Notre Histoire
1902
A visionary founder
Former cycling champion, then salesman for various cycle brands, Maurice Rivet de Clèves was 30 years old when he founded the LABOR Establishments in Neuilly sur Seine. He puts his initials “MRC” on the emblem on the front of his bicycles.
This is the beginning of a long story…
1905
A very stylish reinforced frame
At the beginning of 1900, the steels used in bicycle construction were not yet strong enough to not bend during a big fall. In order to strengthen its models, LABOR takes the exclusive license of a technology that appeared very recently in the United States: the addition of an arched tube under the horizontal tube. This new design is called “Truss frame”.
It was a technical and commercial success and it will become LABOR’s trademark.
The choice of Track Champions
At the beginning of the 20th century, track cycling was the most popular sports in Western Europe and the USA.
Located just a few hundred meters from the Buffalo Velodrome (the first Parisian Velodrome), LABOR unveils its innovative bicycle frame. It’s an immediate success!
The greatest track champions adopt the reinforced LABOR frame for the performance gain provided by its increased stiffness. Racing a LABOR bike becomes synonymous with victory and records.
![1907 10 06 LABOR Louis DARRAGON Ceint de l'écharpe de la ville de Paris championnat du monde [Grand Prix de la ville de Neuilly] 1500px](https://cycles-labor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1907-10-06-LABOR-Louis_DARRAGON-Ceint_de_lecharpe_de_la_ville_de_Paris-championnat_du_monde_Grand_Prix_de_la_ville_de_Neuilly_1500px-1.jpg)
Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque Nationale de France
1906
The promise of the Automotive market
Visionary, Maurice Rivet de Clèves decided to turn to a very promising industry: the Automotive industry. He created another company devoted solely to automobiles. They started by being the French reseller of an Italian automobile company, before quickly selling their own cars under the LABOR brand. The manufacturing of their vehicles was subcontracted to a huge industrialist near Paris.
From 1910, they offered an improved and lighter version of their automobile engines intended for planes and racing boats which met with great success in competition.
Rivet de Clèves dreams of manufacturing his cars in his own factory. To achieve his goal, he will be ready to sell his LABOR cycle company to devote 100% to automobiles and engines.
Unfortunately for him, as for many industrialists who got into the automotive industry just before WWI, it would be impossible to survive after it. Only the very large industrialists strongly established before the war who “took advantage” of the war economy by manufacturing armaments would maintain themselves in this industry, crushing competitors.
1906
Love at first sight for the Tour de France
LABOR is registering his own team at the Tour de France for the first time. Young champions are already achieving their first exploits riding a LABOR, such as the Luxembourger François Faber.
LABOR bicycles will race the Tour de France until the arrival of national teams (and the single, unbranded bicycle for all) in 1930, either as a team or by equipping isolated riders.
Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque Nationale de France
1908
Audacity and innovation at the heart of LABOR
The 1908 Tour de France model innovates even more. To compensate for the painful removal of the wheels to repair a puncture, LABOR patents a new type of bicycle. They will feature both single-sided front and rear forks!
Nowadays, collectors around the world seek them out like the Holy Grail!
1910
A new brand’s emblem!
As a tribute, the famous LABOR reinforced frames appear on the new logo of the brand. Maurice Rivet de Clèves, who is preparing to sell his company (to devote himself to Automobiles), removes his initials in favor of a drawing of a railway bridge. It must be said that since the spreading of LABOR reinforced frames, many saw there a copy of a railway bridge.
In reality, the loading forces have nothing to do between a bridge and a bicycle! We cannot say that the first could have inspired, technically, the second. But by showing this heavy steam train traveling at high speed across the bridge to his bicycles, Maurice Rivet de Clèves appropriates the image of modernity, speed and extreme resistance.
The “truss frame” is now known as “truss-bridge frame”.
1913
A new impetus
The company is absorbed by the Edmond Gentil group (Alcyon brand’s group). Maurice Rivet de Clèves leaves the company. Lucien Gentil, brother of Edmond replaces him as Director of the company.
LABOR then expanded its catalogue with many new models of bicycles, but also motorcycles and mopeds. These new models are not manufactured by LABOR, but are models shared with the group’s other brands. Only the iconic truss-bridge frame bikes will remain exclusive to LABOR.
The professional LABOR team lives on. It will be the team of young talents and future champions. The greatest cyclists will start by winning their first races riding a LABOR before winning their greatest title for the group’s flagship team: Alcyon.
1920
Foray into the world of motorcycle GPs
To promote their motorcycles and mopeds, LABOR take part in the most beautiful Grand Prix in different categories (250cc, 350cc, 500cc). They will not meet the same success there as in cycling.
From 1925, LABOR gradually pull out from motorcycles GP and refocused on what they live for: cycling races and in particular the Tour de France.
1920 – 1940
Decades of success
During the interwar period, the LABOR pro riders team continued to win the greatest races.
New champions, such as the Belgians Albert Dejonghe and Gérard Debaets (both multiple winners of Classics), or Maurice de Waele and Romain Maes (both winners of the Tour de France) rode LABOR bicycles.
1945 – 1959
And very slowly, LABOR falls asleep…
The new war shook up the industry and put a new stop to competitions. The Gentil & Cie group, owner of the LABOR brand, will focus on its main brand: Alcyon, and gradually abandon the group’s other brands.
In 1959, the group merged with the Lucer group, a specialist in mopeds. The latter becomes the new owner of the LABOR brand but will do nothing with it. LABOR is slowly disappearing, leaving an extraordinary track record and history.
2024
The Trailblazer is back in action !
In 2024, LABOR Cycles reborn and innovate again.
Pioneer in mobility since 1902, LABOR is returning to an emerging market: speed bikes (also called Speed-Pedelec or S-Pedelec).
A speed-pedelec is a bicycle offering electric assistance up to 45km/h, almost twice as fast as a conventional pedelec. Often faster than a car in a suburban environment, much lighter and quieter than a moped or motorcycle with a reciprocating engine, a speed-pedelec is also very environmentally-friendly. A speed-pedelec offers the lowest CO2 equivalent emission rate on a complete life cycle analysis compared to all other means of transport equipped with a motor.
Local manufacturing:
Every LABOR is individually handmade in France.
Competition and performance heritage:
Designed as race bikes with leading-edge technologies, LABOR bicycles are ultra-efficient. Featuring a carbon fiber chassis, equipped with the best components, they offer an exceptional driving experience.
Iconic design:
The LABOR truss-bridge frame comes back in a sportier and sleeker livery than ever.
More to come soon…
