Originally Posted by
Superdan
OK! so yeah, craigslist found me a sweet new (old) bike! a perfect condition '85 60cm Gitane Victoire, supposedly less than twenty miles on it in thirty years, all original except the tires and brake cables (housing is still original yellow). I've done some research and i'm aware that this was Gitane's entry-level racer. so component wise they stayed away from the top shelf, while still being functional and light. I found a components list for the full 85/86 line
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1985_pg5.jpg my qui-shone for yous guys is this: what should my priorities be as I upgrade this french lilac?
first of all obviously is this ridiculous plastic seat-post. other than that i'm not quite sure where to go next.
things to keep in mind: 26, 6'3" 215lbs (and dropping), I wanna make this thing go fast, it's my first "real" bike in a long time but I'm lookin to get sweaty. so I want it to hold up, but I don't want to necessarily jeopardize it's "classic-ness" keeping it stock seems stupid considering I want to actually ride it to hell. but my priorities are thus: Durability, affordability, brand-loyalty-ability, period-correct-ability in that order.
pics to come (i don't have a camera, i'm trying to get the seller to email me the shots from the ad)
This is my personal opinion- look at the frame and what it is. Going to the catalog you linked to- the Victoire is CrMo main tubes and Hi-Ten stays and fork. I don't think the main tubes are butted- otherwise they'd proclaim that. While Hi-Ten bike can ride quite smoothly, an all CrMo bike can ride as smoothly, without the extra mass that Hi-Ten needs to maintain that strength. Whatever you hang on the bike- it's always going to have that extra mass because that's what that frame is.
My personal opinion- if the bike fits you, and you like it- Ride it hard. Replace only what needs to be replaced (seat post and brake pads). Keep everything clean and lubed... Keep an eye out for a bike that's higher up the food chain. Bikes that have a butted CrMo frame, stays and fork have really good bones to begin with- hanging nice components off a nice frame can make a measurable improvement.
I love putzing with parts- on good bikes and even less than stellar bikes; Sometimes you can put lipstick on Bugs Bunny and he'll look hot. Other times, you just put lipstick on a pig and it's just a pig with lipstick. In either case, that's kind of gross, and probably would get you arrested in most states...