M. Kint is a Belgian marque who offer a fairly ubiquitous range of fiets, but few of their customers, even The Spoken readers, will be aware that the founder of the company, Marcel Kint, was actually the longest reigning Road Cycling World Champion. Peter Gilissen, himself based in Belgium, lovingly restored this specimen that’s still more beautiful than any of the current lineup.
Marcel Kint started his own bicycle business in 1950 after writing himself into the record books as the longest reigning world champ. He won the series in 1938 and due to the second world war, was not contested until the event was again held in 1946 — a dastardly situation that, for Marcel, turned out to be most fortuitous.
Usually preferring the clean look of a more ‘naked‘ bike, Peter Gilissen went all out on the fully-dressed M. Kint. However, the frame, forks and the completely-rewired Bosch headlight are the only original parts. Peter maintained the clean lines of the bike by installing an Sturmey Archer S2C hub, offering two speeds without shifters and cables. Thanks to Peter for the scoop.
