KenNC

Got this off of eBay and am working on it now--really happy with it! Was said to be a 1976 Tour de France. But, the catalogs don't seem to match exactly (with the rear chrome), and I wonder if it could be a 1974, or some other close model. Not a problem but am curious. Here are some of the eBay pics:



Had a Mafac brake hanger, and a Huret Jubilee down tube cable guide. Seat tube diameter is 26.2 or 26.4. Rear axle spacing is about 122mm.
Just ordered in a new set of decals from Mr. Softley.....

francophile 

The Super Olympic and Federal also came with chrome socks and the spiderweb RDO in the early/mid-70s. Can't help with exact ID on this one. @verktyg is the guru of all things Gitane, I believe he used to sell Gitanes in the 70s.

Jakenks

Try posting at Gitane USA dot com, vintage forum. Chas knows vintage Gitanes

randyjawa 

I had the exact same bicycle. It proved to be a Super Olympic. As I recall, it was Reynolds 531 but I could be mistaken.

The bike, initially purchased as a frame set, hung on a den wall, was a work in progress, for many years. Sadly, or not, depending on your view, the bike was sold (to me) many years after the frame was purchased. He, slowly, built the bike, adding this and that, until it was a complete, or near complete unit. When I got it, it was unridden and had a nos everything Campy NR transmission, seat post, Fiamme rims to Campy HF hubs, Campy Record brakes and a near invisible coating of cigarette smoke film coating most of the above. Sadly, and I really mean sadly since the chrome plated honey comb drops are so unique, the bike, at 60cm, was just too big.

Ebay got another one!-(

LECHERO531

If I recall the D/O's are Huret, can be a little tough to work with unless your using Huret parts. As for the frame I have heard more than once that it's an Interclub, they have a cult following. I believe Velogarden (on Velospace.org) has something similar. You have this one because I wasn't home, but I was watching. ENJOY.

jonwvara

The nice thing about those Huret honeycomb dropouts is that they will accept Campagnolo-type derailleurs, Huret derailleurs, or Simplex derailleurs. I think the Gitane management of that time must have been a little freaked out about component availability--they probably had to take whatever they could get--so this was their way of building in a maximum amount of wiggle room.

Chas will weigh in with the final word before long, I bet, but my recollection is that most of the honeycomb dropout models were built with 531 in the three main tubes only.

scozim 

I have an Olympic or Super Olympic. Rides really smooth. Got it set up Simplex SX610 in the rear and it works well. The hanger is threaded so I'm assuming it will take other derailleurs fine.

juvela

what is the correct model name for the Gitane which came with these dropouts ca. 1973-74 which was a sort of collapsible? the frame did not fold but it had a qr stem, qr seat, and folding pedals.

Sluggo

I had an Interclub with those dropouts, and it was three main tubes reynolds. The OP's photo shows a reynolds sticker on the fork, so this is likely full reynolds.

KenNC

I have seen some posts that suggest that, when the forks or stays join the dropout with a "fish mouth" configuration, then they are likely 531 as well. That is the case with this frame. But, there seem to be so many narrow variations on the Gitanes, that I am interested in the recollections of those who know more. As an aside, I have also seen posts that suggest finish and paint on the Gitanes were sub-par, but I do not see that as the case here!

Going to put a Huret Jubilee rear derailleur on there, and--hopefully--a new 14-24, five speed, freewheel (Sunrace or IRD). Think I will put on a pair of Jubilee shifters I have been saving as well. But for the front Derailleur i am thinking a Huret "Success."

LECHERO531

If you go this route, would love to see pic's of finished product. Would be stunning.

jiangshi

I had a similar bike. All evidence points to Interclub.

francophile 

Interclub didn't have chrome socks, IIRC. Super Olympic and Federal did, can't recall seeing TdF w/spiderweb RDO, maybe it exists.


On other topics, @juvela, are you thinking of the Plicyclette?

Jakenks

gitaneusa.com :: View topic - How to identify my bike - read first

rustystrings61 

Count me among those who believe this one is 531 throughout, as evidenced by the fishmouth stay ends AND the rear chrome. From what I have read, especially Chas./verktyg's contributions, there are a lot of "transitional" vintage Gitanes.

I watched that frame on eBay and I am glad to see it went to someone who appreciates it. I think you will LOVE the ride quality when you finish building it up - there is something subtle but perfect about these bikes, especially in the 60cm c-t or so varieties. I've never sold one that I didn't regret it, and my current one is a keeper in search of a stablemate ...

KenNC

Thank you rustystrings61, I appreciate the encouragement! This one IS a 60cm c-t, which is my size. I noticed that one of your bikes is a Gitane Tour de France and if you post pictures of that let me know!

gbi

Juvela, I think you are talking about the Gitane Traveler model.

gbi

Quick guess on the frame - '76 TdF.

In the mid-70s the TdF was built with 3-tubes 531, then in '76 they went back to full 531.

The headset stack height will help ID whether it is a TdF verses a SC, Olympic or Super Olympic.

verktyg 

The frame is most likely a 1974 or 1975 Champion du Monde which was a European model. It was a step down from the Olympic and Super Olympic models which were Campagnolo equipped (Olympic had MAFAC brakes - Super Olympic had Campy brakes).

When Gitane Pacific took over importing and distribution of Gitanes in the US in 1974, the top models were dropped from the US offering. The Tour de France was dumbed down to the European 3 tubes Reynolds 531 model except for 27" clinchers instead of sewups.

A few of the Champion du Monde and Olympic bikes got into the US but they were very uncommon and I've never seen any advertising for them.

The difference between the Olympic models and the Champion du Monde was the components. The CdM's were all French equipped. They had Stronglight P3 headsets which used steerers that were 8mm shorter than the forks for the Olympics which had Campagnolo headsets.

Why do I think it's a 74' or 75'... The Reynolds 531 sticker on the fork: in 1974 Reynolds brought out new stickers.



The old style stickers were probably still used by many bike makers through 1974 and probably 1975 but by 1976 they all used the new style.

I had a 1974 CdM frame that I sold because it was a 60cm - too big for me. It was made of lighter gage Reynolds 531 that most other Gitane models.



It took a 26.6mm seatpost. The bike in question should take a 26.4mm or even 26.6mm if the seat lug is rounded out and reamed.


Note: until the 1980s, 122mm OLN (Over Lock Nuts) was the standard width for most French 5 speed rear hubs. Front hubs were 96mm wide.



BTW, the Federal was a French model. I've never seen one in the US. The were a touring model with mounts brazed onto the forks for a front rack. Also only the 3 main tubes were Reynolds 531.


verktyg

Chas.

verktyg 

Those bikes were sold in the US as both the Traveler and the Get Away model. The early versions had steel rims and cranks. The later ones had 27" alloy rims with cast aluminum Sugino Maxy cranks. There was a hook that fit on the right dropout to hold the chain.

We sold several of them in the mid 70's. They road and handled terribly - like a wheelbarrow!



verktyg

Chas.

gbi

Verktyg, I think your designation that the frame is a CdM is right on the money.

I wonder if the bike came to the U.S. in the mid-70s when things were changing at Gitane.

Perhaps it was warehouse stock being sold and was shipped to the U.S. and sold as a TdF model.

Would you happen to know what years the little Gitane logo decals were used on the seat stay caps?

I recall seeing them predominanty on post-'76 Gitanes.


Thanks,
gbi

verktyg 

Mel Pinto Imports was the primary importer/distributor for Gitanes in the US between the mid 1960's and 1973. The "foil decal" era lasted from ~1968 to 1973.



The performance models had silver Mylar decals on the seat tubes and "Service Course" decals on the top tube.

In 1974 Gitane Pacific became the US importers and along with that there were a lot of model changes and the decals changed from Mylar foil to clear plastic film with yellow or green graphics.



1974, early 1975 head tube decal



Late 1975 - 1976 head tube decal



I don't think that Mel Pinto ever sold any Gitanes made after 1973 (with the new style decals).

Gitane started using the little logo stickers around 1974 or 75??? They stuck them on seat stay caps and sometimes on lugs. The use was VERY inconsistent. The white bike is a lower priced model.



Gitane Pacific was listing heavily by 1976 and went keel up in 1977. The European model Tour de France was the top model that they listed in their literature. They may have imported a few Champion du Monde and Olympic models but they were never advertised.

There were several small companies that imported a few higher end Gitane models between 1977 and the early 1980s when Trek started importing Gitanes.

See next message for more info on seat stay caps.

verktyg

Chas.

verktyg 

Gitane used willow leaf shaped seat stay caps on the Tour de France, Super Corsa and Olympic models for a few years from the late 1960's until about 1971.



By 1971 the Bike Boom was in full force and the both the seat stay caps and brazed on brake cable bridges were discontinued because the time involved to attach them.

Gitane went back to swagged seat stay tops which took seconds to do.



About 1976 Gitane started using the brazed on willow leaf seat stay caps again on "some" TdFs and Olympic bikes. Some were flat like the original style while others had the Gitane logo stamped into them.



By 1978 Gitane used smaller diameter seat stays with graceful plugs in the tops.



Getting back to the OP's frame, the old style Reynolds decal on the fork date it to 1974 or 1975.

verktyg

Chas.