Paris Galibier

Eccentric but iconic English bike that’s still in production today

- Simon Smythe

The Paris Galibier is about as French as jellied eels. The name might evoke Gallic sophistication and lofty cols, and the frame is exotic and beautiful, but in fact these bikes were made in a small workshop in Stoke Newington, East London, by Harry Rensch.

Rensch changed the name of his bike brand to Paris in the 1940s – he already had a reputation for high-quality frames, but it’s thought he might have been concerned his German-looking surname would be bad for business given the pounding London had taken from the Luftwaffe.