Steel is real: 10 of the finest randonneur bikes from Paris-Brest-Paris 2023

Randonneurs, also known as audaxes or brevets depending on which part of the world you're in, are timed cycling events that are longer than 200km with checkpoints along the way.

Traditionally, for these rides, the tool for the job was the randonneur bike, (referred to as a 'rando-wagon' by those in the know). Randonneur bikes have comfortable steel frames, wide tyres and mounts for racks and bottles. They're usually handmade, and they're quite a sight to behold.

These days though, modern road bikes have all but taken over. Only a small band of loyal traditionalists carry the torch for the rando-wagon. At the 2023 edition of Paris-Brest-Paris, we sought out the most beautiful, most traditional rando-wagons we could find.

Click on each image to see the bikes up close.

More from PBP: Weird and wonderful bikes from PBP

The best bikes we saw at Paris-Brest-Paris

1. Geoff Booker tricycle

Geoff Booker is a one-man frame manufacturer from the UK. His Trykit axle design allows for 2-wheel drive, whereas most tricycles are driven by just one wheel. Booker is no longer producing frames, so this is a rare treat. Pay attention to the brakes. As is common on tricycles, this bike has two front brakes – a disc and a rim brake – and nothing on the rear wheel.

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A tricycle made by Geoff Booker

2. Jitensha Studio Ebisu

Hiroshi Iimura opened the Jitensha Studio in 1982. Since then, he's been producing steel frames for custom requirements, while balancing his time between the USA and Japan.

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The Ebisu from Jitensha Studio, USA

3. TJ Cycles Flying Gate

TJ Cycles have been producing their unmistakeable 'flying gate' frames since 1979. This one, belonging to British rider Bob Donaldson, has been built with period-appropriate componentry, a wooden mudguard and a brooks saddle.

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TJ Cycles's 'flying gate' frames are handmade in the UK

4. Bilenky Cycle Works

Stephen Bilenky started custom building steel frames in 1983. 40 years later, Bilenky and his team are still producing steel and now titanium bikes to measure. This vintage Bilenky has a traditional quill stem and reassuringly brown colour scheme.

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Bilenky Cycle Works has been producing steel bikes in Philadelphia, US, since 1983

5. Stanforth Skyelander

Stanforth are a British manufacturer, who also produce custom steel frames to measure. The company has only been operating since 2014, but this Stanforth Skyelander has been built with the traditional stem and horizontal top tube.

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A Stanforth Skyelander, built in the UK

6. John Clay

This striking randonneurring bike has a beautiful paint job and traditional details. John Clay is a small-time frame builder from Florida, US. As far as we can tell, he's only made a handful of bikes, making this one a real rarity.

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This 650B wheeled bike, built by John Clay, appears to be one of a kind

7. Panasonic National DX 3000

Panasonic produced the DX 3000 between 1980 and 1989, in various specs and iterations. From the colour, this appears to be the 1981 edition, which uses 4130 tubing and Shimano Altus components. This bike, belonging to Finnish rider Paull Lempa, uses a mix of components old and new.

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One of the few genuinely vintage bikes on this list, a National DX 3000

8. Rourke Handbuilt Cycles

Rourke are a well-renowned framebuilder from Stoke-on-Trent, UK. This custom built bike has all the modern fixtures and fittings: thru-axles, disc brakes and a Shimano GRX groupset. Thanks to some well chosen finishing touches, this modern steel bike has all the charm of a classic randonneur bike.

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A modern take on a classic; a Rourke with disc brakes

9. Chapman Cycles tandem

Rhode Island frame builder Brian Chapman build a tandem for himself and his wife that won first place in the 2018 North America Handmade Bike Show. This foldable tandem, also built by Chapman, is an entirely different design, and appears to be a one-of-a-kind creation for a customer.

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A modern build, traditional tandem from Chapman Cycles, USA

10. Crust Romanceur

Crust are one of the biggest and most media-savvy brands in randonneuring. This bike is the brainchild of cycling influencer, Ronnie Romance, more commonly known by his handle: ultraromance. Like the Rourke above, this takes the geometry and feel of a traditional rando-wagon and applies disc brakes and other subtle modern touches.

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The Crust Romanceur