Le Gaulois' method for offering you authentic tires!
For us, the priority was to offer you the same tires as those of yesteryear. Although the manufacturing process and materials have evolved technically, the visual aspect of the period must be respected. Easy to say, not so easy to do.
Find out how Le Gaulois can pride itself on being authentic.
1 - Digging through archives and collecting period documents
For years now, Le Gaulois has wanted to reintroduce its successful tyres of yesteryear. Sadly, he has forgotten a bit of his history...
We searched through magazines and newspapers of the period for any passages dealing with the Établissements Bergougnan and their products. We discovered some of the period catalogues, and listed each product in the wholesaler catalogues. All this work has permit us to rewrite the history of the BERGOUGNAN range of bicycle tires.
We really care to tell you from which period to which period a tire model was sold, in a given size, and in a given color. That way, you can avoid anachronisms on your machine!
2 – Collecting the surviving tires!
Few vintage tires are still in good condition. It has to be said that rubber is a material that is sensitive to the passage of time. The ones in the best condition are those that have never been fitted, but above all, those that have been stored in optimal conditions (away from light and humidity, lying flat, without being crushed!).
We have been collecting some of these tires for many years. We preserve them like treasures. Every tire model available in our shop is a copy of a vintage tire in our possession. For us, there was no question of reproducing a product without an original in our hands!
For you, it's the guarantee of an authentic tire that will brighten up your vintage bike and reveal your collector's rigor!
3 – 3D Modeling the survivors
The tires are designed in 3D with the utmost rigor. Dimensions are taken with precision, and no detail is overlooked. The fonts are redefined identically for each model! Depending on the year of production, you won't find identical markings on two different models!
This means that every tire offered to you has exactly the same dimensions, the same rolling pattern, and the same markings in the original size and font. The only digression from the original is the addition of the obligatory ETRTO standard marking, and depending on the model, the product origin “Clermont-Ferrand - France” is removed for legal reasons.
Digital models are validated by 3D printing and compared with period models. You won't notice any difference!
4 - Rediscovering original shades
About rubber colors, they are taken from the period tires “in depth”. The surface color of surviving tires has changed with the impact of time and UV rays. It is therefore necessary to remove the surface layer mechanically, in order to extract the true color of the original rubber. These colors are then taken from an industrial color chart and sent to the manufacturer, whose job it is to reproduce them to perfection. Manufacturers who have mastered this coloring process are rare, and are selected with the utmost care.
Even though the rubber will remain sensitive to outdoor conditions, and its color may change over time, it was a major concern for us to get as close as possible to the original shades.
Findings
On our website, you'll find the only tires on the market that will fit your vintage bike as closely as possible to historical reality.
Your vintage bike deserves the best, and it deserves BERGOUGNAN tires!