Tour de Ville is a recent addition to the London cycling world having only opened in mid December ‘08, but they’ve managed to create a stir with their polished presentation and amazing stock of vintage items. I spent the better part of a day at the shop, just trying to take it all in. Pantographed this, proprietary that. Brands I’ve not heard of, componentry I’ve only seen in images, and a full Campagnolo tool set in the shop under daily use. The amazingly deep stock is a combined effort of a Belgian-shop buyout and various sourcing from across Europe through contacts garnered through earlier racing days and a lifetime of living on two wheels.
Read on for a photo tour of Tour de Ville.
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The shop itself is open and airy feeling, white and evenly lit. Wood counter tops and cantilevered shelves lend a finished touch to the presentation. The entire inside structure is custom designed and built by co-owner Keith and his brother clearly with an eye for design between them. |
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In no particular order, some of the items behind the counter and in the display cases; NOS Campagnolo Centaur and Veloce from their introductory years, a never-been-build Colnago mountain bike frameset, Rudy sunglasses from the ’80s, vintage promotional posters, boxed Mavic equipment, hexagonal Cinelli bars, brand new wooden rims from another time… |
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The vintage frame collection is just as impressive as the component selection. Classic road and track frames from across Europe and in some cases the world. Some rebadged in strange Euro-tradition, some resprayed and decaled, others as they came from the factory. The tales behind each are interesting, as are the build options - authentic to the original time frame, or built from esoteric parts of a given era? |
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The hearth holds a Rossin with matching pantographed cranks, shifters and seatpost along with a pre-war German track bike with the original high flange hubs and tied and soldered wheel build. The fireplace itself is a museum of priceless, yet broken, parts of old. |
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The custom display cases hold a wealth of componentry and oddball accessories. Vintage shoes, more NOS Campagnolo, Cinelli specialty bits, stems to match whatever build of choice. |
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Just a glimpse at some of the remaining parts and clothing about. Even more resides on the second floor and in the basement surely with further gems buried within. |
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That’s a full Campagnolo tool set hanging up, in daily use. While the original wooden box is under the workbench, the tools are all in plain view seeing proper use for vintage builds. Tour de Ville has a firm grasp on the finer points of bicycle mechanics. |
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The two friends behind this operation, Jos above and Keith below. Euro road racing is Jos’s original love, with BMX being Keith’s entry to cycling. Through courier work the two met at the 2005 Cycle Messenger World Championships in New York City and now run one of the most impressive shops I’ve ever set foot in, London or not. |
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What a wonderful things i am looking in your photos. Sorry for my english, i speak it very bad.
Do you have a catalog about vintage of eighties? Campagnolo pantographed, steams pantographed,brakes, etc…