More Bertins or am I a Francophile?

Here are a couple more Bertin's from the collection.

I have been saving these to do this slightly immature project.

For some reason I thought it would be fun to paint 

three up in the french tri colour.

 I wasn't really that impressed with the 
Bertin decals on the market, so I had my own set recreated, 

which of course was a bigger hassle than it would seem 
on first thought.

Anyway, I am glad I persevered, they came out great...

Just waiting on the foil head badge decals now. 

I have a couple of extra sets for sale....
with foil head badge decal.
adrian@theflyingwheel.com 

Old style head badge being repainted.

This track bike is a (late) 1950's C38 track bike.

Nervex lugs/DB 531

This is also a 1950's Bertin, model C37.

This one was raced by Peter Baird in the 1954 Empire Games

at Vancouver in Canada in the Road race, in which he won 

Silver, so quite an historic New Zealand frame.

 Lastly is a 1960's(?) frameset C37 again.

After (almost) finishing this project, I am finally 
having to admit to myself, that yes

 I am a bit of a frankophile, I mean, I drive a 1973

Peugeot 504 Ti, own at least seven French race bikes, 
and spend way to much money most days at the 
French baker, up the road from our book shop, 
damn you Moise, and your delicious almond croissants...
 I'll never look like a hungry, lithe road man with you

around.

By the way, if Bertins are your thing,
there is only one place to go... 
Jim's  Bertin Classic Cycles. 

Mercier Service des Courses

Finally got the Mercier Service des Courses

back together...

after quite a few hours of cleaning and polishing..

...I had this pile of shiny parts...

...another hour or two of assembling..

 ..I was left with very nice 1977ish Mercier Service des Courses.
And as we all love Raymond Poulidor, I now have the right
 bike to take out for a spin, after spending the evening reading
1960'/70's  Miroir-Sprint magazines.

I have only taken it out for one run so far, The Simplex SLJ
worked beautifully. Although you would hope so, as this 
Gold anodized SLJ wasn't far off the price of the Campagnolo
Record gear at the time.

The Mafac brakes also worked well, although took
a bit of time set up just right.

So I would say, a nice bike overall, not in the same 

league frame wise as a TI Raleigh, but then this isn't

really a team replica bike either. 

 Nice Maillad 700/AVA wheel set, helped set off 
the whole package.

Joop Zoetemelk in yellow for Mercier.

Barry Hoban, winner of 8 TDF stages, rode for Mercier

through out most of his career.
  

It does have quite a few nice little touch's to remind you that it

is something a bit special though.

The gold lining, slotted main lugs and of course the individual

number on the head badge, only seen on the

 Mercier Service des Courses. But my favorite thing on the bike

is the ideal Robour saddle, the first I have used, and I loved it.

 So I would say, if you like your bikes to come wrapped in a bit

of cycling lore, as I do, or you like something a bit out of the

ordinary group set wise, see if you can find one of these.

They are not outrageously expensive, probably one of the better

classic buys on the market (in my humble opinion).

Pou-Pou