Restoration Feature: A 1971 Mariposa Randonneur

This Mariposa frame and fork was built in 1971 with Nervex lugs and Reynolds 531 tubing. The bike was one of the first out of the shop at 175 King St in downtown Toronto. It was ridden all over the world by the original customer until 2014 when he decided it was time to get rid of his bikes as he had stopped riding all together. He brought them to the shop for us to fix up and sell. The frame was purchased by Yannick Grandmont who asked us to make several small modifications/updates during the restoration:

• Added eyelets for the Front Bag Support (pair)
• Added bottle bosses
• Added center pull brake bosses (pair) for Mafac Competition gold anondized brakes.
• Added a gear lever boss on seat tube to control the Sanyo bottom bracket generator
• Added a pump peg on the headtube underneath the top tube

The frame and fork were repainted in the original dark green colour with gold lug lining and vintage Mariposa red and gold decals. A new old stock Silca Pump and Honjo fenders were painted to match. We handbuilt carriers for the bicycle in the Mariposa workshop:

• Front Bag Support, handmade with steel tubing and chrome plated.
• Decaleur handmade with steel and then chrome plated.

We made a custom stem for the bicycle as well. Yannick purchased several vintage components from Mariposa Bicycles - Bicycle Specialties Ltd. and then assembled the bicycle himself. He recently rode it from Toronto to Montreal. Specifications:

• Stem: Custom handbuilt Mariposa Stem Quill 10 cm.
• Handlebar: Philippe professional 40cm
• Headset: Tange
• Brakes: Mafac Centrepull Competition Gold
• Brake Levers: Mafac Gold
• Crankset: Specialites TA Crankset 170mm plus chainrings 50/34
• Derailleurs and Levers: Simplex SLJ5000 Gold
• Hubs: Maxi-Car
• Rims: Salsa Delgado Cross
• Spokes: Sapim D-Light (36)
• Tires: Compass Stampede Pass 700C x 32mm
• Freewheel: Maillard 14-28
• Saddle: Brooks B-17
• Seatpost: Laprade
• Carriers: Mariposa custom handbuilt
• Tire generated lighting: Sanyo Dynamo
• Fenders: Honjo Fenders with custom fender stays (handmade and chrome plated). The fenders were painted to match with stripes.
• Handlebar bag: Gilles Berthoud
• Pump: Silca

Interesting notes from Yannick:

• The parts (Mafac Simplex Handlebar) were taken from a Peugeot PY-10 that was crashed and in very rough shape.
• The wheels were built and the bike was finished 2 days before I headed up to Toronto for the bike ride.
• The Brooks saddle was "stolen" from a CCM Flyer that was raced by Québécois Doug Perron who won races in the late 1930-50's as it is the only saddle I knew wouldn't give me pain. I'll put it back on the CCM eventually.

As for the ride from Toronto to Montreal, it was very hot Wednesday afternoon but with a little tail wind I managed to go to Cobourg before the light faded. The other days were cooler but I had a head wind, not enough to make me cringe but it slowed me a bit. I managed to some detours and stop at beaches and nice sites along the way. I did about 680km in a bit less than 3.5 days, I arrived home Saturday early afternoon.

• Wed: 160km
• Thu: 180km
• Fri: 200km
• Sat: 140km

The bike immediately felt comfortable, I had no punctures, no mechanical failure whatsoever.

I did some riding in the Millennial Trail which is at times pretty bumpy with large rocks (for a touring bike with almost 50 pounds luggage food and water)! These trails where the most fun. I am very happy to own a piece of Toronto cycling history.

Photography by Yannick Grandmont