Each era has its bicycle: the penny-farthing of the 19 th century; the ten-speed of the 1970s; the BMX of the 1980s. Bicycles are part of our history, so it's no surprise that there are collectors, and indeed true collector's items in this field.

Finding the "bike guy"

In Quebec, the collector's bike market isn't so much a market of sellers and buyers as it is a market of tinkerers and restorers. It's often the collectors themselves who seek out rare gems at auctions and garage sales.

This is how Jean-Marie Bourret, owner of 35 collector's bikes, went about it. "When I travel, I always visit antique shops, flea markets, and garage sales." He still managed to find two great catches last summer.

The trick is to find the "bike guy," says Stéphane Lapointe, a cycling enthusiast with an impressive collection of folding bikes. "In every village, there's always a guy who collects scrap metal in his yard. Especially in the countryside. That's where you'll find models 20-25 years old that have barely been used."

Restoration: easier than you think

From the outset, it's advisable to keep the bicycle as close to its original condition as possible. So, no rustproofing and even less repainting. This could lead to losing important information, such as the bike's brand and model. With this information, you can trace the year and country of origin.

For parts, the challenge is less daunting than it seems. Unlike the automotive industry, where many parts are unique, bicycle parts are usually standard from one model to another. A modern pedal should be able to fit a 1950s bike, for example.

What to do with the bikes

A collector for over fifteen years, Jean-Marie Bourret has chosen to lend his bikes to Vélo-Bato, an organization that welcomes students from Barthélemy-Joliette High School into its repair shop. The bikes are permanently displayed on the walls and ceilings. His most intriguing finds? A BSA military bike from 1898 and another model, from the 1930s, with wooden wheels!

Stéphane Lapointe, on the other hand, puts most of his bikes back on the road. "Generally, people want to ride a vintage bike, but not necessarily collect several at home due to lack of space."

An interesting outlet for these collector's items is a store window. Stéphane Lapointe gives the example of a grocer who wanted to display a vintage delivery bike with a box full of groceries in his window. Charming, isn't it?

And then, you can always count on our hipster friends to decorate their workspaces with any vintage collector's item they can get their hands on, including refurbished ten-speeds and banana-seat bikes.