Motoconfort Single Speed Conversion

So after the singlespeed On One bike of Monday being a bit of a turn of focus for the Bicycle Safari, how about this for some kind of middle ground. Just like the Motoconfort I spotted whilst over in Barcelona the frozen snow covered Nottingham also has one to offer!

Proof that this is a Motoconfort frame.

A Junior Sport GL to be precise.

But one that's been converted over to be a modern styled single speed with some reasonably tasteful deep V white wheels.

I think they pull it off well! You still have these great old bike elements, like the logos the graphics and general style.

But as an old bike rider myself I know the day-to-day hassles faced by running an older bikes mechanicals everyday, so maybe a nice simple modern re-interpretation is a good way to extend the life of an older bike?

On One dorky singlespeed

Technical difficulties have kept me away for a few days, but I'm back now, and I brought something a bit different with me. When I started this blog back in snowy Lund, Sweden, it was going to be about just the random interesting bikes I saw sitting around, and so be a comment on what's going on where in the world in terms of cycling. Recently it's been very focused on the vintage logos and graphics that live on many of the bikes I spot, but not wanting to get too pigeon holed, here's an On One singlespeed commuter!

Not vintage!

Lots of hip colourful parts on this!

Throw some purple anodized parts on it!

.... and a handlebar mirror?.... haha, okay so I have no problem with people using mirrors on bikes, they're sensible and hopefully increase safety. I just thought it was funny to see one on what otherwise seems a bit of a hipster commuter bike, but maybe the full mudguards should've have tipped me off this wasn't the usual singlespeed cool fest.

Steyr Clubman perfect vintage town bike

It never ceases to amaze me the bikes you find sitting around. This is a near mint condition vintage Steyr, apparently being at least occasionally used as someone's daily transport? Unusual and brilliant.

In particular it's the Steyr Clubman!

Some nice foil on the logo graphics.

Rad rad rad.

The brakes also seemed worthy of a mention.

But then again, so did the rear mudguard!
A bit of time warp.

Bicycle Safari Navigates to Nottingham

So after a couple of weeks taking in the sun, the sights and the bikes of Barcelona, The Bicycle Safari has once again packed its trunks and headed back up to cold old Nottingham England.

And what better way to celebrate being back in what used to be the centre of bicycle production in Britain than a classic Raleigh racing bike.

Nice vintage bicycle graphics on the seat tube.

Vintage lettering and the usual bicycle logos.

And a nice welcome back to blogging the old, interesting and rad bikes sitting around rusting up the streets!

Rabeneick vintage bicycle

Another day, another new brand. Rabeneick today who are a German firm. Raising ever more questions about the migration of national brands of bicycles around Europe.

Faded and damaged vintage logos.

A practical basket on the back.

Motoconfort is a classic French bicycle

For being in Barcelona, can't say I've spotted many Spanish bicycles. A new brand today, the Motoconfort of France.

Nice lugged frame.
The usual vintage bicycle logos.
Pretty tidy bike!

Missouri makes a bicycle

A short one today. This lettering was on an un-remarkable 90's mountain bike, and was even missing its front wheel.

Despite these shortcomings, what a nice bit of lettering for the strangely titles Missouri bicycle!

Bicycle Registration Plate

Here's a bit of an unusual one. Someone with a registration number for the bicycle! Now I know this must be common practice in a few countries round the globe, but not ones that the Bicycle Safari has gone to visit yet! So seeing a plated little 20 inch wheeled folder in the middle of Barcelona was an interesting find!

The date on the bicycle number plate is from 1978, so doesn't seem like they're keeping up with their links to the system!

It's sitting on a very neat little folding bike, nicely customized.

Especially with this strange little skull sticker, which I've spotted on a few bikes over here in Barcelona. Anyone know where it's from?

Peugeot Mirage in Barcelona

More from Barcelona! Here's a good old vintage Peugeot for you to sink your teeth into! The Peugeot Mirage.

Looks like it's been subtly modified by the owner, with a few stickers here and there.
Like these!
But the great old vintage bike logos are still there shining brightly in the Spanish sun. Also note the strangely square back tyre, very odd. A good old Peugeot bicycle anyway though.

Union Holland Flamingo 22 Vintage Bicycle Logos

So here's another dose of some vintage bicycle logos for you. Ironically for being in Barcelona at the moment, here's a dutch city bike! Made by Union Holland (I think) and called the Flamingo 22 it's a pretty standard small wheeled city shopper bike, but with some standard pretty graphics and bike logos.

Unionised bicycle production is the best bicycle production.

It's been maintained by the Vakhandel Service! Who for their love of spark plugs, are perhaps not the most appropriate people for the job.

Sweet little detail on the 20 inch fenders.

A little Dutch bike in Barcelona!

Corbetta Fixed Gear with Lovely Lettering

The Bicycle Safari has become pretty focused on older bikes recently. It's not always been this way. Previous spots include a quite architectural full carbon mountain bike, bikes stolen from a city renting schemes and even a nice garage for a bicycle. So let's get a bit modern and have a look at this Corbetta fixie!

Ok, so what really made me look at it was the lettering down the seat tube!

And a nice Corbetta head badge to boot.

Modern single speed fun, not sure how long those white tyres will last though!

Bicycle Safari is Bound for Barcelona

In the spirit of the Bicycle Safari, it's no good sitting around waiting for bicycles to come to you. So for the last week the Bicycle Safari equipment has been packed into steamer trunks, we've donned our pith helmets and jetted off to Barcelona to bring you a slice of bicycle culture from a another fruit of the world.

It's a great place!

What's more is the prevalence of cycling as a form of transport means there's plenty of interesting and destroyed bicycles sitting around on the street corners. It's interesting the motorcycles are also very popular though, so I do wonder if there's a upward scale people go through in life from their bicycle, to a scooter towards their goal of a litre class motorbike.

But's lets start this Barcelona special the way we will continue. Here's an awesome bicycle side car being used to ferry a presumably blind dog around! Never heard of the Amadeu brand before, but then I've never actually seen a bicycle side car before either. Massive problems in terms of cornering, rolling resistance and being as wide as a small car, I presume. But offset nicely by just how cool this colour coordinated outfit looks. Great stuff

Carlton Racer is 'Race Proved' and proud

This is a vintage Carlton racing bike that I spotted on the streets of Nottingham. But now you're going to need to click on the picture below.

That's because it's rad. It's a really really great little logo. This Carlton is 'RACE PROVED' and it is proud, as it should be, about it. Awesome.

Throw in some classic lettering on the down tube.
A busy little headbadge.

Some little finishing touches like this cool little 'C' logo'd seat post clamp bolt, and the elegant brake cable mount, and then you've got a super stylish vintage racing bike. Bike designers take note, this is how it's done.

Premierelle Line Peugeot Logos

Peugeot bicycles are always popular here on The Bicycle Safari. Usually because they have some super nice feature like this unbelievably pink Peugeot from a few weeks back, or this light green Peugeot with a tiny little front rack that I spotted in Sweden one time.

Back in Nottingham, this black Peugeot popped up at one of my usual haunts.

It's the Premierelle! Erm, which is nice! Well at least they wrote it in a nice way.

Actually they also made it in a nice way, with their new 'Peugeot Direct Brazing System'! Which as you can see, does actually make for some nice tube joins. I guess this is Peugeot making a bold step away from the world of lugged bicycle frames.

And stepping closer to some funky 1980's graphics.

A Peugeot Premierelle. Have a click here to see the rest of the Peugeot bikes that have been collected here on The Bicycle Safari.