Alex Singer Build Kits?

By Donald W. Gillies - 12.20.2005

Figure 41. Center view of a front Maxicar Hub.

Figure 42. Maxicar hub 45-degree profile.

Alex Singer and Rene Herse, in a sense, made the Maxicar hub a worldwide phenomenon.  Figure 42 is a closeup of a front hub.  Maxicar was the first sealed-bearing hub (yes, there was somebody making sealed hubs before Phil Wood.)  The Maxicar is most renowned for its special spoke holes in the rear hubs : these "--+--" spoke holes allow you to remove and replace a spoke without even removing the rear freewheel, in these hubs.  These special holes are depicted in Figure 43.

What kind of quick releases go well with a Maxicar Hub?  Well, Maxicar doesn't make them, you know. If they did, I'm sure they'd probably sell for $500/pair, about 3x more than a Simplex Skewer set; one on Ebay right now is listing for $148.00! Nope, a plain old boring Campagnolo or $6 Maillard skewer works just fine in a Maxicar hub.

Figure 43. Skewers and special holes in a Maxicar hub

So you say that you'd like to build up bicycle in the "Cool French" way that Ernst Csuka makes bikes at Alex Singer?  Well, in fact many of the parts can be found right here in the USA - you don't have to pay $350 for a set of Phillipe Professional handlbars to be "Cool and French." Csuka actually uses 3TTT handlebars on some of his bikes (Figure 44.)  I even found one bike using a $25 3TTT "Forgie" stem (Figure 45.)  However, to be completely authentic I'm afraid you'll have to braze up the stem on your own, and then engrave it (use your own name), and then have it chromed (call your local Harley Davidson dealer to find a good chrome shop) - as in Figure 44.

Figure 44. 3TTT Handlebars and Singer Stem

Figure 45. 3TTT Stem'

In fact, you can probably take a 3TTT forgie or Cinelli stem to your local jeweler and come back next week to pick up a personalized, pantographed stem in the Alex Singer style, as depicted in Figure 46.

Figure 46. Pantographing a Cinelli stem.

What about wingnuts?? (And no, I'm not talking about Republicans) ?? Don't all French bikes use wingnuts?  To be honest, there were several bikes in the shop that used "Bell" wing nuts, including the tandem.  Here is a photo of one of the bikes with these nuts - the bike also sports Maxicar hubs WITHOUT drillings in the flanges.

Figure 47. Wing nuts for your alex singer.

The iBOBs will all want to know how to accessorize a bike like an Alex Singer. Well, you can do it with Alex Singer clothing ( shorts, cycling caps ), and Alex Singer bags!

Figure 48. Alex Singer Bag.

Figure 49. Alex Singer Bag in basic black.

What kind of racks does Alex Singer recommend? How about the biggest 'friggin front racks mankind has EVER SEEN ?? This one on the left is large enough to carry your grandmother!  Notice also that this bike has "Grand Flasques" to help help support your grandmother's weight !!!

Figure 50.  Racks fit for a horse (not a Herse!)

About half the bikes in the shop had Huret Jubilee derailleurs.  Here is one of the "lightened" models of the Huret Jubilee.  To reinforce the cool drill-holes into this derailleur, a third tang (barely visible below the lower pulley bolt) was added to the pulley cage, making the drilled unit weigh 10 grams more than the un-drilled derailleur!! What will those french engineers think of next?!?!?

Figure 51.  Huret Jubille Super Competition derailleur

Figures 12-15 contain the decal set you will need for your Alex Singer Bike.  Don't forget to put the customer's name on the stem and on the top-tube of the bicycle.  Personalization counts - and French law used to require it!

Figure 52.  Seat-tube (and Head-tube) Decal.

Figure 53. Downtube decal.

Figure 54.  Modern head tube decal.

If you have a 1950's bike like the chromed tandem, you are allowed to use the seat-tube decal on the head tube, too.

Figure 55.  Classic head tube decal.

Does Alex Singer believe in Outlining and Pantographing components, like Ernesto Colnago?  You be the judge.

Figure 56.  Phillipe stem. Yes, it came from the factory like this!

Figure 57. Pantographed stem.

I didn't see any chainrings with "E" for Ernst, and I didn't see any top tubes signed "Ernsto Csukalgo", although that would have been quite funny ... Some iBOBs (including Jobst Brandt) think that welded aluminum rims and machined sidewalls are evil.  Will you find this bias at Alex Singer's shop?  I'm afraid not ... Here's a pair of Mavic Open pro's with machined sidewalls, and it sports Vittoria Open Corsa CX tires - tires that mere mortals are still able to afford.

Figure 58. Mavic Open Pro rims, Vittoria Open Corse CX tires.

My very last moments at the singer shop were spent looking at the Ceiling.  In the back of the shop, in the work area, the bikes of friends and customers are stored.  Here are some of the beautiful items hanging from the ceiling that inspire Enrst as he's making his next masterpiece:

Notice that there are several campagnolo bikes, including a Victory bike and a Nuovo Record Pista / Track bike, and one Alex Singer bike even has a paint job to rival a Colnago Mapei!!  Singer apparently is a product of the times, just like everybody else!

Probably the most surprising thing about my visit to the Singer shop is that I couldn't find anything made by Normandy, Atom, or Maillard, except for one quick-release skewer that was depicted earlier. In particular, I found no "Maillard 700" hubs, and no "Atom 700" pedals. When Singer wants an indestructable pedal, it seems that Campagnolo nuovo record is the #1 choice, and TA is the #2 choice.

There may have been some Atom/Maillard freewheels that I missed in the shop. About one quarter of the bikes in the shop had indexed gear systems - I saw two Dura Ace bicycles and one Campagnolo Centaur bicycle. There was one bike with a Campy Record drivetrain in the window. There were no Chorus components in the shop.

What kind of parts would you expect to find on an Alex Singer bicycle? Based on my visit to the shop, I offer up the following specifications for an "Alex Singer Randonneur" bicycle, for your consideration.

Model No.	ALEX SINGER RANDONNEUR
Frame Size	19", 20", 21", 22", 23", 24", 25", 26"
Colors	Customer Choice; All-Chrome An Option.
Frame Material	Reynolds 531 Butted Tubes, Forks, and Stays, Huret Ends
Lugs	Alex Singer Latin Line; Fillet-brazed headtube-unit an extra-cost option.
Fork	Reynolds 531 with Vagner Box Crown, Huret Ends
Handlebars	Phillipe Professional or Belleri
Stem	Singer Chromed; Cinelli; or T.T.T. Alloy
Brakes	Mafac Competition Centerpull with braze-on studs
Crankset	TA Cyclotouriste; TA Zephyr
Rear Cluster	Simplex or Suntour
Chain	1/2" x 3/32 Lightweight
Pedals	TA Professional; Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Rims	Mavic Open Pro
Hubs	Maxicar; or Campagnolo
Tires	Vittoria; Dugast
Saddle	Brooks Professional Pre-Softened
Seat Post	Alex Singer Internal Expander Seatpost
Headset	Stronglight A-9
Derailleur	Huret Jubilee; Campagnolo Centaur
Extras	Fully wired for Generator System; Christophe Toeclips and Chrome Leather Straps; Zefal Pump; Honjo Hammered Fenders
Weight Approx	24 lbs

Onwards to look at Maxicar Hubs at Singer!

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

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