Jaques Anquetil

I've just bought this bike off ebay for £60 as my next project, its a Jacques Anquetil of some sort

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260861379579?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648#ht_500wt_979

Just wondering if anyone knew anything about these bikes, and whether I have wasted my money or not, I am going to turn it into a single speed, but may restore the frame myself.

Hope someone can be of some help here

1 Attachment

first glance tell me it's nothing special to be honest (based on lugs and component), althought it's decent as a budget roadie once you put in some elbow grease.

Non-drive side pedal looks like it's seen better days, but as Ed says a bit of effort and you'll have a nice runaround.

Enjoy it!

I know the components are pretty basic, but wondered if the frame might be better? Any idea what steel it's likely to be?

photos not doing much justice but I'd says plain gauge steel strictly from observation.

They sometimes show up on Vintage Lightweights - have a look there.

Possibly Vitus. Low-end though.

Thanks for all the swift responses, I think I will just strip it, take it to a bike shop and get them to fit a decent bb and headset and build it up from there, my current singlespeed is pretty screwed so this will be a little commuter for me.

Coolio - there'll be plenty of people with spare parts doing nothing that they'll punt on for minimal fees.

Go for it.

I'd buy the tools to do the bottom bracket yourself - you'll need a crank puller and a lockring spanner (and a modern BB cup tool if you want to install a modern BB, too). To remove the crank bolt you'll need either a 14 (or occasionally 15) socket to remove the nut, if it's nutted, or a big allen key if it has an allen bolt. It might cost more than the labour at the shop but you'll get tools to fix/reinstall plus the experience.

You can make headset remover by getting a piece of pipe that's just small enough to fit into the head-tube, then cutting a slot into one end of the pipe and flaring the end slightly - then pull it through the head-tube by the non-slotted end until the slot pops into place behind the headset cup. The flared end of the pipe should now be sitting directly on the inside of the cup - give the other end of the pipe a few gentle taps with a mallet and the cup will come out. The bottom cup (the bit that mounts to the fork) will come out if you place a big adjustable spanner over it (wrap the ends in electrical tape or old inner tube to prevent it from scratching the paint), and gently tap that with a mallet (re-installation is the reverse of removal). To install the new headset, you can make a headset press out of two blocks of wood and a fuckoff big g-clamp, or just use the mallet again. To be honest, unless the old headset is worn out, you could just clean it out, replace the ball bearings and re-grease it - no need to remove the cups.

Good luck with your project.