Here is a bike I was given as a 15 year old. That was in 1985. It was old then. It was yellow, had no decals. I was told by the cousin it was French. It has French BB threading. The original cable guides and location most closely match an early 1970's Gitane.

I never liked how it rode. But just like the cat, this bike keeps coming back to me. I got the bug to turn it into a touring or cyclocross bike by stripping it down and adding some braze on's

Here is the most before I have. It lived outside on a balcony for 15 years. This pic is actually after I tuned it up and did a bunch of work to it.



When a friend of mine got wind of my little project he wanted it as a Christmas present for his son. Powder coated and outfitted with studded tires as a winter bike for his son.



Christmas morning, the son did not want to keep it since what he really wanted was a $25 bike that would not get stolen from school.

So I have it back again.