CanAmSteve Posted December 17, 2013 Share I'm on my annual Cape migration and this year I picked up a nice old steel-framed "LeJeune" bike. It's (I'm guessing) an late 80s/early 1990s vintage, with 2X7 Shimano 105 group w/downtube shifters. Most interesting is the tubeset - it's labelled "Super Prestige" (and "hand built by Le Jeune cycles") and is the "fluted" or ribbed type that Calnago used on some frames. I think it is also refrred to as Gilco tubing. But how it ended up in this bike is difficult to tell. There is a frame builder in Belleville (name du Toit) and he seems linked to the current-day SA LeJeune (see http://www.lejeune.co/) and also steel frame building, but a note sent gets no reply. Can anyone help with any info? Thanks - Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrispy Posted December 17, 2013 Share Francois is Mr LeJeune. Contact details here www.dutoitcycles.co.za Underachiever 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capcha Posted December 17, 2013 Share if Im not under correction my Hanson also had "super prestige" written on it as I think Gotty and Francois worked together building bikes back in the day. Francois is still a master frame builder down here in Durbanville and a very busy man so wouldnt be surprised if he is taking a break. I know he follows me on Facebook so you might be able to contact him via that channel if his available. Great frame you have there a truelly proudly SA product Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanAmSteve Posted December 17, 2013 Share Thanks for the comments - I will send a note again after ther holidays. The bike is in good nick but a bit on the small side for me. I've found a crankset in better condition and will probably go to bar-end shifters and 8 speed cassete (keeping the old parts for history). I'll post a photo when it's done. Here's last year's project, a SA-built LeTurbo (I do have French heritage :-) resprayed by BMC for me. DJR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olffie1 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Hi canamsteve, Francoise Du Toit built Lejeune in the 70's to. He was an excellent frame builder and I hear he has started building frames again.Try and get him up on facebook or get hold of Chris Willemse at Chris Willemse Cycles in Cape Town on how to get hold FdT .........if cannot assist you no one can!RegardsSven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugene Posted February 18, 2015 Share My friend had a gold Le Jeune that he got as an insurance replacement many years back. The idiot wrapped string around it (as a sort of mask) and sprayed it black with a rattle can. The paint work was terrible and the paint ran into all the little spots where the string was supposed to mask it off. He totally stuffed up a perfect, brand new bike. Still to this day, I can't believe what he did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rider3000 Posted February 18, 2015 Share hey.... reading Le Turbo and Hanson takes me right back to 1995 when i started!!! Loved my Le Turbo but always wanted a Hanson. Back then helmets were rare, alloy was the new thing and Lance was the coolest! Times have changed hey...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibali Posted February 18, 2015 Share I want one of these bikes for the Tour of Area. Except for Junkmail, where do you keep an eye out for these bad boys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Albert Cycles Posted February 18, 2015 Share Francois du Toit 0832731986 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJR Posted February 18, 2015 Share Hi StevePlease post pictures in the Retro Bike thread. That's where most of the classic bike fundies hang out and they will enjoy it and be happy to share whatever info they have. Edited February 18, 2015 by DJR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyYou Posted February 18, 2015 Share I want one of these bikes for the Tour of Area. Except for Junkmail, where do you keep an eye out for these bad boys? There's a nice ZINI going for cheap, contact Radbaby here in the HUB Nibali 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyYou Posted February 18, 2015 Share If you search the HUB for South African Frame builders, there was a thread about a year ago, lots of posts iro Hansom, LeJeune etc Edit: bloody thumbs Edited February 18, 2015 by HeyYou Nibali 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoLefty!! Posted February 18, 2015 Share Le jeune was fdt off the shelf std frames. His custom bikes were labelled du toit Both could be tange or Reynolds tubing quintonb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy Posted February 18, 2015 Share Le jeune was fdt off the shelf std frames. His custom bikes were labelled du toit Both could be tange or Reynolds tubingHe built me a custom 531P Le Jeune frame in 1986.... Metallic charcoal grey with yellow writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoLefty!! Posted February 18, 2015 Share how custom is custom? Just the paint or only top tube? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy Posted February 18, 2015 Share how custom is custom? Just the paint or only top tube?Tubes and paintwork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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