Welcome to The Velo Collective
The definitive resource for vintage French bikes.
If you love vintage French bikes, there are lots of reviews and restorations, bike repair tips and information on this site dedicated to classic bikes. You can also find posts on other vintage European, Japanese and American road bikes, many with links to videos on our Youtube channel. Thanks for visiting!
Motobecane Super Champion Restoration by Rob
Motobecane Super Champion I received an email recently from Rob who came across a Motobecane Super Champion and did an outstanding job of restoring it. Unlike my very dirty Super Champion restoration here, Rob went further with the bike as he had to source many...
Swapping Out Triple for Double Shifters
Swapping Out Triple for Double Shifters Your biking needs may change over the years. It may happen that you buy a bike which has a triple shifting transmission, a system that you don’t need. Alternatively, you could find yourself no longer riding on...
Restoring a Vintage Leather Saddle
Restoring a Vintage Leather Saddle NOTICE: I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID FOR ANY PRODUCT PLACEMENT IN THIS BLOG; THESE ARE JUST CLEANERS I EXPERIMENTED WITH, THANK YOU! When I first saw the leather on the Peugeot PA10L I was about to buy, I really didn't think it could be...
This Vintage Bike Isn’t Junk! It’s Actually a..
Deep in the Countryside It was a twenty minute journey through Normandy to reach the isolated farmhouse where this bike resided. When I pulled up amongst the ancient farm buildings nestled amongst chestnut and birch trees, I could see the wheel of a...
Peugeot Carbolite 103 Restore for 20 Euros?
Peugeot Carbolite: Keeping the Costs Down In a way I think I paid a bit too much for this bike. In France, you can buy a vintage bike of this quality for less than a bag of shopping, but I took this Peugeot PH60 home for 40 Euros. It's not bad for a bike in...
Raleigh Record Ace – Vintage but not from 1976
The Raleigh Record Ace Back when I was a lad the two most prestigious bikes in the Raleigh catalogue were the Professional Team bike and the Record Ace. The former was the machine on which Joop Zoetemelk had just won the Tour de France, and the latter...
Are the French Still Riding Vintage Bikes?
Are the French Still Riding Vintage Bikes? Rouen is an historic town in the Normandy region of France, about 70 miles north of Paris. It is best known for its wonderful cathedral and the place where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake by the...
The Music of Chance Review ( La Musique Du Hazard )
The Music of Chance Review As this is a blog about vintage French bikes, I thought I’d expand on my appreciation for French culture by reviewing a book I just read in French: Paul Auster’s: The Music of Chance. I remember first seeing cover of the movie at my...
Kool Stop Brake Pads – the Best Choice
Kool Stop Brake Pads I’ve been an admirer of Kool Stop brake pads for years, using them on many vintage bikes I’ve restored. Not only have Kool Stop always provided direct replacements for classic brakes made by Mafac, Weinmann and Campagnolo, they’ve always...
Restoring Brake Hoods
Restoring Brake Hoods Better to have worn and even crumbling old brake hoods than none at all, is my opinion. Sometimes you come across bikes advertised as “restored” only to notice that the brake hoods are missing. Bare metal lever bodies are ugly and detract...
Vintage Specialized Allez Restoration – the Battle
Vintage Specialized Allez Restoration If a vintage bike has been ridden for years as a commuter bike, then chances are its condition is going to cause some issues for the restorer. Riding in the elements year after year, especially through the long winters of...
Handle Bike Hauling the Right Way with Yakima
Cycling is one of those adventurous activities that stand the test of time because of the various benefits and opportunities it offers - from allowing you to maintain optimal fitness and health, to giving you the chance to...
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