Motobécane!

It’s a compound French word– argot (slang) for motorcycle and bike. And I finally rode my retro ‘bécane in to work today. 

  
It rode as smooth as its name– super mirage. 

I am so used to the wide grip, handlebars on my mountain bike, that the drop down grips are taking a bit of getting used to. But the bike is fairly nimble and all components are working well. 

And riding the bike is just fun; it takes me back to the days of my first ten-speed (although it was from Sears, not Paris.)

Plus I think the bike is goddamn pretty!
One of the things I love most about vintage bikes are the little details from when brands used to care about manufacturing.  For example:

  
Seeing Motobécane stamped into the crank, with the M logo detail at the center hub. 

Or this:

  
Seeing the curvy detail at the butt ends of the fork tubing. 

And this:

   
 
Motobecane logo etched into the handlebars and seat post, with the M on the neck. Oh, and the little detail on the suntour shifters.

It harkens back to a time when there was pride in workmanship and attention was paid to the details. Not like now, where it’s all about the cheapest goods that are generically mass produced.