Giant Gitane, another edition of mystery bike
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 755
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Giant Gitane, another edition of mystery bike
Posted this in the main forums but it didnt much traction so I'll bring it to the pros.
I've got a seat for it since these pics were taken and the seat post it takes comes in at 25.0. Not sure what this means about tubing but my guess is its nothing special. That's okay by me as I mainly bought it for the already built 700c wheel with a 3 speed hub. Seller said it was a Gitane but other than that he didnt know.
any leads on what I'm looking at would be considered wonderful. The only Gitanes I'm seeing with the chrome fork lugs are are tour de France, but that seems highly unlikely.
anyway pics

Whole bike sans seat. Bad rattle can job. Cant find SN anywhere but the paint is pretty thick. Im guessing its under a coating on here somwhere but Ivve never had a Giante so i dont know where to look(dig).

Chrome fork ends and lugs

Stronglight headset. This and the cranks are the only thing that might be orignal.

Star engraving on seat post. Not sure if this is standard or what

Sugino MIghty tour


Guy painted right over the sticker, cant tell what it was.
I've got a seat for it since these pics were taken and the seat post it takes comes in at 25.0. Not sure what this means about tubing but my guess is its nothing special. That's okay by me as I mainly bought it for the already built 700c wheel with a 3 speed hub. Seller said it was a Gitane but other than that he didnt know.
any leads on what I'm looking at would be considered wonderful. The only Gitanes I'm seeing with the chrome fork lugs are are tour de France, but that seems highly unlikely.
anyway pics

Whole bike sans seat. Bad rattle can job. Cant find SN anywhere but the paint is pretty thick. Im guessing its under a coating on here somwhere but Ivve never had a Giante so i dont know where to look(dig).

Chrome fork ends and lugs

Stronglight headset. This and the cranks are the only thing that might be orignal.

Star engraving on seat post. Not sure if this is standard or what

Sugino MIghty tour


Guy painted right over the sticker, cant tell what it was.
Last edited by Buellster; 12-07-18 at 01:29 PM.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 755
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Well that's a lead thanks!
Vitus made all types right?
I'd be delighted to find it was a nice tubeset, it is a pretty light bike, but I'm figuring it's just a standard hi-ten.
Vitus made all types right?
I'd be delighted to find it was a nice tubeset, it is a pretty light bike, but I'm figuring it's just a standard hi-ten.
#6
Thrifty Bill
25.0 seat post = entry high ten.
has some decent upgrades like the crankset.
the French had a way of making their bikes lighter than competition. My UO8 weighed in around 28 pounds while the Schwinn Continental I had before it was almost 40 pounds.
has some decent upgrades like the crankset.
the French had a way of making their bikes lighter than competition. My UO8 weighed in around 28 pounds while the Schwinn Continental I had before it was almost 40 pounds.
#7
Senior Member
Hey Brandon that looks interesting, have you tried to rub any gas or solvent on the paint? It may reveille what's under that white blanket.
#11
I GOT THE MICROWAVE!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: asheville
Posts: 1,641
Mentioned: 101 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 966 Times
in
548 Posts
The six pointed star stamp in the seatpost lug is nearly identical, if not the same as the one on my mystery frame. It has been suggested (perhaps confirmed) that it was the way Berkeley, CA registered their bikes, read here and look at the pics of my frame for comparison:
Flea Market Mystery Bike-Info Needed
Flea Market Mystery Bike-Info Needed
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 755
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/876002-gitane-interclub-early-70s.html
I even think when I smudged it with paint stripper to find the sticker (which was missing it seemed) the paint was near that green color!
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 755
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
The six pointed star stamp in the seatpost lug is nearly identical, if not the same as the one on my mystery frame. It has been suggested (perhaps confirmed) that it was the way Berkeley, CA registered their bikes, read here and look at the pics of my frame for comparison:
Flea Market Mystery Bike-Info Needed
Flea Market Mystery Bike-Info Needed
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,644
Mentioned: 557 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3667 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,083 Times
in
807 Posts
The stamped dropouts and lack of cable stops would point to an Interclub, as previously suggested. Given the 25.0mm post, that is probably not a tubing decal but Gitane's misleading "Custom Made" decal that was typically placed in that location on the boom era, hi-tensile models.

#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 755
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
The stamped dropouts and lack of cable stops would point to an Interclub, as previously suggested. Given the 25.0mm post, that is probably not a tubing decal but Gitane's misleading "Custom Made" decal that was typically placed in that location on the boom era, hi-tensile models.


An identification from you is confirmation enough from me!
That is a misleading sticker. That looks to be exactly the culprit. It's nice to know what this guy is. I'm so glad somone brought it back from the dead to tell me not use gasoline as a solvent Haha
I've read these are some of the best riding "gas pipe" frames around which makes it incarnation as an internal 4 speed all the more exciting.
I'm missing a few bits still but here it is so far...

Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
steelcollector
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
3
04-01-19 09:23 AM