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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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!

Swapping Out Triple for Double Shifters

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...

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Restoring a Vintage Leather Saddle

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...

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Are the French Still Riding Vintage Bikes?

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...

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The Music of Chance Review ( La Musique Du Hazard )

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...

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Kool Stop Brake Pads – the Best Choice

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...

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Restoring Brake Hoods

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...

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