Cycles
France-Sport
The bicycle that waited for almost 100 years at the back of a barn north of Toulouse.
Found
In 2019 it stood at the back of a barn north of Toulouse, beneath thick dust but surprisingly complete and sound.
It is provisionally dated to about 1916–1920. The France-Sport marque was associated with René Bancal in Toulouse and had been registered by 1909.
- Dating
- c. 1916–1920
- Marque
- Cycles France-Sport
- Origin
- Toulouse, France
- Material
- Steel
- Weight
- c. 14 kg
- Gearing
- Reversible rear wheel, 2 sprockets
- Condition
- Restored with patina preserved
A name in brass
Who was Alfred?
A small homemade brass plate was wrapped around the seatpost. Its handwriting includes the name Alfred and a reference to Alba near Réalville in Tarn-et-Garonne.
We do not yet know who Alfred was. The plate nevertheless preserves a human trace: the name of someone who probably rode the bicycle.
Hidden in the handlebar
A flyer for a spring fête
When restoration began in Denmark, a French fête flyer emerged from inside the handlebar.
It states dimanche 31 mars — Sunday 31 March. The best provisional calendar match is 1957. If correct, the bicycle was already around forty years old when the paper was hidden there.
The dating is provisional because the year has not survived on the fragment.
The mechanics
Two gears — and a pause by the road
The reversible rear wheel has a sprocket on each side: a higher gear for level roads and a lower one for hills.
Changing gear meant stopping, loosening and reversing the wheel, then fitting it again. Simple and robust, it marked a useful step beyond a single fixed ratio.
Restoration
Restored — but not made new.
The original surfaces, patina and signs of use were retained because they are part of the story.
Philippe Thys was among cycling’s leading names when this bicycle was built, winning the Tour in 1913, 1914 and 1920. He did not ride this France-Sport, but his bicycles belonged to the same technical and working world.