I've got a line on a '74 Gitane frameset with forks, handlebars, brakes and shifters. There's no wheels and the doesn't know what size belong on it.

Do you guys have an educated guess based on the year and make or is that not enough?

My guess is that a French bike imported to the US in that time frame would probably have used 27" wheels unless it was very high end, in which case it came with 700c tubulars. So, 27" is my guess.

However, depending on brake reach, even if built for 27" wheels, 700c rims may work, since they only need to reach 4mm further than they would to accomodate 27" rims... Rear spacing is likely to be 120mm (5 speed) unless it has already been spread by someone else.

awesome thanks very much for the reply.

Is it less common to find vintage bikes designed for 700c wheels? Seems the last 2 i've looked at were both 27"

If it's a Tour de France or Super Corsa, it may not have room for 27" wheels. They were sold with tubulars and a 27" tire will rub the underside of the fork.

Most vintage bikes used 27"

Karl

the mid-level Interclub came with tubular wheels/tires...

Gitane has 70s catalogs on their website.

https://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues01.asp

I tried unsuccessfully to put 27 inch wheels on my 73 Tour de France. It didn't work, so I built a set with 700's. If I recall correctly, it was more of an issue with brake reach.

I was surprised that with 700s I had to move the brake pads on the original Mafac Competitions to the highest point in the slot and they JUST fit.

I just put the Competitions back on my TdF. The Dura Ace brakes were just wrong on a seventies French bike, but they were a nice fit with 700c rims. I used the brake with the slotted mount at its highest position and the pads at their highest position and the angle is still a little off. I could extend the slots a bit, but I shouldn't have to since the Competitions are the original factory brakes. Maybe they somehow made my fork too short. It's kind of an oddball anyway because it has Campy ends and the dropouts are Simplex. It has the original decals and the faded paint matches the frame, so I'm sure it's not a replacement.

Here's a pic, I haven't gone to see it just yet...



The seller says its a '74 but from looking at the Gitane Catalogs (thanks for that link) the decals seem to look more like they do on the 1970 catalog bikes. Based on the forks and the decal look I'm thinking its either a Gran Sport or a Gran Tourisme...so 27" wheels.

We've seen that picture before. I remember the handlebars.

do you know who posted it? Perhaps the seller is a BF member....I pulled this image off the CL listing and I've never posted this anywhere else before.

...either that or another BF member is looking at it

I got that (or a very similar, didn't have those handlebars, had drops) complete bike from a thriftstore for $15. I just needed to pump air in the tires and it was rideable. I recently saw one at Second Wind Sports consignment store for $175, all cleaned up with matching fenders and all, but still. I think it's going to be there for a while.

So what's the asking price?

Best Offer. I just did some looking around the forums and it IS a forum member here who's selling it.


Marrock where are you?

Not necessarily. The ca 1971 Super Corsa I found had 27 inch wheels on it. No clearance problem.

I'm right here...

I got that frame as-is with a few other bikes in a lot purchase, that's where my Motobecane, Raleigh, and Peugeot came from.

Near as I can tell from those catalog scans it's a 1970 Gran Sport, I got the 1974 estimate from another BF member a while ago.

EDIT: Actually, that's not correct, I got the Gitane with the Pug, and the Moto with the Raleigh and an old Ross.