Romuald’s versatile “Breton”
Romuald is the manager of two organic grocery stores. He travels from one to the other by bicycle. He makes short trips of 4 to 20 km daily, and he never misses an opportunity to go on multi-day cycling trips. More than performance, he was looking for a versatile and enduring bike that would be fun and comfortable, regardless of the distance traveled. being conscious about environment and sustainable development, Romuald insisted that we use a maximum of components manufactured by hand or in small batches, preferably in France.
The frame was built in our Beaumont workshop, as per Romuald’s bike fitting session. The goal here was to build a bike that blends traditional looks with modern engineering and details.
The dark green paint, associated with the tan sidewall tires and the brown leather Berthoud saddle, gives this machine a decidedly timeless appearance.
Romuald opted for a Victoire unicrown fork and a steel stem, painted in the same color as the frame. These were made in our workshop, just like the custom stainless steel luggage racks, which are simply covered with clear-coat, to leave our brazing work visible.
All cable routing is internal, for a cleaner look and improved protection.
Romuald opted for a single SRAM drivetrain with a single chainring, for its ease of use and maintenance. The Sinewave front light features a USB port and is powered by a SON dynamo hub, so you never run out of light or GPS. The rear lighting is also from SON. The wheels were laced by hand at our workshop. They use Mavic Open Pro rims, outfitted with Challenge tubeless tires that are manufactured by hand.
My vision was a bike that would be my best teammate, the one I can project myself riding in all my adventure-riding plans…The result is exactly what I had envisioned for this life partner. On the practical side, I was initially amazed by the comfort offered by this bike. My first thought was"whydid I ride bikes for so long in such discomfort!".Then, I was blown away by how this bike“glides”...As a surfer, I am very familiar with the gliding sensation that one feels when riding a wave, especially the moment when the glide is at its peak, because everything is perfectly aligned the way it needs to be. It is the exact same sensation I am experiencing with this bike... Everything is smooth, the accelerations are easy, and the steering feels incredible, even when the bike is loaded with bags.
