Pibal bike, by Starck

The Pibal was launched to much excitement today in Bordeaux. The involvement of the legendary Philippe Starck has given a huge boast to the project as can been seen by the press coverage.  Peugeot are happy to be involved and my colleague explains why;

Sandrine Bouvier of Peugeot says "We are delighted to be associated with the project initiated by the city of Bordeaux to multiply modes of urban transport. Continuous innovation in mobility is a major challenge for the brand since the launch of Mu by Peugeot in September 2009. Successfully mass produce the vision of Starck Bordeaux is the criteria for us exciting." 

I think bikeradars piece on the bike sums it up nicely;

Bordeaux’s answer to London’s Boris Bike and Paris’ Vélib has been unveiled – the ever-so-striking Pibal, designed by Philippe Starck. The pre-prototype shown off to the city mayor yesterday morning is constructed of aluminium and weighs 16kg, 7kg less than its UK cousin.

The bike’s most notable feature is a scooter-inspired platform, for trips where it’s easier to push off and coast. The Pibal features internal hub gearing and dynamo-driven lights. It will be manufactured by Peugeot. 

The first 300 bikes will hit Bordeaux’s boulevards in September 2013 and phase out the city’s current fleet of 3,500 communal bikes, regional paper Sud Ouest reported.

Starck, who is most famous for interior decorating and his cult product and watch designs, worked on the project for free. “I wasn’t interested in the aesthetic at all,” he said. “It's a workhorse; this is a rustic bike.”

It's an intelligent solution to s specific question. Bordeaux is quite a flat city with lots of pedestrianised areas, so  it's logical to create a bike with which you can switch easily between riding, coasting and walking. A pibal is a type of eel and I guess the bike can weave its way through obstacles as easily as an eel. 

Inspiring bicycle design around the world...

I saw this on the ever brilliant Bicycle Design site. I can't find out who Trixon are, but there's a little bit more information here.....Trixon. 

The bike is en entry for the ISUDA bike share competition. You can still go to Bicycle Design and check out the other entries, vote or just have a browse round James's excellent site.

Of course I've posted this because it's a similar concept to the Peugeot DL122 and eDL122 that I created for Peugeot Design Lab. Hopefully there'll be a surge of interest in intelligent city bike design, which work for all commuters, not just hardened 'cyclists'.

The history of the Peugeot Poissy site-in cycling jerseys. Part two, Talbot

In 1978, along came Peugeot who had bought Chryslers european business. Initially the Simcas were rebadged as Talbots and were produced at Poissy until the mid 1980s. Peugeot continued the Simca brand until 1980 and still owns the name. Peugeot had intended to run with three brands, with Citroen and Talbot being produced on the same platforms as Peugeots in order to keep down costs but the Talbot brand never really caught on and in 1986 the last of the line was made.

Attempts were made to continue the brand and a replacement to the Horizon was designed, but after initially being postponed it eventually saw light of day as the new Peugeot 309.

More importantly (?!) it is clear that the cycling club kept going and became the Talbot Poissy team, seen here in another classic late 70s early 80s jersey.

The history of the Peugeot Poissy site - in cycling jerseys! Part one, Chrysler

I've recently been given three vintage cycling jerseys by a local ex semi-pro who also worked for over forty years at the Peugeot Poissy site, which happens to be where I spent my first few years after arriving in France. 

The Poissy site, north west of Paris in the Yvelines department was commissioned  by Ford in 1937 and opened in 1940, weeks before the German invasion. I sadly don't have a Ford jersey, if such a thing ever existed, nor do I have a Simca jersey, to whom Ford sold the plant in 1954. For a time Poissy was home to Simca's only significant manufacturing plant. 

In 1963 the site was again sold, this time to Chrysler who'd had acquired a controlling interest in Simca. 

This is where the jerseys come in because I have a very nice, dark blue 'Chrysler France' jersey. I'm not sure of what year it is from but the buttoned down rear pockets and Chryslers history in France points to sometime between 1963 and 1979, with my guess being the early seventies. 

France being a cycling mad country, it's hardly surprising that there have been cycling clubs linked to the site for many years. There are still a huge range of sports organized by Peugeot at the site, many of them centering around an impressive sports stadium that i believe was built during the Chrysler days. 

France Loire bike back together

I've only really given the bike a good clean and polish. With a lick of paint and new stickers it would be as new but i quite like the patina of age.

France Loire bike after a bit of TLC

The pedal bearings were quite stiff, but it turned out just that the grease had hardened over time. They were in top condition and now run like a dream.

Old France Loire bike

This is an old France Loire that I bought the other week. I bought it from the original owners son who let me have bill of sale from 1980 for 2500 francs.
France Loire were part of the Jacques Anquetil and St Etienne Cycles group of bikes that were make in St Etienne up until the early 1990s. This town was somewhat of a hub of cycle manufacture with the likes of Mafac also from the area. The bike is fully equipped with Campagnolo Gran Sport.