Gitane in black
07-05-16, 11:29 AM
#1
Bort
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Gitane in black
A non-biker friend of mine was given this Gitane. I don't know much about French bikes- anybody have any idea of the year/model?
The numbers on the BB are illegible through the paint but I'm guessing it's from the early 80s. Has a 531 sticker and a bunch of exposed steel but doesn't look rusty. Mix of Suntour stuff (7-GT?), Nervar crankset (how small a ring could this take?), Normandy hubs, Weinmann 27" rims. Looks like it had center pulls at one point but was "upgraded" to side pulls.
The rear dropouts are funky! Fork dropouts have an "$" on them.
I'm not recommending that he ride it because it looks like the seatpost is too small and might have a shim holding it in the seat tube. Either way the binder bolt is clearly over tightened. Assuming the post is not stuck is reaming it back to it's normal size something a standard LBS would do? I'm interested in overhauling and selling for my buddy when he leaves the area sometime in the next year.
Thanks!
The numbers on the BB are illegible through the paint but I'm guessing it's from the early 80s. Has a 531 sticker and a bunch of exposed steel but doesn't look rusty. Mix of Suntour stuff (7-GT?), Nervar crankset (how small a ring could this take?), Normandy hubs, Weinmann 27" rims. Looks like it had center pulls at one point but was "upgraded" to side pulls.
The rear dropouts are funky! Fork dropouts have an "$" on them.
I'm not recommending that he ride it because it looks like the seatpost is too small and might have a shim holding it in the seat tube. Either way the binder bolt is clearly over tightened. Assuming the post is not stuck is reaming it back to it's normal size something a standard LBS would do? I'm interested in overhauling and selling for my buddy when he leaves the area sometime in the next year.
Thanks!
07-05-16, 12:21 PM
#2
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Those dropouts only made an appearance in 1975 (+/- 1 year - Chas knows for sure). If US, looks like an Interclub level model from those years, as the TdF's I think still had chrome rear stays. If so, it's one of the better Interclubs with a partial 531 frame.
07-05-16, 12:25 PM
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Not many companies would get the gold pen out on a low end model. Nice find.
07-05-16, 12:41 PM
#4
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I'd call that a mid range model, roughly equivalent to a Motobecane Grand Touring. 531 main tubes, Nervar crank. It's no junker. Frankly, that bike would have been considered fancy by 99% of people at the time. '75 or '76 sounds right, but I'm no expert on Gitanes.
The seat cluster can be repaired by wedging it open again and reaming it as you suggest.
It was actually pretty standard for mid range bikes to be lug lined then.
The seat cluster can be repaired by wedging it open again and reaming it as you suggest.
It was actually pretty standard for mid range bikes to be lug lined then.
07-05-16, 01:32 PM
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I've done it with a broom handle I tapered down a bit with my belt sander, then sort of "polished" the inside of the seat tube collar with some wet sanding. "Reamed" is a bit too strong a word for what it took to get it right.
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● 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 ●
07-05-16, 01:55 PM
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The specification fits the European Tour de France model from the mid-seventies. A very nice rider, one of my favorites.
07-05-16, 02:12 PM
#7
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Honestly, the broom stick method is how I would do it too in this case. This is only because you can afford to be a bit sloppy with a big seatpost bolt. If it was a little campagnolo/sugino allen type seatpost bolt, I would only do it with a proper reamer to get an exact fit.
07-05-16, 02:36 PM
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I love those dropouts!!
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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07-05-16, 02:47 PM
#9
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Numbernine, black Gitanes are rarely seen - if the paint is original.
The Huret honeycomb dropouts were used about 1974-76, like other posters mentioned.
If the seat tube decal is original, it could be a 1976-ish model - uncommon placement of decals.
The Huret honeycomb dropouts were used about 1974-76, like other posters mentioned.
If the seat tube decal is original, it could be a 1976-ish model - uncommon placement of decals.
Last edited by gbi; 07-05-16 at 03:00 PM.
07-05-16, 08:21 PM
#10
Bort
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Ok thanks for the info and suggestions guys! I think I'll try the broomstick approach to widen the seat post collar back to normal.
I'm starting to doubt that its the original paint job since the gold lug lining is rather poorly drawn in and the decals seem later than the 1974-76 range. Somebody has definitely shown this frame a lot of action over the last 40 years.
Anybody have a sense of how small a chainring could fit on the Nervar crankset?
I'm starting to doubt that its the original paint job since the gold lug lining is rather poorly drawn in and the decals seem later than the 1974-76 range. Somebody has definitely shown this frame a lot of action over the last 40 years.
Anybody have a sense of how small a chainring could fit on the Nervar crankset?
07-05-16, 09:04 PM
#12
Senior Member
I don't know, I'd guess 38 or 40. I'm sure the info is out there. I do know that Nervar used an oddball and extinct chainring size (128?). It may not be realistic to find a smaller chainring, though it never hurts to look. It would be easier to put a wider range freewheel on the back.
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