Cycles Automoto History Cycles Automoto was a pioneering French manufacturer of bicycles and motorcycles founded at the turn of the 20th century. Well regarded for thoughtful design and meticulous construction, Automoto grew in popularity until merging with the Peugeot group in the early 1960s. Nicer Automoto bicycles — of which there certainly are some — are…
Category: Bicycle Makers
Articles about Manufacturers of Bicycles and Bicycle Parts
Bridgestone: Beyond the Dream
The first Bridgestone I encountered was in 1994, the last year the company sold bicycles in the USA, when I bought an RB-T after a long search for a good touring bike that could be used for commuting — and which I could afford at the time. Since then I have ridden exclusively Bridgestone bicycles…
Terrot: Forging the Way
From its 1887 beginnings as a modest textile workshop built by Charles Terrot in rural Dijon, France, the Terrot enterprise grew to become a resoundingly popular manufacturer of bicycles and motorcycles over the next three-quarters century. Terrot successfully combined ground breaking product, aggressive marketing and regularity on the podium to rise above a crowded field…
Rivendell: Against the Wind
In the Beginning Rivendell Bicycle Works has existed barely ten years — and beginning even before its founding — has managed to engender almost continuous controversy, as well as outpourings of both unadulterated love and scorn. In 2006 it comprises merely ten people, plus a contract framebuilder and a painter for custom bikes, and a…
Caminade: The Circle of Cycle
Hearing it might shock the average rider of your swoopy, parrot-painted Italiano-alluminio wonderbike, but many such bikes are actually way, way old skool. In fact they’re so old skool they still spell it “olde school.” Aluminum frames? Octagonal tubes? Coupled bikes that disassemble with a few twists of a wrench for easy traveling? How about…
Tech Specs: 1951 Rene Herse Concours
Stan Laferrière, Owner Rene Herse Frameset Rene Herse & Cyclo Drivetrain Ava & Brooks Cockpit Maxi-Car & Super Champion Wheelset
Gitane: The Dark-Eyed Wanderer
“Gitane” is an unutterably lovely word if you speak French, both in sound and meaning. It is pronounced “zhee-TAHNN” and represents the more romantic of the French words for “gypsy.” There could not be a more evocative or euphonious name for a bicycle in all the history of pedal powered transport.
Tech Specs: 1937 Caminade Caminargent Bordeaux-Paris
Caminade Caminargent Frame Octagonal Aluminum-Magnesium Tubes Matching Lugs With Custom Bolts Caliper Brake Bridge Fender/Rack Mounts Cable Guides Caminade Caminargent Fork Aluminum-Magnesium Tubing Matching Lugs With Custom Bolts Elegant Crown Caliper Hole Fender/Rack Mounts Stronglight Headset (French, 25mm Diameter) Stronglight Chainring (48T) French Freewheel (Single Speed) Caminade Brake Levers (Open Back) LAM Brakes (Sidepull Calipers, Brass Hardware) Caminade Handlebar (Aluminum) Caminade Stem (Aluminum) Stronglight 49D Crank (Aluminum)…
Tech Specs: 1930s Automoto 650B Road/Path
1930s Automoto Road/Path 650B Bicycle Automoto Road/Path Frame Automoto Raked Fork Automoto Upright Handlebar (48cm c-c) Automoto Integrated Stem (30mm) Automoto Traditional Rod Brake Levers Gloria Rod Brakes Leather Brake Pads Automoto Fluted Cottered Cranksets (170mm) Automoto Chainring (44T) French Freewheel (18T) French Chain Automoto Hubs (36H) French Rims (36H) Michelin and Olmo Tires (650 x 42B…