Jantaras

Hello again,

I was keeping an eye for a a Gitane TdF or Supercorsa to buy in Europe, for a frame or a complete bike. I'd like the earlier one with a "folio" stickers and all.

This popped on ebay. It is a restored bike as far as I understand. Is it really a Tdf? The seller states that the tubes are 501, maybe a typo, because the sticker stays 3 tubes 531... The rear dropouts are not honeycomb, no chrome on the chainstays... Tripple crank. Seller states 1980's, but as far as I know in the eighties the stickers were not "folio type", wrong stickers? The stickers are in great condition, so I believe they are new... Huret RD thats probably not very expensive...

So, is the bike worth it (would probably be a 300euro shipping included)?
The Reynolds sticker seems odd, newer saw this kind of version...


Thanks!

Grand Bois

I think it's a 70's bike. As I understand it, only the USA TdF's are full (except the head tube) Reynolds 531 because the importer insisted on it.. My USA bike came with that same crank, but it is a double. I always assumed it was a replacement. I have never seen a TdF with honeycomb Huret dropouts, Mine has Simplex dropouts and Campy fork ends. The brakes are consistent with a 70's bike.

$300 with shipping seems fair.

gbi

The european tdf model had a 3-tubes 531 frame.

The stays were not chromed and early 70s bikes did not use the honeycomb dropouts.(Gitane used honeycomb dropouts in the mid 70s)

It looks like this frame has the rear brake cable stop bridge on the seat stays.(this was used in the early 70s)

Another early indicator is the completely chromed head tube decal.(these were used in roughly the late 60s - early 70s)

bikemig 

This bike looks to be in remarkably good shape including the stickers and paint job. The triple TA crank is a nice touch as well. This is definitely a fine eroica type bike if that is what you are looking for. Everything else being equal, I'd prefer a full Reynolds frame over just a main frame (and likely hi tensile steel for the forks and stays) but honestly the 531 DB main frame European bikes rode great.

zukahn1 

I would agree it is in very nice shape and a European TDF model circa 1970 with optional triple crank considering the very good mostly original condition the price is fairly reasonable. I really like the Gitane blue from the 60's and early 70's one of my favorite vintage bike colors.

Jantaras

Well, looks like the Gitane will be heading my way... It will be the first French bike I own, never have ridden one, but I've heard good reviews
Thanks for the information, much appreciated!

johnnyace 

That looks like a nice one, definitely 70s rather than 80s. I haven't had the chance for a proper road test yet, but I'm really enjoying the ride on my 1972 TdF:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-finished.html

Jantaras

Thanks, that's one of the reviews I've read And the colour of your bike is absolutely stunning!
Interesting, if your bike is from 1972, why the rear triangle has chrome, and the one I bought doesn't? Is it just the difference between USA and European Gitanes, or what?

johnnyace 

I wish I knew. Chas (Verktyg) is our resident Gitane expert, maybe he'll chime in.

gbi

Jantaras, the top European Gitane models were the Super Olympic, Olympic, Champion du Monde and Tour de France.

Top USA models were the Super Corsa and Tour de France.

There are differences between the USA and European models.(like the chrome or no chrome stays on the TdFs)

Since you wanted a Gitane with the foil decals, you are lucky because the chrome head tube decal was only used for a short time.(you could say it was the cream of the crop foil decal set)

Jantaras

I see, thanks for the info

T-Mar

It's definitely not what it's being represented as. The early 1970s, pre-honeycomb dropouts were either the long Simplex or long Campagnolo dropouts. These dropouts are too short for early 1970s.

juvela

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Dropouts are Freres Huret ref. 230 & 231:



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gbi

I believe the European TdF sometimes came with the Huret dropouts like Juvela has shown.

zukahn1 

I have come across several nicer late 60's early 70s Gitanes that had the Huret dropouts usually matched with Huret DR's like on this bike.

T-Mar

Thank-you gentleman. I am familiar with these dropouts, as they were used on some of the boom era Jeunet and Raleigh that I assembled and sold. However, we sold Gitane through 1974 and I can't ever recall seeing this dropout on them. The TdF was predominantly Simplex dropouts with the odd one coming through with Camapgnolo. Of course, if this was a European specification, that easily explains the discrepancy.