Gitane
 

We have done a deal & my Tansley tourer is going to be my Dad's bike, so i am looking for a new tourer to take up the South Island west coast & then around Japan or well, anywhere.

I'm keen on a classic frame that isn't a heavy dog unloaded, but i'm not sure how suited lightwieght 'racing' frames from the 70s/ 80s will be ? This Gitane looks like it has rack mounts, clearance for 28mm tires, medium length wheel base, and i don't mind caliper brakes, but are ~60cm racing frames too dainty for touring / prone to dings if anything hits the butted tubes or otherwise ill suited? I wouldn't take the kitchen sink or load the front much.

I'd love something that still rode well unloaded, but maybe this is foolish? Should i look for a mid-range frame, to get less aggressive butting? My moser sure doesn't ding or feel fragile, and that's low- mid range i think.

I'll be speccing it with a triple, dt shifters & a ~11-32 cassette, or if an actual classic touring bike comes up with some cool old-school wide range stuff, i'll try to keep it.

Cycles Gitane | Trade Me

Can anyone help me identify this Gitane & are there any French hangups to be aware of? I don't mind finding some nice old French parts like a Stronglight triple or something if need be.

Gitane USA - Catalogues

http://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserv.../395176294.jpg
http://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserv.../395176360.jpg
http://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserv.../395176444.jpg
http://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserv.../395176576.jpg

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/...f.jpg~original

If this is me on a 56 square frame, happy for any good rides 100km or under, what size frames should i look for to tour on? I'm 6'2

Cheers all : )

56 square sounds really small for a guy 6'2", but if you're happy on it, then go for it. I'm only 6'0" and don't even bother checking anything with less than a 59cm top tube anymore. Pretty much always that means a 60+ seat tube, usually 63.

That Gitane is pretty low end from what I saw on the original trademe auction before RWI got hold of it :-) . It is NOT the same bike as in the pictures from the catalogue.

I might have a frame floating about that would be ok for touring ( guards and racks ) but still light and tight :-)
Pm me if you like and we can discuss :-)

I think frame size is a culture thing to some degree. In France most people ride small frames, I'm also 6'2" and have mostly 57cm frames, with a couple of 56 or 58s. The 58cm holdsworth feels pretty big to me nowadays. Bob always said he likes a 60cm but now is on a 1970s Redolfi. Horses for courses...