Originally Posted by
Dirtdrop
The TdF and Super Corsa have the names on them. They also have a cute "custom made" decal.
The prices I've seen on TdFs have been quite reasonable compared to Peugeot Px10s. I only paid $123 for my TdF on eBay last year. The only things seriously wrong with it was that the Stronglight 93 crank had been replaced with a T.A Cyclotoutiste and it had a cheap French wheelset. I saw a Super Corsa go for $300 not long ago. They're full Campy NR. I also have a PX10 and I prefer the way the Gitane rides. The headtube on the Gitane is less steep, so it's not so twitchy. The Gitane also has an undersize downtube that I think contributes to its comfortable ride. It doesn't sound like I'm describing a frame built for racing, but Gitane won the Tour de France ten times.
I don't know anything about the models below the TdF. I don't think any of them had Reynolds 531 frames.
I've never owned any Gitanes, but I have been interested in them since my younger brother bought one in the 80's. Interesting thing about his Gitane (Criterium model) was the ultra steep angles (it resilted in a very long top tube) it had that seemed to have been given to it to match it's model name. Although it was mcuh more responsive, hadling -wise than my contemparary Peugeot PSv, it shared the Peugeot's plush ride because it also had Supervitus tubing, so I found it so unusual. The bike also have very nice touches like an internally routed top tube.
I would not mind finding a good one one day to go with my PSV. But I would even be happier if I could ever own a mint Columbus framed "team" bike from the mid/late 80's.
One bad thing I do remeber about my brother's Gitane though, was it's very fragile paint finish that chipped really easily and IIRC, the Gitane decals were not even clear coated, so they fell apart and peeled off on many of them, including my brother's.
Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV