Bernard Carre Classic Racing Bike 1970s

The workshop of Bernard Carré is a bit shrouded in mystery.
There is not much information to be found about this legendary framebuilder. We know that in the 1930s he was triumphant as a rider in the legendary 'Critérium des Porteurs Journeaux'. The far more prestigious equivalent of nowadays bike messenger world championships, where the paper delivery boys battled themselves on the roads of Paris, with bikes carrying a massive load of newspapers.

In one way or another, Bernard Carré had found himself starting to braze bicycles frames by the end of the 1940s. And in the 1950s he had a proper workshop installed in Montreuil, an eastern part of Paris.

His custom frames found widespread attention when famous champions like Derrigade, Anquetil and Geminiani had their bikes built by Carré. And this fame allowed him to stay in the business until probably the 1980s. He also was responsible for some to class frames of other brands and even stepped in for André Bertin for a short time, when their manufacture was devastated by a fire.

When we turn to our 1970s Bernard Carré we find many of the details which are typical for his high class bikes:
short modified Prugnat 62/s lugs and lightened Vagner fork crown, Campagnolo dropouts which typically came with Reynolds 531 tubing, seatlug cluster with willow leaf seat stay caps and 'Carré' engravings etc. etc.
The frame had been painted in a combination of terracotta and dark blue which resembles the paintjob on early Team Molteni bikes and shows a Carré-characteristic lack of decals. We kept it original with the patina it gained over the years. If the new owner is deciding for a paint refurbishment, we will gladly assist.

As for the parts, a fine Campagnolo groupset has been installed which includes, next to the obligatory Nuovo Record parts, a pair of comfortable bar-end shifters.

This bike is not only collectible but also a fun to ride piece of cycling history.
Goof for any historic cycling event and still fast enough to give some poseurs on carbon fiber equipment a hard time keeping up.