Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

The history of cycling in France is deeply intertwined with the country’s industrial past. Although the invention of the bicycle is credited to German Baron Karl von Drais, who patented his draisine in 1816, it was the French who popularized this two-wheeler.

In the 1860s, the Michaux family, Parisian coach builders, developed a new drive mechanism, placing pedals and cranks on an enlarged wooden front wheel. Their factory started producing “velocipedes”, leading to the commercialization of bicycles as we know them today.

Other influential French bicycle manufacturers were Alcyon, Alex Singer, and Automoto.
Peugeot, a company with a rich history dating back to 1882, produced bicycles in France until the late 1980s—and won ten Tours de France between 1903 and 1983.

Lapierre and Look are other notable manufacturers, and more recently, companies like Moustache and E-Mazing have become leaders in the production of electric bikes.

Read on to discover some of the less-travelled highways and byways of French cycling history, from stylish classics to obscure custom builds.

L'automne Tourer: Marc's Fall Fat Bike By Victoire Cycles

L’automne Tourer: A Fat Bike from Victoire Cycles

Not many would choose a fatbike as a first choice of vehicle to take on a long-distance tour, but it depends on what type of terrain you intend to tackle. Marc traversed a good chunk of Europe to realize a fatbike was his ideal carriage.

The Thin Green Lyon: Silvère's Motoconfort Around-Towner

The Thin Green Lyon: Silvère’s Motoconfort Around-Towner

Bicycle manufacturing twists through the DNA of many motorcycle brands, such as BSA, Excelsior, Husqvarna and Aprilia. France’s Motoconfort was another although their pedal-powered products look far more graceful — like this classic porteur.

Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

A New Dawn: Thierry’s Sunn TOX MTBMX

It’s been nine years since we featured French photographer Thierry Vincent’s Gitane Expresso de Ville, which has since been mounted with a baby seat on…

Left Of The Field: Caminade ChillEasy

Compared to a road-hugging racer, the full-suspension mountain bike is a complicated and constantly-evolving combination of geometries and genres. Volumes could be filled with the…

Freaky Francaise: Serotta LULZ

It’s important, every once in a while, to be reminded not to take things too seriously — especially on a Friday. It’s all too easy…

Paris Burgundy Paris: Berthoud Cycles JM-19

For fine cycling accoutrements, few heritage brands have more of a respected reputation than Berthoud Cycles. They’ve extended their range of saddles, panniers, fenders, and…