whopping 16% in Britain. You opted for the mid-range bike, something like the Motobecane C3, and shining on your brand new...
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