1980s Gilles Berthoud

Purchased as a frameset on eBay (France) in September 2007 for $225. Back on the road 11 November.

An early and somewhat rare pure racing machine from French framebuilder Gilles Berthoud, better known for his randonneur machines.

In outfitting the frame, the aim was to achieve a wholly French constructeur top-class racing machine in manufacture, materials and period correct components featuring the some of the lightest and best French components of the era. The built-up weight is just 18.6 lbs!

The Ride
I hate to nominate favourites of my collection, but hands down, this is the best riding and handling of the bunch! The ideal racing bike, very light, nimble but predictable handling, and ideal geometry... this is one of those perfect from the first ride machines. High build quality (I really like the simple, clean lines and the nicely filed and chromed lugs) and those superb late 70s early 80s French components make this a simply superb racing cycle and a delight to ride.

Frame
Material: Super Vitus 971 double butted tubing and forks
Finish: candy red with chromed head lugs lined in white, chromed rear dropouts and fork
Size: seat tube 59 cm (c to c), 60 cm (c to t), top tube 58 cm (c to c)
Chainstay: 33.5 cm
Wheelbase: 39"
Fork offset: 1 1/4"
Angles: 73 parallel
Rear spacing: 126 mm
Bottom bracket height: 11"
Lugs: Prugnat S4 with cutouts
Fork Crown: Bocama
Dropouts: Vitus
Braze-ons: rear derailleur cable stop on chain stay, twin cable guides under bottom bracket, 1 set of bottle bosses on down tube

Components
Rear derailleur: Huret Jubilee Mark II with drilled cage
Front deralleur: Huret Jubliee
Gear levers: Huret Jubilee clamp-mounted
Chainset: Spidel (Stronglight) 105 bis 172.5 cm, drilled black-anodised 54/46t chainrings
Bottom bracket: Spidel (Stronglight) no. 650, titanium 118 mm spindle, sealed bearing BB, French thread
Headset: Stronglight A9 dural, French thread
Stem: Philippe Atax Professionnel dural 110 cm
Handlebars: Philippe Professionnel AG5 satin finish Duralinox 39 mm, Velox black cotton tape and Velox plugs
Brakes: CLB Professionnel side-pull
Brake levers: CLB drilled
Seatpost: JPR Extra Legere fluted dural 26.4 mm
Saddle: Ideale 90CR, titanium undercarriage
Pedals: Maillard 700 alloy
Toeclips and straps: Christophe Competition alloy clips and straps
Rims: Super Champion Competition 36-hole Performance silver anodised, 700 x 20 mm, 275 g. each
Hubs: Pelissier 2000 36-hole high-flange with Pelissier skewers
Freewheel: Maillard dural 13-19 t, six-speed
Tyres: Tufo Jet Pro sew-ups
Chain: Sachs
Accessories: Ad-Hoc "Racer" pump, AFA umbrella clip, T/A alloy bottle cage and T/A bottle.
Weight: 18.6 lbs. complete