Thread: 1973 Gitane TDF
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Old 03-02-21 | 12:10 PM
  #15  
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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 was under the impression that Gitane never really did a changeover of dropouts during the foil decal era - rather, due to the demands of the Bike Boom they used whatever dropouts they had on hand. That's how you get TdFs with Simplex dropouts with integral derailleur tabs AND the matching prong on the left side; same dropouts WITHOUT the left side tang (as the first pattern was used up); Campagnolo dropouts in the rear w/ Simplex fork dropouts and steerers cut for Stronglight P3 headsets; Simplex dropouts without a derailleur tab. I don't remember ever seeing any Mel Pinto-imported TdFs with Huret ends (used on comparable European models with painted non-Reynolds stays), but who knows? They might be out there too.
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