Bought a Gitane!
05-16-11, 11:20 PM
#1
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Bought a Gitane!
So if any of you were following my previous threads where I was asking opinions on all sorts of bikes; Well, I had narrowed it down to two different ones, a Bianchi Trofeo, and a frame-up build of a Gitane with Huret Dropouts.
The Gitane came out of nowhere, and I went to see it and fell in love! The guy who was selling it did a lot of work on it, it has a bunch of newer components whereas the Bianchi was all stock and I wasn't sure what state it was in, it had been stored for awhile, and I wanted something that was ready to go immediately.
So I made an offer and got the Gitane! The only I need to change on it are the pedals, other than that it is good to go.
I don't have any pics yet, but I will take some tomorrow when I get the new pedals on, and maybe someone can help ID the particular model, because it does not have any stickers on the frame...
Now if it wasn't so crappy and wet outside.....arg
The Gitane came out of nowhere, and I went to see it and fell in love! The guy who was selling it did a lot of work on it, it has a bunch of newer components whereas the Bianchi was all stock and I wasn't sure what state it was in, it had been stored for awhile, and I wanted something that was ready to go immediately.
So I made an offer and got the Gitane! The only I need to change on it are the pedals, other than that it is good to go.
I don't have any pics yet, but I will take some tomorrow when I get the new pedals on, and maybe someone can help ID the particular model, because it does not have any stickers on the frame...
Now if it wasn't so crappy and wet outside.....arg
Last edited by craggen; 05-17-11 at 09:16 AM. Reason: added a pic
05-16-11, 11:49 PM
#2
Ellensburg, WA
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ellensburg, WA
Posts: 3,755
Bikes: See my signature
Mentioned: 77 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 313 Post(s)
Liked 458 Times
in
160 Posts
Way to go - lots of Gitane lovers here. Be sure to join over at GitaneUSA.com also.
__________________
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
05-17-11, 06:13 AM
#4
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
05-17-11, 09:17 AM
#6
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
05-17-11, 09:21 AM
#7
Senior Member
Very nice! I love those honeycomb dropouts. I'm not sure of the model, maybe a tdf? It looks nice the way it is, but if you're looking for decals you can get nice ones from cyclomondo. The "bubble" ones would be period correct for that frame, I think.
05-17-11, 09:44 AM
#10
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Working on it, my computer is from the stone ages!
a bunch more pictures! https://supervillain1.imgur.com/gitane
Last edited by craggen; 05-17-11 at 10:08 AM. Reason: added pic
05-17-11, 10:36 AM
#12
Ellensburg, WA
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ellensburg, WA
Posts: 3,755
Bikes: See my signature
Mentioned: 77 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 313 Post(s)
Liked 458 Times
in
160 Posts
I would guess a TdF or Interclub from the mid-70's.
__________________
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
05-17-11, 10:46 AM
#13
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
05-17-11, 10:53 AM
#14
Spin Forest! Spin!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Arrid Zone-a
Posts: 5,956
Bikes: I used to have many. And I Will again.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
Looks like the old centerpull is mounted with not enough clearance of the seat stays. There should be a spacer for the mounting bolt, from 5-10mm thick.
I see the fork takes a recessed brake mounting bolt. I suspect the rear does too.
I see the fork takes a recessed brake mounting bolt. I suspect the rear does too.
05-17-11, 11:01 AM
#15
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I will have to look into that, the brakes work fine, you think they will rub against the seat stays??
05-17-11, 11:52 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pinole, CA, USA
Posts: 17,392
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times
in
25 Posts
It looks like it will rub against the tire. You need a brake with longer reach. It won't rub aganst the seat stays, but it's not mounted correctly.
A mid seventies frame should not take recessed mounting unless it has been drilled.
Strange that it has a solid rear axle.
The cables look better behind the bars.
It has some issues, but I like it.
A mid seventies frame should not take recessed mounting unless it has been drilled.
Strange that it has a solid rear axle.
The cables look better behind the bars.
It has some issues, but I like it.
05-17-11, 03:22 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Minnesota- the frozen tundra
Posts: 1,946
Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Super Grand Prix, 1976 Gitane Tour de France
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Grrr, can't see the pics from work. 
Painted dropouts means Interclub, chrome means Tour de France. I believe the honeycomb dropouts were only used in 1975-1976 but I might be wrong.
Painted dropouts means Interclub, chrome means Tour de France. I believe the honeycomb dropouts were only used in 1975-1976 but I might be wrong.
05-17-11, 04:36 PM
#18
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,474 Times
in
1,437 Posts
Sidepull in front and centerpull in rear? Odd. That centerpull is a cheapie and the sidepull looks (from here) to be more high-end. But that concerns finish, not performance.
It does look as if the rear brake shoe hits the tire. You're going to have a blowout quickly if that's the case.
But all that aside, I'm guessing it gives a fantastic ride. It looks pretty high end, and best of all, it's French.
It does look as if the rear brake shoe hits the tire. You're going to have a blowout quickly if that's the case.
But all that aside, I'm guessing it gives a fantastic ride. It looks pretty high end, and best of all, it's French.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
05-17-11, 05:37 PM
#19
Senior Member
I love the paint on this bike. I would change out the crazy rear brake as well, but other than that it looks great. I've never met a Gitane that didn't have a nice ride, and I'm sure this one's no exception. I am currently working on a weight-weenie build of my '84 Gitane Criterium, I'll post pics when it's done.
05-18-11, 07:08 AM
#21
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It looks like it will rub against the tire. You need a brake with longer reach. It won't rub aganst the seat stays, but it's not mounted correctly.
A mid seventies frame should not take recessed mounting unless it has been drilled.
Strange that it has a solid rear axle.
The cables look better behind the bars.
It has some issues, but I like it.
A mid seventies frame should not take recessed mounting unless it has been drilled.
Strange that it has a solid rear axle.
The cables look better behind the bars.
It has some issues, but I like it.
What do you mean the cables look better behind the bars?
05-18-11, 07:10 AM
#22
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sidepull in front and centerpull in rear? Odd. That centerpull is a cheapie and the sidepull looks (from here) to be more high-end. But that concerns finish, not performance.
It does look as if the rear brake shoe hits the tire. You're going to have a blowout quickly if that's the case.
But all that aside, I'm guessing it gives a fantastic ride. It looks pretty high end, and best of all, it's French.
It does look as if the rear brake shoe hits the tire. You're going to have a blowout quickly if that's the case.
But all that aside, I'm guessing it gives a fantastic ride. It looks pretty high end, and best of all, it's French.
Oh and the brake does not hit the tire, think its just the camera angle, I triple checked
05-18-11, 09:58 AM
#23
Senior Member
It looks like you'll need to find a rear brake with a long reach; it might be that the bike originally had 27" wheels rather than the 700C you now have.
05-18-11, 10:38 AM
#24
DON'T PANIC!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 61
Bikes: Gitane from the mid-70's (still awaiting an ID)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think thats what happened, the seller mentioned something along those lines, and that's why he had to change out the back brake. So how do I search for that, anywhere that would sell them, or any brands/models?
05-25-11, 10:43 AM
#25
Senior Member
If you're still in need of a rear side pull brake with long reach, I do have a set of Weinmann Type 730 (reach is 73mm, center of mounting bolt to center of brake pad). Send me a PM if you want me to dig them up. See here for a picture (not mine): https://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Weinmann...#ht_1175wt_754