Classic & Vintage - Gitane frames.....

Were/are vintage Gitane frames any good, and how did/do they compare with vintage Peugeot frames?
Thanx!

Were/are vintage Gitane frames any good, and how did/do they compare with vintage Peugeot frames?
Thanx!
Some were very good, and they competed with Peugeot on different price point models. For some info., check out: http://www.classicrendezvous.com/France/Gitane.htm

Check here:

http://tinyurl.com/m92fj

I have both a Gitane Tour de France and a Peugeot Px10 and I prefer the Gitane for the way it rides.

Check here:

http://tinyurl.com/m92fj

I have both a Gitane Tour de France and a Peugeot Px10 and I prefer the Gitane for the way it rides.


I second that!
I'm not sure why but, I enjoy the feel of my '72 tdf more:D My gal also loves the Gitane mixte I got for her more than any of her other bikes.... this is all despite the fact that the overall lugwork and craftmanship can range from beautiful to not-so-hot.... (one thing you can never accuse Gitane of is consistency, that's why they are unique)

This is the official site:
http://gitaneusa.com/index.asp

Yes, Gitane made some great ones, if you like those French bikes...I do.
Course, they also made some not-so-good, too.
You should also check out Stephen Andranian's site for all things Gitane: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cyclesgitaneclub
That may be an old link, but google him if it is.

I second that!

I third that. I also have an early seventies PX-10 and two early seventies Gitane TdF's. Like Dirtdrop, I prefer the ride of the Gitanes.

Yes, Gitane made some great ones, if you like those French bikes...I do.
Course, they also made some not-so-good, too.
You should also check out Stephen Andranian's site for all things Gitane: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cyclesgitaneclub
That may be an old link, but google him if it is.

That link is long dead. The link to the new site was posted above by me and by bigwoo.

bigwoo

Is that Gitane mixte a 531 frame?

I have only taken one ride on my recently acquired Gitane Tour de France and I can attest to the wonderful ride qualities. Workmanship is marginal, but not substantially worse than Raleigh of the same era.

I have never owned a Peugeot so I can't comment there.

bigwoo

Is that Gitane mixte a 531 frame?[/QUOTE]

I honestly dont know if it's Reynolds but suspect that it is....
It is a beautiful Ladies' "Super World Tour" mixte w/ all of the original powdercoat blue paint in excellent condition and a great head badge....
One thing I do know for sure is that I sure do love the smoothness of the Normandy hubs though!!

i love mine for sure .gitanes are great rides but paint and decals were never one of their strong points.

http://upload3.postimage.org/200699/photo_hosting.html

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=13891&d=1146265206

Lofter's a serious Gitane collector.

Were/are vintage Gitane frames any good, and how did/do they compare with vintage Peugeot frames?
Thanx!

Having owned a Super Corsa (531 - all Campagnolo) 35 years ago, and a like vintage Tour de France currently, they are excellent riders, very good handlers, and very mediocre in the fit and finish department. Crazily enough, their cheap line was finished as good as the top of the line bikes.

If you've got a chance to get one, do so. You'll enjoy it.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

bigwoo

If it has the Normandy Luxe Competion hubs, It's probably an upscale model built with some kind of good tubing. I want one! I'm not sure why, but I really like mixtes.

Could you be persuaded to post pictures?

Lofter's a serious Gitane collector.

i about got all the bikes put together .it really cost alot to put old parts on them too. i collect vitus frames too. i like the 80's golden era 1980 to about 1988.:D

i about got all the bikes put together .it really cost alot to put old parts on them too. i collect vitus frames too. i like the 80's golden era 1980 to about 1988.:D

The French certainly got their bicycle act together during that period. Too bad it was too late.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a10/EColnago/gitanetourdefrance010.jpg

purdy italianbiker

Is that the original seat that the TdF came with? I know the one I've got isn't correct, although probably period correct, but for the life of me can't remember how they original hit the shops.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

Is that the original seat that the TdF came with? I know the one I've got isn't correct, although probably period correct, but for the life of me can't remember how they original hit the shops.

Syke
Deranged Few M/CMy father bought a Grand Sport de luxe in 1970, and had the shop swap out the original seat for one that looks very much like the one in that pic. Those were the bike boom precursors of the gel seats that later became popular. I *think* my mother's mixte still has the original seat on it. Next time I'm there, I'll take a look at it and post what I find.

That bike would have been equipped with an Ideale leather saddle. I wish he's take that horrible plastic saddle off of that beautiful bike! I told him that last time he posted a picture.

yeah i did finally take that seat off and replace it with a nice ideale seat, that seat looks and feels bad

One frame I have not seen mentioned is the Gitane Professionale, a Reynolds 531 frame which at least one of which was sold in the early 80's from colorado cycles. I built it from scratch although I was not the person who bought the frame originally;. Was this really a competition bike or merely one that was intented to ride on the fame of the t de f or other predecessors? Mine is in mint condition and I love it dearly, but maybe because it fits, and the components are right for me.

I saw a Gitane tandem at a garage sale a couple weeks ago. It was not in great shape though, they wanted $75 and it needed plenty of parts, work, and paint. It had mixte style downtubes for both captain and stoker if I'm remembering right though, which was interesting.

french frames
it's funny... but the lesser cousin of the 70's frenchie bike, the Jeunet... the one i owned was the fastest, breeziest french bike i ever rode. I miss that bike

I saw a Gitane tandem at a garage sale a couple weeks ago. It was not in great shape though, they wanted $75 and it needed plenty of parts, work, and paint. It had mixte style downtubes for both captain and stoker if I'm remembering right though, which was interesting.

I spent an agonizing day assembling a Gitane tandem while working at a LBS at age 16. It was Good Friday, 1974. Why do I remeber the day? I had just passed my driver's test a couple of hours earlier! That and the bike will be etched in my memory forever.