Classic & Vintage - period appropriate-ish crankset for 72 Gitane?

Hi all. Trying to find a crankset for my 72 Gitane grand sport. Suggestions for older, or modern 8 speed cranksets that wont break the bank and will look nice? Right now I am using a shimano 105, which, while works, is not very pretty or french.

Does anyone have experience with Velo Orange cranksets? I've seen a lot of complaints about VO recently. Also, I am not that into the idea of a 46/30 double combo, seems kind of wimpy.

if you want Pretty and French, TA Cyclotouriste is the way to go. They can be had on ebay for around 100.

I've bought quite a few items from Velo Orange over the past year. Right now, I can't think of bad thing to say about any of them. People complain that their prices are high, but they're not Nashbar and they've brought things to market that wouldn't be available otherwise. What complaints have you heard from people who've actually used their products?

I own the Grand Cru 46/30 crank and I have no idea what you mean by "wimpy". If you mean poor quality, you're way off base. The rings are CNCd 7075 alloy! It took me about two days to get used to the double shifts that a wide-range double often requires. With my 11-28 8sp cassette I'm very happy with my gearing.

Ditto to what Zaphod suggested. You can buy TA Cyclotouriste arms and build any combo you want from 26t-62t. Vintage Stronglight and Nervar cranks are classic looking as well.

Stronglight 93 or 105bis. Can't go wrong.

This bike came with a Stronglight 93 and I have a surplus of 93s that I'd be willing to work with you on. PM me if you're interested.

I vote for Stronglight 105 bis, mostly for it's great period looks. Not sure when exactly it came out in the 70's but it would have been a logical period upgrade for a gitane rider in the 70's.

Chombi

'72 Gran Sport did not come from the factory with a Stronglight 93. It came with a cottored crank. This was a 28# bike back in the day. But the 93 would look good.


And by wimpy, I think he was referring to the gearing. As an 85rpm kinda' guy, I wouldn't be into a 46 big ring either. I'da been smoked last night.

A Stronglight 93 would be appropriate and Noah Scape will give you a good deal.

The Stronglight 105 was the successor to the 93 and came out a few years after your bike was produced, but It's still "period appropriate-ish".

Since one hat has been thrown in the ring, so to speak, I can offer a 93 with 105bis rings.

I think the TA 3-pin would add some class (though it possibly came out later than '72):

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GmYBBzTzcVQ/SPKca66suQI/AAAAAAAAB20/Sqelvc-MtTw/s800/Competition650B4.jpg

Neal

And by wimpy, I think he was referring to the gearing. As an 85rpm kinda' guy, I wouldn't be into a 46 big ring either. I'da been smoked last night.

Ah. Right. Well, my top gear is 112 gear inches. Plenty for this masher.

You could go all gawdy and put this (http://cgi.ebay.com/TA-Specialites-triple-crank-set-Cegedur32-42-52-th-/120629481532?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1613d03c#ht_500wt_1153) on your Gitane.

Classic Campag group, cant' be wrong..

'72 Gran Sport did not come from the factory with a Stronglight 93. It came with a cottored crank. This was a 28# bike back in the day. But the 93 would look good.


And by wimpy, I think he was referring to the gearing. As an 85rpm kinda' guy, I wouldn't be into a 46 big ring either. I'da been smoked last night.


Thats exactly what I meant. I think the grand cru is a really nice looking crankset, but I dont know what in gods name I would possibly do with a 30t gear.



The TA 3 pin looks pretty classy!


Noah and CV-6 - apparently my post count is too low to send PMs. Would you please email me?

pavel2012 at gmail dot com.


Ideally I am looking for something like 52/42, in 170 or 172.5.

Thanks for the advice, all.

.......I dont know what in gods name I would possibly do with a 30t gear.

I use my 30t chainring for climbing hills. I'm not the strongest climber.

My 73 Motobecane Grand Jubilee has Stronglight cranks and they look great. Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/STRONGLIGHT-Crankset-Bis-52-42-Vintage-/300475083677?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f5b5eb9d#ht_499wt_1159

And I love the TA too.

My 73 Motobecane Grand Jubilee has Stronglight cranks and they look great. Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/STRONGLIGHT-Crankset-Bis-52-42-Vintage-/300475083677?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f5b5eb9d#ht_499wt_1159

And I love the TA too.
thats a 93 as mentioned above.
ive got one sitting around as well that id let go for a good price.

The Gitane Gran Sport came with a POS steel crank. Anything would be an improvement.

I've been quite happy with anything I bought from Velo-Orange. They know what they're doing.

I think the TA 3-pin would add some class (though it possibly came out later than '72):

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GmYBBzTzcVQ/SPKca66suQI/AAAAAAAAB20/Sqelvc-MtTw/s800/Competition650B4.jpg

Neal

My'71 Gitane had Campy as OEM but I built it up around the same crankset:


http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/top506/Gitane1.jpg

Top

I think that the Stronglight 93 is a nice looking crank. This one came from Noah Scape. I've changed the rings to 48 and 40.

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/46277/2023832740068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2023832740068014369dMXPGa)

Are the stronglight cranks relatively light?

I know its not exactly appropriate, but right now I am leaning towards using this (because its purty):

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/7/6/5/1/8/3/webimg/403638376_tp.jpg


On a different topic, what do you guys with frenchies use for stems? Right now I have a 70mm atax stem thats just a tiny bit too long. I like the way it looks as opposed to big, clunky looking Time stems or the old style with the bolt sticking out of the top, but I realize there arent very many options for 22mm plunger / 25mm clamps out there.

I've been considering getting something like a nitto technomic and sanding it down to 22mm - this would open up a new world of handlebars...

Is there an elegant, somewhat available alternative to this route?

Stem: Pivo Professional is French and perhaps more to your visual pleasure.
VeloBase link (http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=7DA6AB46-8559-4FF4-9B97-8E695A02623B&Enum=102&AbsPos=2)
They may be all 25.0mm clamp. Not sure. Mine was.

Cinelli also made some French stems. Look for a drill mark in the rear on the base of the stem. Mine was a 26.4mm clamp.

Crank: Make sure you find some 116bcd rings as spares.

Are the stronglight cranks relatively light?

I know its not exactly appropriate, but right now I am leaning towards using this (because its purty):

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/7/6/5/1/8/3/webimg/403638376_tp.jpg


On a different topic, what do you guys with frenchies use for stems? Right now I have a 70mm atax stem thats just a tiny bit too long. I like the way it looks as opposed to big, clunky looking Time stems or the old style with the bolt sticking out of the top, but I realize there arent very many options for 22mm plunger / 25mm clamps out there.

I've been considering getting something like a nitto technomic and sanding it down to 22mm - this would open up a new world of handlebars...

Is there an elegant, somewhat available alternative to this route?

Thing was, most, if not all of the French stems at that time was way below the quality level of Italian stems like the ones from Cinelli. Later mid 80's Atax aero clamp style stems did look much better with higher quality than previous models.
I have a Cinelli 1A stem on my 84 Peugeot PSV right now, and I believe that it has a French 22mm neck diameter to fit in the metric Supervitus 980 steering head tube. the 1A seems to be a good one to go with in terms of high quality and basic nice looks if you can find the right 22mm French diameter version as I think I had to do when I replaced my Atax ( I just can't remember what was entailed in my stem changeout back then, but my calipers do show 22mm). I'm surprised though that you are finding a 70mm stem too short as that is already on the short side. might your frame be too big??

Chombi

You started out saying you want period correct, but apparently you don't.

People are recommending some pretty fancy and expensive parts. I'd think twice about putting them on a low end Gitane unless you really like it. The low end Gitanes that I've seen have been very low end.

I'm surprised though that you are finding a 70mm stem too short as that is already on the short side.
Chombi

Say what?