Ever since moving to France I’ve always thought that I should be buying European bikes. I have one Bianchi that is Italian but made in Asia, and a Colnago that is Italian and made in “Ernesto’s basement”, near Milan.

In the not-so-distant-past, Look bikes were made in France (one of you has one, I think), but production has moved east now. And Time – an innovative French brand – was until very recently still made here. I’ve had my eye on this one for some time and even tested it out a few years ago.

It’s the Time Alpe d’Huez 01, the company’s climbing bike. Well, it turns out that production of Time bikes did move east, but only to Slovakia. It’s nice to know that there are some bikes still made in the EU. Now that I have a good reason to buy one, I’ll just need the money.