Alright, I'm not quite sure what I'm getting myself into here. I bought an old bike tonight (not sure it's classic or vintage). My intention is to strip it down and build it up as a single speed. I know that might be like fingernails across a blackboard to vintage bike lovers. Bare with me.

Here's what I got:



(I forgot to take a picture before stripping it down.)

As you can see, it's a Gitane Gypsy Sport. That's basically about what I know about it. I wouldn't be surprised if this is worth almost exactly the same as the steel it's made of. I don't have high expectations. I bought it because it was the right size, and I liked the color and the lugging.



Anyway, the reason I'm posting here is that my first step after taking this thing apart was to go browse around on Sheldon Brown's site, and his page on French bicycles has me worried. Is this thing going to have a weird bottom bracket?

Near as I can tell, this is one of the entry level "made for America" bike, so I was hoping it would have a more normal bottom bracket, but I'm bracing myself for the worst. I don't even have the tools to take it apart at this point, but the thing barely moves, so I don't have a lot of hope for its future.

So, any advice?