tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post2450454650658845508..comments2024-03-18T10:19:55.782-04:00Comments on The Velo ORANGE Blog: Velo Le ChemineauVelo Orangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-69868886616069611232009-02-12T10:30:00.000-05:002009-02-12T10:30:00.000-05:00Please contact me if you own a Le Chemineau or kno...Please contact me if you own a Le Chemineau or know someone who does. I would like to start a web page, blog, or something to keep track of these wonderful bikes. Also, I am interested in buying another one. I can be emailed at festiva90LX@yahoo.com That is nine zero LX, in case it doesn't show properly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1148432039357149872008-08-11T23:54:00.000-04:002008-08-11T23:54:00.000-04:00My mother and father were members of the AYH in th...My mother and father were members of the AYH in the Hartford Council and knew Jimmy Armando. They purchased two le chemineau bikes from him from his basement shop. I was in my teens then. I still have them, one mans and one womans bike. Both in good condition. I have no idea what they might be valued at. I would consider selling. They are both 10-speeds and the mans bike has the stitchup tubes in the tires. It is nice to see so much interest in these bikes.Stockmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10803055145049550067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-87877865890325431802008-07-09T20:44:00.000-04:002008-07-09T20:44:00.000-04:00That email address may be confusing. It is Festiva...That email address may be confusing. It is Festiva90LX@yahoo.com<BR/><BR/>David LAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-91490308811609543632008-07-09T20:42:00.000-04:002008-07-09T20:42:00.000-04:00Sorry I haven't been following the blog lately. I ...Sorry I haven't been following the blog lately. I am looking for a touring Chemineau, but it must be in my size, which means a 24" seat tube length. Mr Armando was, if I remember, quite a bit shorter than I. I would very much like to communicate with you about these bikes, however. Contact me at festiva90lx@yahoo.com<BR/><BR/>David LAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-63125982924295264892008-07-01T11:03:00.000-04:002008-07-01T11:03:00.000-04:00Great bikes!! I have two Le Chemineau touring bik...Great bikes!! I have two Le Chemineau touring bikes in good, clean original condition for sale!! One owner bought new from Mr. Armando. One for his wife(green) the other for him(mustard). Both men bikes. Please write in blog if you are interested or want more information.<BR/>Thank you,<BR/>LarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-74452881149597374782008-07-01T10:51:00.000-04:002008-07-01T10:51:00.000-04:00Great bikes!! I have two Le Chemineau touring bik...Great bikes!! I have two Le Chemineau touring bikes in good, clean original condition for sale!! One owner bought new from Mr. Armando. One for his wife(green) the other for him(yelllow). Both men bikes. I am in Connecticut. Please write in blog if you are interested.<BR/>Thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-27748583591767262112007-04-30T10:48:00.000-04:002007-04-30T10:48:00.000-04:00The front shifter is a bit of a reach, however, wh...The front shifter is a bit of a reach, however, when properly adjusted, it is all but fool-proof. Never throws the chain off, and goes right onto the chainring smoothly.<BR/><BR/>The rear derailleur, I think, is much more historically interesting, as it known to be the first commercially available derailleur, invented around 1911 (see pages 84 to 87 in Frank Berto's "The Dancing Chain"). <BR/>there is also some information on the French site, tontonvelo.com about the Chemineau bicycle and it's builder, Joanny Panel who raced it the Tour de France (and other races), in an effort to prove that multi-geared bicycles were superior to fixed, but it took many years before they were officially allowed in the TDF.<BR/><BR/>I rode the Chemineau in a vintage ride yesterday, and the bike glided along smoothly and quietly, just like it did when it was new. It's great to own a piece of cycling history, even better to have been able to ride it for over 50 years!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-90848563108457504142007-04-26T11:52:00.000-04:002007-04-26T11:52:00.000-04:00if you put prolink in the oiler, it would eject th...if you put prolink in the oiler, it would eject the old crud quite well. i clean and lube my chain with prolink.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-87081954581726634442007-04-26T10:10:00.000-04:002007-04-26T10:10:00.000-04:00David M.(or anybody),This is a great bike!Dumb que...David M.(or anybody),<BR/>This is a great bike!<BR/><BR/>Dumb question: With the short front mounted FD lever is it possible to shift with your heel?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-76079716695392631742007-04-26T09:28:00.000-04:002007-04-26T09:28:00.000-04:00Chris, and David:Thank you for posting the picture...Chris, and David:<BR/><BR/>Thank you for posting the pictures and narrative. Some part of my occationally missing identity is tied up with bicycles, as I suspect is the case with many who read and post here. This type of history helps me put myself in contex. And those brake levers are THE BOMB.<BR/><BR/>Related to the front derailleur mechanism, MF at ANT has been making interesting extended levers for switching lights on/off. I think we'll see the contemporary craft-builders (constructeurs?) do more stuff like this--functional fun and elegant. One part rube goldberg, one part eccentric bike-nut, one part skilled craftsman. Shake well. This is such a great time for bikes. The diversity of offerings is staggering, and increasing.--DavidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-40183805146853976292007-04-26T00:29:00.000-04:002007-04-26T00:29:00.000-04:00The chain oiler is cute, but I've been told that o...The chain oiler is cute, but I've been told that oiling a dirty chain <BR/>(without taking it off and cleaning it first)is one of the best ways to accelerate drivetrain wear!<BR/>I think at least one of my bikes deserves a lever front derailleur, so hopefully Chris will find an NOS stash somewhere!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-3718879839994225432007-04-25T21:32:00.000-04:002007-04-25T21:32:00.000-04:00The detail is amazing. A chain oiler ... wow. Th...The detail is amazing. A chain oiler ... wow. The bike could be placed aside any newly made contraption and not look out of date.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13317200743222648289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-60330653022392417382007-04-25T20:30:00.000-04:002007-04-25T20:30:00.000-04:00i think a shifter operated rear dynamo has more us...i think a shifter operated rear dynamo has more use value than the lever mech. and i say that as a fan of the lever mech and all things impractical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-69249401856971482382007-04-25T19:49:00.000-04:002007-04-25T19:49:00.000-04:00I've ridden a lever FD on a Singer and also a Simp...I've ridden a lever FD on a Singer and also a Simplex clamp-on model. They work surprisingly well. I love the modern version Tony Pereira created for the NAHBS.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10767743759129493752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-85921151345658433382007-04-25T16:42:00.000-04:002007-04-25T16:42:00.000-04:00Now HERE's something I'd like to see in stock at V...Now HERE's something I'd like to see in stock at Velo Orange: <BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/3xz67a<BR/><BR/>Not my auction, just never seen anything like it.toddschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16683917765032936431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-57529212565993272242007-04-25T16:40:00.000-04:002007-04-25T16:40:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.toddschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16683917765032936431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-48613235545422012372007-04-25T16:07:00.000-04:002007-04-25T16:07:00.000-04:00lever operated ft mechs have a long history of tou...lever operated ft mechs have a long history of touring use. before rosa made a reliable touring ft mech, most tourists shifted with a finger. many french custom builders made thier own lever operated mechs. most used a longer lever. it was really only the mech manufacturers, huret and simplex, who used such short levers. my guess is this: longer levers have more leverage... therefore they would put alot of strain on the mech if it was clamped rather than brazed on. brazing the lever and mech on allowed two rather than one contact point for the mech. by this i mean, the cage was brazed to a push rod which in turn was mounted in a steel sleeve. this sleeve was brazed to the frame. the lever itself had a pivot brazed higher up the post, transfering the stress of the shift to that braze on rather than the mech itself. make sense? i wouldnt recommend buying a clamp on unit like the one in the photo. that is a super long reach, and for what? the mech itself is probally heavier than a newer one, and the lever is probally about the same weight as a DT shifter. I think the custom mechs are cool, light and while not practical, certainly more usable. but the clamp on ones lack refinement in many ways. check out this contemporary rendition of a rod mech, and you'll see just how clunky that old one is. <BR/>http://tinyurl.com/yphr5yAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-21014273894780131032007-04-25T15:07:00.000-04:002007-04-25T15:07:00.000-04:00It is great to see such a veteran still on the roa...It is great to see such a veteran still on the road. I too wondered about the lever f/d, and if it was needed to shift such a large tooth difference between the front chainrings.<BR/>I have seen similar ones on French e-bay. Looks like a long reach to me!<BR/>D WagnerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-36657851668372755932007-04-25T13:09:00.000-04:002007-04-25T13:09:00.000-04:00The front derailleur on that bike is pretty intere...The front derailleur on that bike is pretty interesting. I like the idea of a built-in shifter lever. Was this style common (i.e., any chance of me finding something like it on ebay some day)?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00388305520170517229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-59754167846563591532007-04-25T11:36:00.000-04:002007-04-25T11:36:00.000-04:00Great bike, great story, great post.Great bike, great story, great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com