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-   -   French frame identification (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1136816-french-frame-identification.html)

eeuuugh 02-26-18 11:10 AM

French frame identification
 
I picked up this frame on Craigslist last year and I wonder if anyone here can help me identify it. It has a Reynolds 1935-1985 decal on it, but I doubt the decal is original. The frame has no brazed-on cable guides, housing stops, or bottle cage eyelets, and the components seem 70s to me. The serial number is ground or dremeled into the bottom bracket shell. Simplex dropouts, Bocama lugs, and the steer tube says Nervor. The construction looks good, I like the fishmouth brazing at the dropouts, but the work on the fork crown is a little sloppy. Here are some pictures:
https://i.imgur.com/yKWYMb7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pRnSvHg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WAk0Job.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bwdnBES.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nijZQNk.jpg
Components:
Stronglight 99 cranks and bottom bracket
Simplex shifters and Prestige rear derailleur, suntour front derailleur (possibly not original)
Philippe stem
gold-anodized Belleri bars, very narrow
Modolo Universal 68 sidepulls
Unknown steel French headset

Thank you for any guidance you may have! Current plan is a repaint and 650b singlespeed conversion.

non-fixie 02-26-18 11:16 AM

Looks Gitane-ish to me.

juvela 02-26-18 11:29 AM

-----

definite gypsy girl of Nantes

TdF early '70's

-----

non-fixie 02-26-18 01:41 PM

Very nice, BTW. Love the crankset and the brakes, too. Well worth getting back on the road.

rustystrings61 02-26-18 03:31 PM

'72-73 Gitane Tour de France, 531 frame forks and stays, plain Nervex crown, swaged seat stay tops, no centerpull hanger - WITH an alloy Simplex rear derailleur and my favorite vintage sidepulls and a Stronglight 99 crankset ... build it up and ride it, odds are you'll love it dearly.

eeuuugh 02-26-18 07:13 PM

Thanks everyone! I had considered the Tour de France, but couldn't find evidence that it came in this burgundy color. The rear dropout arrangement on this '73 TdF does seem to be basically identical though: https://www.bikeforums.net/17372837-post27.html The fact that Gitane used stickers rather than decals under clearcoat would help explain the total lack of branding on this frame, too.

Originally Posted by rustystrings61 (Post 20192813)
'72-73 Gitane Tour de France, 531 frame forks and stays, plain Nervex crown, swaged seat stay tops, no centerpull hanger - WITH an alloy Simplex rear derailleur and my favorite vintage sidepulls and a Stronglight 99 crankset ... build it up and ride it, odds are you'll love it dearly.

The sidepulls have already gone onto another project, it'll be getting whatever brakes I can find that have the reach for a 650b conversion! I have a set of Mafac Racers I'd like to use, but I won't know til I have the wheels built next week. I have a set of Alesa 650b rims from an 80's schwinn MTB that I'm planning to lace to a Harris Cycles branded flipflop hub and a Raleigh branded Suzue front hub, both high flange. I'll be holding on to the derailleur just in case though ;) definitely keeping the cranks, planning to pair them with a Velo-Orange threadless bottom bracket and swoopy chainguard. Still need to find a headset (original was damaged) and get it repainted, but it should be rideable by summer.

Chombi1 02-26-18 07:23 PM

Love the "Gypsie Woman" brand bikes......For me, personally, their bikes seem to exude a personality that the likes if it's competitors like Peugeot and Motobecane, can never match!...
Maybe it's visions of a beautiful and powerful woman dancing the Flamenco that does that for me!:thumb:
I couldn't have gotten my 84 TdF soon enough to join in with the dance of Gitane!


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