What is this???
 

Anyone seen drops like these? No badge, no, detail of any kind on the frame. Mafac "racer" brakes, maxi cranks...any ideas? Dutch?http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlinkhttp://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

Sorry the pics are so bad.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

I still haven't seen them - No badge, no, detail of any kind !

They must be invisible !

I've seen them but I can't remember where. Gitane maybe?

A little help:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j9jPCGWBJ1M/S5...0/CIMG3578.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j9jPCGWBJ1M/S5...0/CIMG3583.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j9jPCGWBJ1M/S5...0/CIMG3580.JPG

French - Gitane did have a drop-out like that. I call it the "snowflake" drop-out, not sure what their nomenclature is. It was used on some of their upper
level racer bikes in the upper to late 60's. I have also seen that used on a normal sized fold-up bike they made which folded in the middle and had an
adjustable stem with a quick release lever. Kinda cool...I hope to find one some day...the snowflake racer bike and a fold-up bike.

Yes Gitane...and those Huret dropouts are commonly called "honeycomb" in the US, but you can call them what ever you like. They were used for only a year or two on US-spec models, and nearly all those would have been the Interclub model, which the Maxi crank matches up with, too. However, in France on French-spec Gitanes they used those DOs on many more models, perhaps for a longer timespan, too. You can scan the catalogs at gitaneusa.com, and see.

Gitane Super Olympic...
 

Mid seventies Gitane "Super Olympic", the top dog of its day and fitted with chrome plated Honey Comb drops. Full Reynolds 531 butted tubing and a lovely bicycle. My guess is that bikes like this one will become quite valuable in days to come simply because of this unique rear drops style.

Attachment 140820

Attachment 140821

Attachment 140822

1974 Super Olympic (yes, it rides like a dream)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/...0377c6fb_b.jpg

Beautiful !

The finish work at the dropout/chainstay joint actually looks, ahem, fancier on your Super Olympic. The OP's looks more like Dr. Deltron's '75 Interclub:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1142113229

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...odel-confusion!

Of course, it's a minor difference and doesn't rule out that it's a Super Olympic. But are there other details that would confirm one model or the other? Fork crown does look similar to joe v's, but I can't make out the dropout/chainstay joint on his (kinda looks like randyjawa's?)

Or as unworthy1 points out, could be any number of other models.

Aesthetics is always subjective and it also applies to these dropouts.
When I look at them, they look interesting, but sometimes it also looks like it makes the dropouts look uneccessarily big even with the perforations on it. I think I prefer a more subtle rear dropout treatment like the drilled dropouts on some Gios Torinos. Maybe they could have used amore interesting pattern for the perforations too. JMOs

Chombi

Thanks all. As usual you are all brilliant. No knowing I suppose which model it is. But helpful to know it is most likely a Gitane.

Thanks again.

OK. I've built this frame up as a cheap single speed for my son to ride at college for the next month. Here's some pics, it looks nasty I know. But including the price of the frame I've got all of $30 into this thing. Anyway, it must be an Interclub. Should I bring it back to life with a real paint job and rebuild? It rides great, even as is. Is a '75 or '76 Interclub worth the money and effort?http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=145027http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=145028http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=145029

I think it's best to leave it semi-beat since it will follow your son to college. It gives it a bit of character and may be a small theft deterrent.

This little build is what he's taking to school until mid May. And I agree, hopefully no one looks to steal it. But when it comes home, there in lies the question. Is the Interclub worth prettying up? Just looking for opinions...