About Ebykr
Ebykr celebrates classic and vintage lightweight bicycles through provoking imagery and opinion. Let's roll together!
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).…
Durable but lightweight materials have appealed to bicycle builders since the beginning of bicycle time. From steel alloys to aluminum alloys to carbon composites, the nexus of these two build qualities is something of a holy grail among materials engineers.…
FRAME: Automoto Concours Sportif, Hand Cut Ornate Lugs, Chrome Finish FORK: Automoto Concours Sportif, Clover Coin Inserts, Chrome Finish HEADSET: Automoto, French Threading HANDLEBAR: Automoto, Olympic Bend, 36cm STEM: Automoto, Stayer Style, Adjustable ~50mm-170mm BRAKE LEVERS: MAFAC, Lower Open Back…
When first contacting Stronglight for information about the company, I received a charming but curious response. My requests had included, naturally, a timeline, a list of events the company sees as particularly important in its history, the position the company sees…
