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Originally Posted by Albertc80
(Post 23613304)
Well, it's my only option right? Or can these wheels accept standard tube and tire combination? Maybe I'm thinking modern times, but I assumed tubular was my only opinion w these wheels...
Originally Posted by Albertc80
(Post 23613304)
Well, it's my only option right? Or can these wheels accept standard tube and tire combination? Maybe I'm thinking modern times, but I assumed tubular was my only opinion w these wheels...
If you wanted to run clinchers, like most bikes, the best thing to do would be to get some other wheels, and hang these up, or trade them. Probably hang them up, since as long as you have them, the bike is "original." As for getting more, you have fortunately walked into a vibrant vintage-bike community spanning four or five forums that loves this stuff, and French bikes of this era are not rare. So if you walk over to the "wanted / for trade" thread you will surely find someone. Most clincher wheels of this era are "27 inch." and a wheel set should be easy to find. There are not many premium tires still offered this size. The fast tires we like are called "Pasela" and are fairly lightweight but only barely armored. Plenty of "keep it running" grade tires, though. Changing it to the modern tire size, which is slightly smaller, is possible but more of a project |
Originally Posted by Albertc80
(Post 23613428)
Yeah, I was thinking of going with the taped version of tubular tires. That option seems significantly easier than dealing with glue. With regards to the derailleur, if it works, I'll leave it alone, I have road bikes I ride regularly, so I don't need this for anything more than the occasional ride. She may need cables eventually, but everything else looks good still. A ride will tell me more. The one think I def need is a real saddle, this piece of plastic, looks uncomfortable at best.
I'm surprised the paint was in such good condition, I will pull her out and see how that sun shine interacts w the paint. Pics to come. The rear derailleur will work fine, it's typically the front plastic/delrin derailleur that's the problem after 40-50 years. |
+1 on tubular tires for the existing wheels. This will be your lowest cost option to get it on the road.
27" clinchers will be too big for the front brakes on a TdF. If you go the clincher route, use 700c wheels. The rear will be 120mm OLD. |
Originally Posted by Albertc80
(Post 23612556)
lol!!! Now that's funny! That serial number looks totally rudimentary, like a bronze age man did it. Look at that grip tape! I like that the bike is as the ol' man put it away... As if she was waiting, ready...for that ride that never came. I was about to wash, but I had to step back and appreciate time.
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Ha! Yeah, this gentleman was (is) from NY, transplanted to California in the 80s. He told me they would ride centuries from long island to NJ back around to NYC... He must have been in quite good shape, then again, mostly flats I think...
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When folks want to date their Gitanes, as we all learned from Chas, a key element to photo for the peanut gallery is the seat cluster to see both the seat stay finish and presence of brake bridge…lots of photos here but not one close up of this key area….zooming in, certainly a cut and squashed swagged finish as opposed to the Carre-like willow leaf cap from this bike boom-era of Gitane…and no brake bridge. Both the willow leaf cap and brake brake bridge were gone by 1971…the Nervex Dubois fork crown as opposed to earlier Nervex Pro crown places this bike at 1972 or later.
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Originally Posted by steve21108
(Post 23613692)
If the first three numbers are 131, then that SSN was likely issued in Upstate NY. I have had several bikes from the 70s with SSN engraved on the BB. It was a fad at the time to go to the police station, and use a diamond tip engraver to put your SSN on bikes, stereos, etc. Completely different view on identity theft back then. I have one of those engravers, and have not used it since 1973. They are rough.
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Originally Posted by albrt
(Post 23613804)
Many people on this site are old enough to remember that social security cards said "“For Social Security and Tax Purposes -- Not For Identification" because people back then did not want centralized control over their ID and financial affairs.
The disclaimer was removed from the card (in 1972, I just read; it had first appeared there in 1946) because an overwhelming number of non-governmental businesses and agencies had come to use it as a de facto means of identification over the years. |
Originally Posted by Trakhak
(Post 23613822)
That statement is off-topic, of course, but: the "Not For Identification" wording was more likely a legal disclaimer intended to absolve the Federal government of responsibility if you found yourself defrauded as a result of providing your SSN to a crook as a means of identification.
The disclaimer was removed from the card (in 1972, I just read; it had first appeared there in 1946) because an overwhelming number of non-governmental businesses and agencies had come to use it as a de facto means of identification over the years. This was the engraver we used in the shop I worked in. Early 70s. Park stand, Suntour two prong removers (many), etc were taken before the Sheriff came. Partners got into a dispute. Rent was not paid. Left us teenagers to run the shop. Wish i could have scored a Gitane TDF instead. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...42651b3cc7.jpg |
Cleaned up really nice! Great find, too!
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Originally Posted by horatio
(Post 23614806)
Cleaned up really nice! Great find, too!
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https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d1a73f909a.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c9db7cfc2d.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1beaa53b76.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11af0c8144.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be3ef3a678.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...43c147ed1d.jpg |
You may need fork tip alignment.
Gosh your stem looks high, if so that could lead to some issue |
Fork is straight and when the wheel is on the fork without QR tension it is perfectly centered, the issue happens when I flip the lever up to tighten. I want to say a few years back I had this same issue w some carbon wheels and I believe it was bearing play in the wheel, new bearings solved the issue.. do these things take regular ol run of the mill bearings or do I need fancy French ones? 😆
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Somebody will snap it up for three bills. And for my sanity, please replace the bar tape. Looking at it gives me the creeps.
Use process of elimination to figure out your front wheel alignment. May flip the wheel around, try another skewer, and try another wheel. Never heard of wheel bearings causing it to go out of whack. |
Originally Posted by Mr. 66
(Post 23659626)
You may need fork tip alignment.
Gosh your stem looks high, if so that could lead to some issue |
Originally Posted by roadcrankr
(Post 23659672)
Somebody will snap it up for three bills. And for my sanity, please replace the bar tape. Looking at it gives me the creeps.
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Your pics do not show a centre-pull rear brake housing bridge/stop.
The very similar Tdf (esp same crankset, so that dates it) I worked on a while ago had had such a bridge, which had been removed: https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...672f0a049b.jpg That got tidied up before the new paint etc, and a proper french crank: https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...755e4efeb2.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e9399df513.jpg |
Originally Posted by oneclick
(Post 23659774)
Your pics do not show a centre-pull rear brake housing bridge/stop.
The very similar Tdf (esp same crankset, so that dates it) I worked on a while ago had had such a bridge, which had... https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cd4edc06cc.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3da8b9127d.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...247d7980e3.jpg |
Yes indeed, about $300.
Your TdF is in great shape, and you did it well in process. Very fortunate. I bought one as a very clean bare frame and found that the front wheel was out of center. I went to adjust the alignment to do as I thought was correcting to center and found it was then not in plane. I discovered that tips were of different measure from the fork crown. I ended up taking some curl out of the shorter measure side to affectedly lengthen the measure to match, and then pulled forward for the correct offset. At this junction the wheel sat as yours, in center but when clamped pushed it out. I was able to do the tip alignment to alleviate the stress that pushed the wheel over. lol, that’s when I found out the front triangle was massively twisted. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee77a24a2.jpeg That was frustrating, but with the effort I put in on the fork I was undaunted. Twisting the front triangle was easy enough compared to getting the fork adjusted. I was able to do all in the backyard without any specialized tools or equipment. I’m think white cotton bar tape and some new clamp guides are in order for the green machine. |
That's crazy, but I think the market in southern California is slightly different. I sold an 81 Univega Sportour like 4 months ago, similar original condition as this, for $280.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f93b75f55.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...da613f16c5.jpg |
Originally Posted by Albertc80
(Post 23659882)
This?
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f08ff3404f.jpg |
Originally Posted by Albertc80
(Post 23659715)
haha!!! It's the way she was last ridden 40+ years ago, just trying to persevere, although I would agree some nice white bar tape would look and feel nice! $300!, That's it? Well I would just hang her up in my garage if that's all this is worth...
Those hubs look like the cheaper Normandy version. Perhaps somebody can confirm or deny. Funny, when I bought my '71 Super Corsa, the TdF went for only $100 less out-the-door. Easy decision to get full Campy (brakeset added for $30). Still ride it occasionally. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6a2768d8a2.jpg |
Originally Posted by oneclick
(Post 23660115)
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Originally Posted by Schreck83
(Post 23661495)
The brazed rear brake cable stop was dropped sometime during 1972.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ffdd61b1f4.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...abecad9c5.jpeg |
Interesting thread. Nice find. I paid $300 for one a few years ago. It has Tipo hubs. Note the 531 on the fork.
We do miss Chas. |
Purchased a white 1970 TDF locally 2 years ago from a collector, had been parked for years although someone had replaced most of the French components with early 1970s Japanese. I have since put mostly French parts back on though not original ones. You might want to consider a good Ideale leather saddle ( the plastic original is generally quite uncomfortable ) as well as switching to clincher 700C wheels and buying pair of Rene Herse 32mm tires. They are nice enough to make one basically forget tubulars although admittedly for now I am using 30mm Challenge tubs on my TDF.
Pictured with 25mm tubulars - I do prefer the more prominent curve on the earliest TDF forks as well as the leaf style seat stay caps along with the longer point lugs. Gitane did what they could to simplify frame construction as the bike boom went into full swing but they are still nice bikes regardless. The last image is how it looked when I bought the bike. The only original parts left were the stem, handlebars, Stronglight headset and the various frame cable clamps. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1b51e0da89.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bd4684b227.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2fc3c4dbd6.jpg |
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