Old 10-22-16 | 06:02 AM
  #23  
verktyg's Avatar
verktyg
verktyg
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 1,270
From: SF Bay Area

Bikes: Current favorites: 1988 Peugeot Birraritz, 1984 Gitane Super Corsa, 1980s DeRosa, 1981 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo, 1992 Paramount OS, 1988 Colnago Technos, 1985 RalieghUSA SBDU Team Pro

Nice job! Your bike is a 1972-1973 model Tour de France. Here's why - read my posts (verktyg) in this link with pictures:

gitaneusa.com :: View topic - How to identify my bike - read first


Summation the posts in the link:

List of original components on 1969- early 74 Gitane Foil Decal Tour de France US model 585 bikes:

Stronglight 93 cranks 52/42T - Sugino Mighty Competition Cranks 52/42T on some 1973-74 bikes

Lyotard 460d alloy pedals

Stronglight P3 Headset

Simplex Criterium dérailleurs with chrome plated or polished aluminum down tube shift levers

Mafac Dural Forge, Racer or Competition brakes

Pivo alloy bar and stem - Pivo stem with recessed Allen head expander bolt on some 1973-74 stems

Chrome plated straight steel seatpost

Freccia D'Oro plastic saddle (meaning Golden Arrow)

Normandy high flange Luxe Competition QR hubs - Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo high flange QR hubs after 1971

36H tubular rims - usually Mavic brand - quality level varied.

Cheap sewup tires with tube of Tubasti rim cement or Jantex rim tape

14-24 or 14-26 Atom or Normandy 5 speed freewheel

Toeclips and toe straps usually Cristophe S. M or L appropriate to frame size and white toes traps

down tubes mounted pump on some bikes - quality varied


Frames:

Reynolds 531 tubing with the 3 main tubes butted (head tubes and steerers where cheap non Reynolds material)

Prugnat Type S long point lugs - Bocama Professional medium point lugs after 1972

Nervex Professional fork crowns - Nervex DuBois fork crowns after 1972 with occasional flat top Wagner crowns before 1972

Simplex dropouts in at least 4 variations including 1 style without a derailleur hanger - rarely Campagnolo 1010 dropouts

1/2 chrome plated rear stays, fork blades and fork crown - rare European versions with no chrome or only the forks chromed

Willow leaf shaped brazed on seat stay caps - swagged seat stay tops after 1971

Bridge for brake cable stop brazed on near top of seat stays - before 1972


During this era Gitane measured frame sizes from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube which was approximately where the seat tube and top tube intersected.

TdFs were available in the following frame sizes C to T:

50cm, 54cm, 57cm, 60cm, 62cm and 64cm nominal

This worked out to approximately 19 1/2", 21 1/2", 22 1/2", 23 1/2", 24 1/2" & 25 1/2" (very nominal)

There were occasional odd ball size frames, for example I have an early 1974 Foil Decals bike with about a 61cm frame - 24"!


Gitane adopted the classic Mylar Foil Decals about 1968. According to this 1968 price list from Mel Pinto Imports, the US Gitane importer/distributor in those days, Foil Decal TdFs may not have been available in the US until February, 1969.


A few early Foil Decal TdFs had Mylar silver foil inlays in the head tube area behind the Gitane head tube badge decal.

Note, only the 3 main tubes were butted Reynolds 531 tubing on the European models TdFs. The forks and stays were less expensive tubing. Only the forks were chrome plated on those bikes. The rear triangle was painted. They came Simplex dropouts with Simplex Criterium derailleurs or Huret Alvit or Svelto derailleurs with Huret dropouts.


The above items are guesstimates based on my experiences and research. Catalog specifications were subject to change on a whim or due to availability and shortage issues during the US Bike Boom era.

The 1970 Gitane US catalog was used until early 1974.

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1970_cover.jpg

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you change the stem? That style of Pivo stem came with a recessed expander bolt was only made for 1 or 2 years. They were much better quality the rough cast Pivo stems used during the early bike boom.

White paint is very easy to touch up. I use automotive touch-up paint tubes. See pictures below.

Pictures of my restored 1969 TdF and my almost all original 1971 TdF.


verktyg

Chas.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
PivoHexBoltStem2.jpg (20.3 KB, 423 views)
File Type: jpg
Touchup4.jpg (95.2 KB, 430 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_1927.jpg (97.9 KB, 431 views)
File Type: jpg
Gitane1971TdF 009Downsized.jpg (98.4 KB, 433 views)
__________________
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....

Chas. ;-)


Last edited by verktyg; 10-22-16 at 06:08 AM.
verktyg is offline  
Reply