Gitane
08-12-15 | 06:50 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 518
From: New Zealand
Bikes: Gunnar, Concorde, Peugeot 753, Marin, Pete Tansley, Rocky Mtn, Worldrider, Francis Quinlan, Bob Jackson, Winora, Avanti, Klein, Quintana Roo, Shogun, Carlton, Emmelle, Specialized
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
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 : )
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
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 : )
Last edited by Soody; 08-12-15 at 07:05 PM.
08-12-15 | 10:06 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,951
Likes: 688
From: Port Angeles, WA
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
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.
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
08-12-15 | 11:51 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 907
From: New Zealand
Bikes: 1963? Anquetil , 1973 PX10,1979 PX10,1984 PX10, VITUS 979 PX10DU,1970S ALAN,1985 PSV10,1980s PY10FC,1978 bERTIN,ALAN carbon
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
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 : )
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
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 : )
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 :-)
08-13-15 | 12:45 AM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,376
Likes: 161
From: Capestang, France
Bikes: Lots of French, some British and a couple of Italian
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...
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