Thread: anyone know
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Old 05-15-17 | 10:46 AM
  #18  
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rustystrings61
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From: Greenwood SC USA

Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others

I think this is a Gitane Interclub from before 1974 or so - it still has the stamped flat rear dropouts instead of the Huret honeycombs. The flat rear brake cable housing stop bridging the seat stays is the deciding factor. The rear stays also taper, unlike the lesser Gitanes, and this model took cable clamps, another sign. The geometry is pretty much the same as the 531-tubed Tour de France, and this would be an ideal exhibit A to support the statement, "The French have a way with gaspipe."

If you go poking around the vintage Gitane forum you'll find a bunch of information on them around there. Somewhere on there are posts talking about the different tubing used in the Interclub through the years. It was always a little bit lighter than standard gaspipe, and some of them were Durifort. Do check the seatpost diameter! The next generation of these with Huret dropouts were Reynolds 531 main tubes. Look for postings by verktyg, who knows lots of Gitane details. This one here features a similar sized Gitane Interclub in its original paint and decals and the photos are still accessible. There's a bit where 25.8 is mentioned as the seatpost diameter for bikes built with conventional tubing, so anything larger diameter would indicate something nicer.

I keep hoping I'll stumble onto one of these in my size just for fun - allegedly they ride very nicely for a bike built of less-than-premium tubing. You have some nice upgraded parts there, and the steel Cinelli stem, gently polished with Quick-Glo or something not overly abrasive, is probably a high dollar item.
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