About Ebykr
Ebykr celebrates classic and vintage lightweight bicycles through provoking imagery and opinion. Ride along with us.
Cycles Automoto Timeline From its purposeful origins in Saint-Étienne, the legendary “cycling capital of France,” the history of Cycles Automoto is a testament to early industrial innovation and refined craftsmanship. Founded in 1889 by four businessmen who shared a passion…
Cycles Automoto History Cycles Automoto was a pioneering manufacturer of bicycles and motorcycles founded at the turn of the 20th century in Saint-Étienne, France. Well regarded for thoughtful design and meticulous construction, Automoto grew in popularity until merging with the…
All About the Francs, and Palmarès Very few marques from classic cycling’s golden years are as simultaneously transparent and opaque as Cycles Mercier. Wonderful examples of the company’s craftmanship abound in their namesake bicycles, spanning the pre-War 1920s through the…
The story of Cycles Mercier is inextricably linked to its master strategy of brand management and horizontal integration, a philosophy that ensured its longevity even as smaller rivals struggled to survive. Over its 66-year reign, Mercier established no fewer than…
The storied history of Cycles Mercier spans well over a century now, marked by rapid industrialization, a long-running racing dynasty, pioneering technical innovations (like the Méca Dural frame), and dramatic corporate collapses and revivals (note the use of plurals here).…
2002 Nagasawa Special NJS Keirin Pista Frame: Yoshiaki Nagasawa Fork: Yoshiaki Nagasawa Handlebar: Nitto B125, Steel Track, 40cm CC Width Stem: Nitto NJ Pro, Steel Track, 115mm Length Headset: Hatta Super Deluxe, NJS, 1″ Diameter Crank: Specialites TA, Pista, Five…
MAFAC’s story is that of a specialist brake innovator facing the rise of integrated groupsets. For 20 prosperous years, MAFAC filled a crucial gap by creating brakes—like the pioneering Criterium cantilever and revolutionary Racer center-pull models—that were revolutionary in their…
Introducing MAFAC In the historical archive of classic lightweight and vintage bicycles, some components get relegated to lowly footnote status, while others stand tall as towering monuments to engineering achievement. Among the latter, the name MAFAC—an acronym derived from the…
Step back in time and explore a wonderful collection of original advertising posters from the venerable French marque, Cycles Automoto. Spanning the company’s peak years from 1899 to 1950, this gallery showcases the artistry and ambition that primed the golden…