It's about a 1969-1971 Gitane Hosteller in almost mint condition, even the plastic bar tape looks original. Unfortunately it's photographed from the WRONG side.

"A picture is worth a thousand words, but only if taken from the drive side" T-Mar



The rear wheel appears to be a cheap nutted replacement with maybe a 3 piece hubs. The bike would have originally had 27" steel rims with a QR hub and a Simplex QR to match the front.

Gitane Hosteller bikes were imported/distributed by Mel Pinto and several other Gitane dealers like Big Wheel and Wheel Goods from about 1969 to 1973. They weren't very common or popular in the US because unlike in France and other parts of Europe cycle touring didn't become wide spread until the Bicentennial (Bikecentennial) in 1975. A bike before it's time.

My first Gitane was a 1972 Gran Sport DeLuxe much like this one. It was love at first sight.... ... that is until I got my NOS 1971 all Campy except for the brakes Gitane Super Corsa. It had been hanging on display for ~ 3 years and I bought it for $150 during a year end clearance sale!



Hostellers used the same frame as the Gran Sport model except they had mounting points on the forks for a front rack, a generator bracket on the left chain stray plus were drilled for lighting wires running inside the frame.

They had front and rear racks, matching fenders with head and tail lights, a generator and some of them but not all came with cottered steel triple cranks. They had the somewhat industry standard 50.4mm BCD that allowed the use of alloy chainrings like TA and Stronglight etc.

Gitanes came with either Mafac or Weinmann center pull brakes and Simplex Prestige derailleurs, Lyotard 36 pedals, steel bars, Pivo cast aluminum Death Stems, steel seatposts, cheap prostate specific saddles of different painful varieties... All the accoutrements of entry level French bike boom models.

The Gran Sport models weighed about 27 lbs. - Hostellers weighed in at about 29 to 30 Lbs.

Nothing to write home about in terms of ride and handling. The bike in question looks to be a 62cm. Gitane measured from Center to Top and made bikes in 50cm, 54cm, 57cm, 60cm, 62cm and 64cm size.

The geometry was built to ride on the rough poorly paved European roads of the 1960's. Smaller sizes of gas pipe frames left a lot to be desired in terms of smooth riding. On 60cm and larger frames, especially with riders over ~180 lbs. the ride was much better because the larger frames could flex more.

It would make a real nice classic bike to take out on special occasions. If someone wanted to make it into regular rider with more modern components it could get real expensive, real quick.

BITD I converted several 54cm Gran Sport frames into beater/trainers with mid range components. They served their purpose.

Enjoy!

verktyg