When I was a kid in the late 1970's, under 10 years old, there was this little brick bike shop not too far from home in town that sold these great looking bikes called Paris Sport. One of them was orange (Eddy Rode Orange!) and had that tell-tale Reynolds 531 sticker on the seat tube. I was hooked. Of course I had no idea what I was gazing upon other than it looked incredibly well built and really fast.The owner of the shop was super thin and really grumpy with old pictures and newspaper clippings of himself winning some road races. They hung on the wall next to the cash register. As I snooped around this fascinating place all alone I remember hearing an old lady, probably his mom, yelling from upstairs, "We Have Customers!" He would come stomping downstairs and ask with disdain in his voice what I was looking for. I went back a few times and those same bikes never left the walls, never sold. In fact, if you wanted to buy them the guy wouldn't sell. I tried to buy the orange one when I was older but he wasn't interested. I don't think he ever sold much of anything. He had a lot of stuff stocked in a back room though because once I did manage to snag a new tire for that Honda QA-50 of mine. Nobody in town had those! Much later, when I was probably close to 20, I noticed the shop had burned down and there were a bunch of melted/rusty brown frames laying in the alley next to the burned out shop. That was a sad day.
Here's a couple links to the history of this fine brand of bikes. Some of them were actually made in New Jersey. Who knew?!
Sheldon Brown - On Paris Sport. What a crazy and interesting story!
Dave Moulton - A Framebuilder for Paris Sport at one time.
Paris Sport - A little history lesson
26 comments:
Was the the place in Plymouth, PA?
Yes it was Tazio. The Plymouth Bike Shop.
I have a similar story but it the store was in/near Sucasunna NJ. Many people I knew had Paris Sports so when I was in ninth grade, in abou 1974 I bought mine. I still have it. I've put thounsands of miles on it. It was my main way of getting around until about 1987. I moved to Puerto Rico in 1990 and the bike ended up in an unfinished room with not floor in the basement of my home in PR for years. About I year ago I was going to throw it out, but first I put it back together for a picture. When I had it back together, I saw that everything still worked, so I fixed up some parts an started riding it againg.
lots of fun.
That's a really cool story, thanks for sharing it, nice to see you kept it. I've been casually looking for an old frame to build up as a knock-around bike.
I lived in Butler, NJ right off Rt23, and in the mid 70's I bought a "custom-order" Paris Sport from that same bike shop. I think it was actually in Boonton or Pompton Plains, its going back so many years... I seem to recall it being on the traffic circle maybe? Anyway, I haven't ridden mine in 15-20 years but still have it hanging from a rack. I used the bike to get in shape back then, and proceeded to return to serious running when we moved to MA. Gave up the bike for marathons LOL. It has sew-up tires which don't last long on the street. I never had the heart to convert to more durable tires/rims. So now I've decided its time to sell it, maybe eBay or Craigslist. But I'm in Massachusetts now, moved here 30 years ago.
Mike, Thanks for sharing this story. It is really a bike from a time in US cycling when only some real nuts rode and raced bicycle. I came along a bit later than that, but am old enough to appreciate what made those bikes and those people who raced them a great story.
Hope you find a good home for your bike. They're pretty darn cool.
The store selling Paris Sport bikes in New Jersey back in the 1970's was not in Succasunna NJ , but Ledgewood NJ next door. The store was called Andre's and I know this because my Paris Sport still has the stores decal on it. Its still going strong 40 years later .
Mark
I have 2 Paris Sports that came from a shop near Pompton Plains, NJ. Dark blue & light blue. One was my husbands, the other he gave me instead of an engagement ring. He had a friend named Tony that rode one too. They are hanging in my garage in Utah. Haven't been ridden in years.
That's so cool Mama Z. you should look into pulling them down out of the garage, tuning them up and riding them for old time's sake. Thanks for the story!
In 1973 I was 13 years old and saved all my money for a Paris sport
10 speed bicycle that I had been looking at in the bike shop in
closter New Jersey. I paid $125 for my beautiful dark blue
Paris sport that I road everywhere for the next 5 years.
I never could part with it and am now searching for someone
Who is able to restore it. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Sue, That's a great story. You should restore it yourself. It's not that hard and you will have a great time doing the work. I've restored bikes all my life and it's a very rewarding experience. Good luck!
Cycle Classics on High Street in Portsmouth VA does complete bicycle restorations. Ask for Gordon.
I have a black Paris sport that I bought back in the seventies. I have moved to several different places, and never let go of it. I still have it hanging from the ceiling of my garage and, after putting air in the tires, I took it for a spin a few years ago. Still rides like new.I really never use it. i just can't let go of it. I've owned it longer than anything else I have. I'm 62 years old now and I'm probably gonna take it to my grave someday. Ha. Maybe next spring I'll clean it up and take it for another ride. The kids in the neighborhood probably think it's an old relic. Well, it is! And it's mine and I'll never sell it or get rid of it.
My son has restored his dad's (light blue) Paris Sport and is riding it occasionally. Works great!
trying to buy a bicycle during this pandemic nearly impossible. I recently sold a Fuji beach cruiser and the response was off the charts. I use to repair and sell used bicycles in my youth and saved a couple of my favorites. One being a Paris Sport Mixie model. Unfortunately my basement is a bit too damp and lots of chrome is rusted. Needs a complete overhaul as its been sitting for 20 years. Id really like to sell it 'as is'. What would a vintage bicycle go for now-a-days ???
Thanks for any input in advance
Regards,
Donna
Just found a beautiful red Paris Sport bike at my local dump! 21 inches from seat post to middle of crank. Looks almost new after a little cleaning with baby wipes. Back tire just needs to be trued. Just read the history, Very cool.
That's really cool!!! Save it. It's worth the effort.
Feeling guilty.
Earlier this spring I found a Paris Sport at a sale for $5.00. It was not in too bad of shape but I stripped the bike for parts to restore a blue Gitane Mixte of that same period. French bikes of that period can be very difficult rebuilding because the parts are so ...well French. The next Paris Sport I find I promise to restore!
Still have my 2nd Paris Sport ridden home from Park Cycle in Ridgefield Park NJ. Cleaning out the garage this week but reading these stories its like “no my wife I am not going to put my Paris Sport in the dumpster you rented”
Sure I did most of my riding (as far north as Nyack Beach State Park from E Central Bergen County) 1974-1977 but I would sooner put air in tires or try to restore it 45 years later than trash it.
I had a Paris Sport from the early 70s - purchased from Joe and Lew Saling at the former Pop Kugler bike shop in Somerville, NJ. It was a sweet ride - Reynolds 521 tubing, Mavic rims with sew-ups. Between my older brother and me, we rode that bike for at least 10 years before it was just too small for either of us.
I traded it in at Gregg's bike town to a childhood friend and neighbor (Gregg) - and lost track of it completely. If I kept it, it probably would hang from a wall.
I have bought mine in 1973. The price was $150.00. I still have mine. What a very good bike.
Once and a while i would like 30 maybe 35 miles in just in the morning or the after noon.
I need a few spots tuched on the paint. The bike color is blue. I,m trying to from 10 speed
to 15 speed but unable to find and parts. I had bought this bike just north of Pittsburgh,Pa.
The place is called Wexford,Pa.I have found a person that does cars and trucks that can repair.
I had him do a side mirror on my Nissan. They used a light and purple had showed up. This was
from the factory. Went to pick the mirror cover and spot on no problem at all.
I have bought mine in 1973. The price was $150.00. I still have mine. What a very good bike.
Once and a while i would like 30 maybe 35 miles in just in the morning or the after noon.
I need a few spots touched on the paint. The bike color is blue. I,m trying to from 10 speed
to 15 speed but unable to find and parts. I had bought this bike just north of Pittsburgh,Pa.
The place is called Wexford,Pa.I have found a person that does cars and trucks that can repair.
I had him do a side mirror on my Nissan. They used a light and purple had showed up. This was
from the factory. Went to pick the mirror cover and spot on no problem at all.
Gary, That's an awesome story. They really are cool bikes. I real throwback to the golden age, in my opinion.
To John,
Thank you very much. The tires and rimes i think they are Schwinn's. Not sure. We live in Minot, North Dakota. There only 2 bike stores and over priced and poor craftsman ships. I had to get 2 pins for the crank and ordered 2 sets up. I had look this Co. up on google earth and found the place. It was locationed in France. Yes in France. Took about 2 months but worth wile. Thank you.
Gary S.
Greetings! I LOVED THE STORIES PUBLISHED HERE ABOUT PARIS-SPORT BICYCLES!
I bought my first, brand new PARIS-SPORT bicycle in 1974 as a high school graduation gift to myself from "The Bike Shop" located in Vernon, New Jersey. The shop was owned & operated by a cycle racer named Mr. Steve Volski. This wonderful bike was a dark blue PARIS-SPORT "Model 500-SS". Apparently, the "SS" designation was reserved for the "Model 500" bicycles sporting construction utilizing the same long line ("Spear Point"?) lugs used to build the PARIS-SPORT "Model 1000" but with the "Premier Choix" tubes. Unfortunately, my "500-SS" was totaled by a drunk driver when I was going to college in Middletown, New York. That loss prompted me to purchase, in late 1975, a brand new PARIS-SPORT "Model 1000" which I still own, maintain and regularly ride (when NOT riding my two other vintage road racing bicycles). Over the many, many miles in USA (First in the Orange County, New York region, then in the Los Angeles, California region) and then "beaucoup Kilometers" since immigrating with my wife to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The original component parts from the 1975 "Model 1000" purchase are the handle bars, bar stem, Stronglight Bottom Bracket axle assembly, Stronglight "Model 93", 42-52 Crankset, front & rear Simplex "LJ Super" Alloy Derailleurs, Simplex Clamp On Derailleur 'double cable' guide and Simplex "Criterium" Clamp On Shift Levers. In the early 1980's, I replaced the Simplex "Competition" Head Set with a Simplex "Tapered Roller Bearing" set. Late last year (2022) I replaced the Simplex "LJ Super" Rear Derailleur due to extreme looseness in the riveted pivot points with an identical, NOS Simplex "LJ Super" rear Derailleur and then began a new era for the PARIS-SPORT: I replaced as many of the remaining other components with French made and sourced, higher spec but low Kilometers parts as I could find online. The bike now sports Maillard "700" Alloy & Black pedals, a Simplex "Fluted Forged" Alloy Seat Post, Maillard "700-Professional Team Issue, Low Flange Hubs, riding on MAVIC '700C Open Pro" Grey Anodized, double wall clincher rims with Robergel "DB-Stainless" Spokes. All those are made in France. The rims ride on French made Hutchinson "Fusion 5-All Season" blackwall tires with Michelin "AirStop" inner tubes. The Brakes are French made CLB "GT Model", Side Pull that work wonderfully with CNC Brake pads. Cheers! John J. Giardino
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