Here is a very strange bicycle, a sculpture on a wheel in fact, and which rolls. Created by Léon Masson in 1982, this bicycle is made of cut, curved, welded and nickel-plated steel. Léon Masson (1911-1984) was a painter, illustrator, sculptor, creator of jewelry and decorative objects. Born in Simiane near Aix-en-Provence, he made a living from his art from the 1950s. Some of his works were acquired by the Louvre. "he made a sculpture for the Montreal Olympic Games. He worked for Dior. His works are in many private collections, particularly in Canada where he went on a mission for the Office of Foreign Cultural Relations." (sources: www.vienslechercher.com)
This bike comes from the reserves of the couturier Azzaro, but was probably made for Dior, for fashion shows or for the beauty of the object... Therein lies the mystery. The "Rodéo", because that is its name, is equipped with a sort of cantilevered rear step, probably intended to rear up the machine when starting off. Braking is provided by a hub with a coaster brake, the wheel is a classic 650x35B. The small front wheel is 450x28A. It is rigid, heavy like a Vélib', but rolls very well. This bike is part of the Vélographe Collection.
Léon Masson also created imaginary, scaled-down replicas of bicycles that might have existed at the end of the 19th century. Some of the lines and curves can be found on the 1982 "Rodéo".
