BicycleMonkey

I found this listing on CL. I'm guessing it's a Tour de L'avenir? I can't find much info online. The seller knows nothing about it either. When it was first listed it was priced at $70, now it's $120.

Vintage Gazelle Rare Bicycle

howsteepisit

Low entry level, steel wheels and nutted axles To my eye $50 - $75 would be fair.

I especially like the "it's a racing bike so don't ask about size" comment

BicycleMonkey

I know, right?! Thanks for the info. You saved me a trip.

BicycleMonkey

The seller said it's a 23" frame lol. He sent me some extra pics and said he'd take $80.

big chainring 

That's a fair deal. I had one of these. Not a bad bike. I put wing nuts on the axles to spruce it up a bit. Also an old time racer Fedor den Hertog rode a Gazelle to victory in the Tour d Avenir. He was known for wearing a bowler hat in the TDF peloton.

BicycleMonkey

I bought it for the $80. I pick it up on Saturday. We'll see how it cleans up.

non-fixie 

Interesting find. I own a couple of eighties' Tour de l'Avenirs, which were built by Gazelle's racing department and were basically budget versions of the Champion Mondial, with a Reynolds 531 main triangle. Before that, in the late seventies, there was a 'Raleigh-inspired' version (wrap-around seat stays, brazed-on rear brake cable stop, Crespera lugs), which I've come across on the Internet. Yours seems to be an even earlier version, that I don't recall having seen before.

I did a little search, and the only other example that shares your decals is/was owned by a fellow BF member: @redscampi's Tour de l'Avenir.

Anyway, anything made by Gazelle should be well-built and provide a decent ride, so for $80 I think you did well.

This page gives some background on the various Gazelle models, including the Raleigh link. It's in Dutch, but Google wil provide a somewhat useful translation.

What are your plans with it?

BicycleMonkey

For now I'm just putting the bike in que to be refurbbed. In the meantime, I up loaded a bunch of pics to my imgur account.

Gazelle Tour de L'Avenir - Album on Imgur

non-fixie 

Thanks for the additional pictures. That should clean up nicely. It would look great with white Bluemels, a Brooks B17 and a traditional English saddle bag.

abovetherim

I have the same exact gazelle but mine is maroon in color. I bought it for $50. The frame is in excellent shape and it has alot of mix match components but it's still a good deal.

juvela

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Clearances sufficiently large that they had to employ 750's bow & stern. Yields the opportunity to run 27" wheels with large cross section tyres AND mudguards, if desired.

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non-fixie 

An excellent deal, I'd say! Any chance of pics?

BTW, I love the tubing decal you guys across the pond got. As we live on 'The Continent' we didn't get that, as it was nothing special. All our bikes were 'Fully Continental' BITD.

juvela

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Noted that rear hub is D/S.

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LucasHartong

The Gazelle Tour de l'Avenir is a good bike and not 'entry level'. I know, it's not a Pinarello or Bianchi, but it's strong, functions well and gives you a great ride! It's a tourer, not a racer and was one level below the wellknown Champion Mondial. I recently acquired one and am quite happy with it. I'll post pics later. The components are:

- Year built: 1976
- Frame: Reynolds 531 (Birmingham UK)
- Ballhead: Stronglight
- Fork: Reynolds 531
- Crankblades: Sakae Ringyo 52/42
- Front derailleur: Suntour Compe-V
- Back derry: Suntour V Luxe (code: SC = march 1976)
- Freewheel: Maillard Atom 77 5-speed (not 6!)
- Crank: Stronglight TS (Touring Sport)
- Rims: Weinmann 700c
- Tires: Vittoria rubino orange/black 23 x 622
- Naves: Maillard Normandy (front: 48/74, back: 51/74)
- Quick releases: Maillard MM Atom
- Brakes: Weinmann type 500 (front), 730 (back)
- Brakehandles: Weinmann (dated: 1/76)
- Saddle: Selle Royale suede
- Steering: Sakae SR Custom Japan, Road Champion (3/1976)

Stadjer

Maybe there's some useful info on this site. I'm not into drop bar bikes myself, but I like this kind of websites.

LucasHartong

As promised some pics of the 1976 Gazelle Tour de l'Avenir.