Classic & Vintage - New-to-me Gitane Tour de France- help pinpoint year?

Hi all-

I recently purchased this TdF from the original owner, who said he bought it new sometime around 65, 66... something like that. I was wondering what you guys think, if you have any input, resources, etc. I started taking parts off the frame in order to give it a good cleanup, rust proof the inside of the tubes, etc. (Which explains why it looks like a track bike with derailleurs...)

The saddle is not original, but it's a similar style. It's made by Middlemore of England, if anyones knows of that company. (I'd never heard of them. Assumed a Brooks knockoff.)

It has Simplex derailleurs, friction shifters, and dropouts; Campy hubs and QR levers; Mavic "Championnat Du Monde" sew-up rims; Reynolds 531 of course; a Huret derailleur cable stop on the seat tube; Pivo stem; Stronglight (I think Super 93 or 94?) crankset; and Mafac Competition brakes.

In theory, I want to strip the frame, and possibly save the decals (right...) and repaint it the original color, re-apply the decals (original or repro's) and then clear coat it even though that's "not original". I need that extra durability as I want to ride the mess out of it when it's done.

Please let me know what you think, and any input would be greatly appreciated.



http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_Z4.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/Z4.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_TourdeFrancewithSawyer.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/TourdeFrancewithSawyer.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_TourdeFrance2.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/TourdeFrance2.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_TourdeFrance.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/TourdeFrance.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_toptube.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/toptube.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_stronglight.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/stronglight.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_stem.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/stem.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_shifters2.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/shifters2.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_shifters.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/shifters.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_servicecoursecloseup.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/servicecoursecloseup.jpg)

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_seattubejunc2.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/seattubejunc2.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_seattubejunc.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/seattubejunc.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_seattubegitane.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/seattubegitane.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_seatpost.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/seatpost.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_rrdropout.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/rrdropout.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_rrder2.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/rrder2.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_rrder.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/rrder.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_rightchainstay.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/rightchainstay.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_reynoldslogo2.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/reynoldslogo2.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_reynoldslogo.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/reynoldslogo.jpg)

http://www.gitaneusa.com/models_1.asp

http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues01.asp

1970 TdF
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/models/tourdefrance/1970GitaneTourdeFrance.jpg

1976 TdF
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/models/tourdefrance/1976_frame.jpg

1978 TdF
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/models/tourdefrance/1978.jpg


here's one on eBay right now
http://cgi.ebay.com/Gitane-road-bike-tour-defrance-54-cm-frame_W0QQitemZ150166898718QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101

It appears you have an early 70's bike.
Decals may be difficult. I'd take lots and lots of very good photos of all the decals then send them to someone who makes decals professionally.

Off hand I would say your seller's memory is faded. I don't think that is any older than 1970. I would venture to say the Campy hubs are Tipo and not original to the bike. Original in this case I believe would be Normandy Luxe Competition. Not a criticism, just observation. If you are not hung up on original, then I would ditch the current derailleurs and shift levers for later model Simplex...not made of Delrin. You will not regret it. As for removing the decals...I doubt you will have much success. But there is a project afoot with a reputable person to reproduce them. I have a Super Corsa I am needing decals for myself.

EDIT: I see from the catalog page link that Campy hubs were an option for the 70 TdF.

Thanks for the quick reply.

That's what I was guessing for the year as well, but I wondered about the brakes. The 1970 catalogue shows the Racer Lux model, and mine has Competitions. Were those commonly used in place of one another?

-toby

CV-6

I'm beginning to agree that it's later 60s/ early 70s, but he did say that never replaced anything on it other than the seat and tires. He was pretty adamant about that fact. Maybe for a reason, who knows.

-toby

I'd say 70-73. Here is my 73:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f106/RabidKoala/IMG_0337.jpg

Thanks for the quick reply.

That's what I was guessing for the year as well, but I wondered about the brakes. The 1970 catalogue shows the Racer Lux model, and mine has Competitions. Were those commonly used in place of one another?

-toby

"Racer Lux" was a bad French to English translation. There are no "Racer Lux" brakes. They really meant "Competition" and so you have the more desirable brakeset than the plain "Racers"

Someone posted a mid-60's Gitane on here a few months ago and the foil ST decal was squared off top and bottom, not diamond shaped as they were around 1970. You'll also notice from the catalogues that the TdF started as a 3 tubes 531 bike, went to all 531 around 1970, then reverted back to 3 tubes later in the 70's. And I doubt that seatpost is original. Pull it and look at the date on the bottom back of the post.

I'll go with the 70-73 vintage, too. '73 was the last year for the foil decals, and I have vague memories of that yellow from that vintage (although that was a very unpopular color). The Tipo hubs may be original, as I seem to remember they were an option over the stock Normandies.

Backup on the guess is my 71 - rather original except for the wheels (it came without and I've never gotten around to building the replacements). You're going to love the bike, it's a wonderful rider. (To the sharp eyed, yes the front dérailleur is/was wrong - it's been replaced with a proper Simplex since the pic was taken):
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q10/sykerocker/Gitane11.jpg

While we're on the subject, has anyone else ever seen an early 70's TdF in a color that can best be called blackberry? It was a black, with a definite undercurrent of red in the color. I have very strong memories of one of the guys in the Presque Isle Bicycle Club having one back in the day, and it's the only time I'd ever seen the bike in that color.

While we're on the subject, has anyone else ever seen an early 70's TdF in a color that can best be called blackberry? It was a black, with a definite undercurrent of red in the color. I have very strong memories of one of the guys in the Presque Isle Bicycle Club having one back in the day, and it's the only time I'd ever seen the bike in that color.

I do recall Gitanes coming in an eggplant color. I dont know if it was offered on the TDF model.

Actually wasnt Lucien Van Impe's bike eggplant with a white saddle.

Nope - blue

http://www.tourdefrance.nl/images/fotos/76VanImpe.jpg

[QUOTE=bbattle;5385584]http://www.gitaneusa.com/models_1.asp

http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues01.asp

What is that web site? Is Gitane USA affiliated with the "real" CycleEurope Gitane (like Bianchi USA) or some private entity like Retro Raleigh or that Peugeot website with the UO-8's? That has a great deal of really cool information.

[QUOTE=bbattle;5385584]http://www.gitaneusa.com/models_1.asp

http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues01.asp

What is that web site? Is Gitane USA affiliated with the "real" CycleEurope Gitane (like Bianchi USA) or some private entity like Retro Raleigh or that Peugeot website with the UO-8's? That has a great deal of really cool information.

Private web site by the sandman - check out the pics of his workshop/shrine on the Gitane forum

I do recall Gitanes coming in an eggplant color. I dont know if it was offered on the TDF model.

I remember that most of the eggplant bikes were Interclubs. Never saw a Gran Sport Deluxe in it (they always seemed to be blue or green), nor a Super Corsa (white and blue), one or two TdF's (which seemed to run the whole gamut of color - green, blue, eggplant and blackberry), and have vague memories of the mixte model painted that way (mostly blue and green).

At least up in our area, the predominant Gitane color was green - and not many other manufacturers were using it, to the point that I was assuming dark metallic green meant Gitane like celeste meant Bianchi.

FWIW - I bought my circa 1971 TdF from the original owner who said it was original as he bought it from the East coast importer. It has(had) Simplex Criterium derailleurs, Campy Nouvo Tipo hubs, Mafac Competition brake calipers, and a Middlemore leather saddle. That saddle is the most comfortable one that I have, which include Brooks Professional, B17(standard & narrow), B15, Flyer, Ideale 90, and Cinelli Unicanitor.

While we're on the subject, has anyone else ever seen an early 70's TdF in a color that can best be called blackberry? It was a black, with a definite undercurrent of red in the color. I have very strong memories of one of the guys in the Presque Isle Bicycle Club having one back in the day, and it's the only time I'd ever seen the bike in that color.

Could it be criterium violet?

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1970_pg11.jpg

Could it be criterium violet?

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1970_pg11.jpg

No, this bike was a definite black - but in bright sunlight you'd catch a touch of red, and Mike (the owner - damn, I still remember his name!) would make touchup paint by blending Testor's black and red in a 3:1 ratio. Looking at that chart, I realize I've never seen criterium violet on a Gitane. Or champion blue or record red, for that matter.

I've also never seen a Gitane Hosteller in the steel - just catalog pictures.

Gives you an idea of what sold in northwestern PA during the bike boom.

While we're on the subject, has anyone else ever seen an early 70's TdF in a color that can best be called blackberry? It was a black, with a definite undercurrent of red in the color. I have very strong memories of one of the guys in the Presque Isle Bicycle Club having one back in the day, and it's the only time I'd ever seen the bike in that color.


Yes! When I worked at the LBS back in 1974, the owner's personal bike, a Super Corsa, was a really dark maroon color that appeared black unless it was out in the sun or in fairly bright light.

Looking at that chart, I realize I've never seen criterium violet on a Gitane. Or champion blue or record red, for that matter.

An early seventies violet Super Corsa sold on ebay a few months ago for about $500. The buyer stripped the components and then resold the frameset. Some would probably think it too flamboyant, but I liked the looks of it. Unfortunately, it was several inches too big for me.

I guess mine's the "Sport Orange"...

Thanks to all for the feedback. I look forward to getting it ride-ready.

I'll post more pics as I make progress.

Hello again. Got some work-in-progress pics. Alot of the chrome and AL came out awesome when I was done:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_shinyfork2.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/shinyfork2.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_shinyfork.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/shinyfork.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_crankset2.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/crankset2.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_crankset.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/crankset.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_cleanseatpost.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/cleanseatpost.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_cleanrims.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/cleanrims.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_brakes2.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/brakes2.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_brakes.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/brakes.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_bottombracketarea.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/bottombracketarea.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_bikeshrine.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/bikeshrine.jpg)

That last one above is the "bike shrine" in my living room. Not that this bike will be a hanger, it's just a non-eye sore place to keep it when I'm not on it. That, and it looks cool under the poster.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/th_barandstem.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/barandstem.jpg)

A little more back-up on the age; the Simplex DR is a 1971 or 72 Criterium-

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/r.amaki/prestige.htm

I have had quite a few bikes re-finished over the years and personally I would never re-finish a bike in that condition. If I find a bike that is devoid of most of it's parts and has been painted over, then no problem but yours is beautiful. I love patina, I love ratty, I don't like rust, dents or horrible gouges. Check out the well loved, much ridden bikes of L' Eroica, they scream history and adventure. Overly restored bikes are for OFG that obsess on minutiae and arguing build details on the internet. Wax it, ride it, love it!

I LOVE orange bikes, I am going to repaint all my bikes orange.....

Thanks for the link. Those are great shots. I'm excited to get it further put together. I was thinking perhaps going to Campy Nuovo Record for the derailleurs, but I might try to find a Super LJ, if there're any to be had for less than an arm.

I have had quite a few bikes re-finished over the years and personally I would never re-finish a bike in that condition. If I find a bike that is devoid of most of it's parts and has been painted over, then no problem but yours is beautiful. I love patina, I love ratty, I don't like rust, dents or horrible gouges. Check out the well loved, much ridden bikes of L' Eroica, they scream history and adventure. Overly restored bikes are for OFG that obsess on minutiae and arguing build details on the internet. Wax it, ride it, love it!

I LOVE orange bikes, I am going to repaint all my bikes orange.....



I tend to agree. I think if I went too crazy with all the details, I'd hesitate too much to get on it. So I'm going to make it look how I want, and ride the mess out of it. When I'm not on the aluminum beast, anyway. ;) I do love the orange, and I think it'll be great with white tape, saddle, and cables.

I have had quite a few bikes re-finished over the years and personally I would never re-finish a bike in that condition. If I find a bike that is devoid of most of it's parts and has been painted over, then no problem but yours is beautiful. I love patina, I love ratty, I don't like rust, dents or horrible gouges. Check out the well loved, much ridden bikes of L' Eroica, they scream history and adventure. Overly restored bikes are for OFG that obsess on minutiae and arguing build details on the internet. Wax it, ride it, love it!

I LOVE orange bikes, I am going to repaint all my bikes orange.....

Agree 100%. If a bike has passable, even a little ratty original paint, try to keep it unrefinished. Many like the unrestored look and collectors usually pay top dollar for an unrestored bike. And your bike's paint looks like its in very good condition for its age.

It is. There are a couple of spots that I'm going to touch up though, just as a preventive measure. There are a couple of scratches, and one spot on the botton bracket that had some corrosion under it that I scraped off. Other than that, it's solid.

A little more back-up on the age; the Simplex DR is a 1971 or 72 Criterium-

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/r.amaki/prestige.htm

That same derailer was original equipment on my '74 PX10. I still have what's left of it.

Hi all-

It's my first time back to the forums in a long while, and I thought I'd start back here with a very long overdue update on this bike.

Now I know that some of what I did to it is not period correct, but I was going for my balance of pragmatic usability while staying fairly close to the original. So... here are the few update shots I have of it so far:

[URL="http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/DSCN0863.jpg"]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/DSCN0863.jpg


[URL="http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/DSCN0862.jpg"]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/DSCN0862.jpg


[URL="http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/DSCN0861.jpg"]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/DSCN0861.jpg

Obviously it's not complete, but it's pretty darn close. I have mismatched wheels of course, and I hope to have that rear wheel sorted out soon.

But I really love how it turned out with the white tape and new brown saddle. Hope you like it. (Or can at least tolerate it...)

Thanks.

Please replace those zip ties with some proper Simplex cable clamps!

:rolleyes: Yeah, I know... I do have the original clamps all polished and ready to rock, but I need some replacement bolts for them- the heads on two of them snapped off during removal... :mad:

I also want to replace the cable housing with white, but black was all I had and I was in one of those moods- "I'm going to get it together with what I got, cuz I wanna ride it!"

But it's getting there.

Hmmm...I was thinking it was the front wheel that needed to be sorted out as it's missing half the spokes. You won't be damned for this one but we'll send Phil, the prince of insufficient light, over to chastise you and show you the error of your ways ;) But seriously it looks like a nice rider. Maybe not how I would have done but hey, I ain't ridin' it right?:) What kind of saddle is that? Looks interesting.

The saddle is a Bontrager, of all things. List price on it is like 50-60 IIRC, but I managed to score it for 5 out of a swapped parts bin... Insanely comfortable though.

I'm debating on the wheels too. Yesterday I was at a local shop, and they have pretty nice Vittoria tubular tires for 23.99 ea. For that price, I might just keep the stock rims. However, the front rim has a flat spot that I'd have to try to reshape without damaging it.

:rolleyes: Yeah, I know... I do have the original clamps all polished and ready to rock, but I need some replacement bolts for them- the heads on two of them snapped off during removal... :mad:

I also want to replace the cable housing with white, but black was all I had and I was in one of those moods- "I'm going to get it together with what I got, cuz I wanna ride it!"

But it's getting there.

I have replaced the screw and nut on both Campagnolo and Simplex clamps with with 4mm stainless ones from Bolt Depot. The original nuts are attached, but they snap off easily. They'll never rust.

I think you're going to love that bike. There's something special about the way they ride. My Gitane TdF is the best riding bike I've ever ridden.

looks a lot like the one I had for a few seasons.
I was 2nd owner. It was pretty much exactly as your's appears except it was sortta a light chanpagne bronze - THE color of the early 70's.
Original owner said he bought it in late 72 and the only thing he changed were the derailleurs. He replaced the simplex stuff with Suntour Vgts, a huge improvement according to him.
I liked the machine a lot. A very comfortable ride but still very quick.
I sold mine to a friend who also luv'd it and kept it for as long as we remained in touch.
HAlf chromed stays and fork, just like yours, MAFAC centerpulls. Life of me I can't remember the wheel hubs, rim were Super Champion, saddle was a god awful Ideale 90 (which I quickly subbed for a unicanitor).
Never raced it, since I was on Fuji (Ace) at the time... But still a very enjoyable ride. The Fuji felt like a truck compared to the TDF.
But being French threading, it was a pain to have 2 sets of freewheels and other threaded stuff. During a hiatus from riding for Fuji, I sold the TDF to buy a Raleigh Pro MK IV with the Campy NR gruppo.

That last one above is the "bike shrine" in my living room. Not that this bike will be a hanger, it's just a non-eye sore place to keep it when I'm not on it. That, and it looks cool under the poster.
[/URL]



Show off the drive side!

edit: Just noticed the date.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/tobydeemer/DSCN0863.jpg

Hope you like it. (Or can at least tolerate it...)



:eek: :wtf:

No, I do not like it. Not at all.

A Gitane TdF is such a nice bike - but with this front wheel, these brake levers, this saddle and those tt cable clamps it is nothing but a mongrel.
Crosschained and with a questionable RD adjustment at that.
You should have done that to an UO-8 instead, a full racer doesn't deserve this.

It really looked nicer when you bought it, a lot more classy.

Just my (!) $0.02.

He'd really hate mine!

I couldn't care less.

No, I do not like it. Not at all.

It's a really nice bike but not a holy relic, so enjoy the heck out of it. When I was a teen in the early 70's, my LBS, Colley Avenue Bike Shop in Norfolk Va., had a metallic green TdF and a metallic dark red Super Corsa for sale for ages. They were the object of my desires for some time. I ended up getting a used English racing bike called a Kenistons, a make that I have never seen nor heard of again.

He'd really hate mine!

I couldn't care less.

IIRC it's the turquoise one with the chainguard and the upright bars, right!?
If so, I actually like it, sorry. :p

:eek: :wtf:

No, I do not like it. Not at all.

A Gitane TdF is such a nice bike - but with this front wheel, these brake levers, this saddle and those tt cable clamps it is nothing but a mongrel.
Crosschained and with a questionable RD adjustment at that.
You should have done that to an UO-8 instead, a full racer doesn't deserve this.

It really looked nicer when you bought it, a lot more classy.

Just my (!) $0.02.


Well, if you'll notice in an earlier post, I did mention that it's not finished. I'm going to replace the cable clamps, get the wheels paired correctly, and sort out the last details.

"Work in progress"

And that being said...

You ride what you like, and I'll ride what I like while taking the die-hard, dismissive purists in stride.

:rolleyes:

He'd really hate mine!

I couldn't care less.

Which one Dirtdrop? I've seen pictures of your bikes and never noticed anything that didn't meet my elitest standards ;) Show us pictures of the offending bike! :D

:eek: :wtf:

No, I do not like it. Not at all.

A Gitane TdF is such a nice bike - but with this front wheel, these brake levers, this saddle and those tt cable clamps it is nothing but a mongrel.
Crosschained and with a questionable RD adjustment at that.
You should have done that to an UO-8 instead, a full racer doesn't deserve this.

It really looked nicer when you bought it, a lot more classy.

Just my (!) $0.02.

Hey! What's wrong with UO8s? You dissin' my bike? ;) :)

Which one Dirtdrop? I've seen pictures of your bikes and never noticed anything that didn't meet my elitest standards ;) Show us pictures of the offending bike! :D

I had to give up the Simplex chainguard when I upgraded the FD. I've turned a classic road racer into an old man's bike, but it's my favorite bike to ride.

I know you didn't like the Campagnolo crank on my Peugeot. I didn't like it either. I traded a Duopar for a Stronglight 93 and installed it last night. It looks much better. I'll post a picture later, for now I'm going to go try to track down a trailing arm for a 2002 Buick Regal.

http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/43367/2089898570068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2089898570068014369RAzMQj)

I had to give up the Simplex chainguard when I upgraded the FD. I've turned a classic road racer into an old man's bike, but it's my favorite bike to ride.

I know you didn't like the Campagnolo crank on my Peugeot. I didn't like it either. I traded a Duopar for a Stronglight 93 and installed it last night. It looks much better. I'll post a picture later, for now I'm going to go try to track down a trailing arm for a 2002 Buick Regal.

I think your C&V membership is safe. You may have repurposed it a bit but it still looks very correct for the period. Well, maybe you need some gumwall tires ;) And yeah, that Stronglight 93 looks great on there!

tobydeemer,

Way back when, while I was in college the temptation for me to steal something was significant. In the front window of a LBS in Butler, PA was an orange Gitane Tour De France. More than once I stood outside the store and plotted my crime. Well, eventually the bike sold and I didn't risk jail time and even convinced myself that my Raleigh SuperCcourse TT was a comparable bike. Currently I'm in the process of bringing the Super Course back to it's rightful condition. To date I have over $700 invested in NOS bars, stem, seat post, vintage Mavic tubular wheels, freewheel, tires, decal sets, shifters, derailers and assorted hardware bits and I've yet to pay for the frame painting, all for a bike that cost me $190 in 1973. Enjoy your ride and hopefully we'll cross paths someday on our new/old bikes.

tobydeemer,

Way back when, while I was in college the temptation for me to steal something was significant. In the front window of a LBS in Butler, PA was an orange Gitane Tour De France. More than once I stood outside the store and plotted my crime. Well, eventually the bike sold and I didn't risk jail time and even convinced myself that my Raleigh SuperCcourse TT was a comparable bike. Currently I'm in the process of bringing the Super Course back to it's rightful condition. To date I have over $700 invested in NOS bars, stem, seat post, vintage Mavic tubular wheels, freewheel, tires, decal sets, shifters, derailers and assorted hardware bits and I've yet to pay for the frame painting, all for a bike that cost me $190 in 1973. Enjoy your ride and hopefully we'll cross paths someday on our new/old bikes.

That sounds awesome. It's probably more indepth than I really have the pockets for, honestly... But I do admire that level of work.

On a side note, I had the bike out today in a small group ride. We did 24 miles, and the original drive train (but for the new brake levers, of course) held up without issue. Rides like an old familiar dream, as it were.