Classic Lightweight Randonneur

My (not finished on time) entry for the 2019 Concours de Machines

Constructeur is French for masochist

Every (aspiring) framebuilder should build a full integrated randonneur bike and understand why Constructeur can sometimes be interchangeable with Masochist.

After learning about the Concours de Machines for mJan Heine’s Bicycle Quarterly, reading about the 9,1kg lightweight bike and realising that in 2019 the Concours de Machines would be almost next door, I had to enter and build a bike!

My primary goal was to show that one can build a lighter than 9,1kg using standard modern components. WHile the bike did not make it to the Concours de Machines 2019, once i finished it, it tipped the scales at 9.2kg WITHOUT lightweight latex tubes, SRAM Red 160g cassete and with a pretty sturdy wheelset. SO my goal was achieved!

7005 aluminum/scandium frame (1440g) with custom dropouts, Ultegra Di2 with TRP carbon cantilever brakes, Velogical Dynamo (~75g), custom headlight switch in steerer, custom Chris King Classic wheelset with DT Swiss Revolution spokes, Honjo 45mm hammered fenders, low trail custom steel fork and stem (hybrid threaded/threadless fork), SMP forma carbon saddle (~160g) on an Easton EC90 carbon seatpost (~190g), custom 6mm tubing cromoly rack (~160g) for a lightweight (~100g) ripstop nylon bag to a custom decaleur. In house paint Latte Menta (Fiat 500 color) with Pantone 509C logos and accents. The bike flexed just right at all the right places and it was my trusty bike for many brevets from 2020-2024.

I learned (many) a lesson along the way and 4 years later i made it to 2nd place overall in the 2023 Concours de Machines and rode my 2nd Paris-Brest-Paris.

Flickr high definition phot gallery HERE: