...worth noting is how I had to fudge the brake reach to make the 27's work (the back was OK, but the front was definitely a stretch.)

I'm sure it must have come with tubulars originally, and if I ever do another one, it will be with 700c wheels.

whoo!

Thanks to MountainDave I now have my bike 100% working.

A replacement front derailleur, and some simplex shifters ( not original, but they work )

I gotta dial in the derailleur a little but its pretty much done. I'd love to get the frame powder coated, but its just not quite worth it for me, and eventually i'd like to put gumwall tires on it, but that stuffs all just cosmetic.

I also tapped out my stronglites to accept modern pedals, as the stock ones were pretty beat up and its nice to use my good pedals on the bike.

I'll be sure to get some pictures up soon.

My dearly beloved Gitane Vuelta: frame and fork in Supervitus 971.

A lot of things are not originals. When I got it, it had Shimano 105 brake levers and 600 ex shifters. I changed these for Arabesque components, and kept the rest.
After a few months, I found a leather saddle, a pair of Rigida wheels with Maillard hubs (Helicomatic) and a pair of NOS Michelin tyres.

I love the Sakae crankset, one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.
It's a little too small for me (52 cm, my size is 54), hence the long seatpost and stem.










Oh, I almost forgot, I also have this:

my first french lover an '85 Victiore

I'm hopefully going to go check out what looks like an early 70's TDF tomorrow, wish me luck!

Back up in your ass with the Resurrection!

Nobody else was responding, so I picked up this TdF earlier. It's a little too big for me (60), but I have a friend who is looking for an alternate for his early 70s Moto LC, and I think I may con him into taking this after I refurb it. Owner couldn't get anyone to buy at $325, then $225, dropped to $150 and caught my attention. Happy I got it before the vultures.

Damn near all original, one-owner, bought somewhere in the New England area, owner thought it was '70/'71 but everything on it points to '72-'73. Date code on the rims are 71 on rear, possibly 72 on rear (?!). Bocama med lugs, Dubois crowns, Campy front DO, Simplex rear DO, Tipo hubs, beautiful bike. Paint is in exceptional shape, decals are actually quite nice as well. FD is obviously cracked (go fig, delrin), and RD has issues I haven't checked out, but ...

Pics are worth a thousand words. Here's two big ones, click the smaller images under for more.

More pics:

Ok, maybe a few more pics. Bike came with an axle strap, haven't seen one of those in a while.

Well, I think that's just lovely, francophile.

I scored an '83 Gitane tandem for $100 this week. All it needs iss a chain and new cables/ pads. Not sure why I haven't yet really gotten into French bikes, since I speak the language relatively fluently and have hitchhiked around France....

The more I tinker with this tandem, though, the more i like it.

Seller pic:

Gitane isn't normally my schtick, they seemed to get the butt end of the stick on the hardware front. but I love all things French, so I'm not judging. That tandem is lovely! I really, really, really wish the bike I picked up today was a 58, I'd keep it in a heartbeat, but standover is over 33 and spreading taint, so not really at home here.

Very nice bikes from all of you on this page.

Nice scores! I just picked up big chainring's small TdF for my daughter. It's in good shape too. There's something seductive about bikes that just had to be different. I can hear frogs farting in our general direction...

But seriously, my wife swears she's faster on her TdF than any other bike she owns.

[QUOTE=francophile;18711750]Back up in your ass with the Resurrection!

Nobody else was responding, so I picked up this TdF earlier. It's a little too big for me (60), but I have a friend who is looking for an alternate for his early 70s Moto LC, and I think I may con him into taking this after I refurb it. Owner couldn't get anyone to buy at $325, then $225, dropped to $150 and caught my attention. Happy I got it before the vultures.

Damn near all original, one-owner, bought somewhere in the New England area, owner thought it was '70/'71 but everything on it points to '72-'73. Date code on the rims are 71 on rear, possibly 72 on rear (?!). Bocama med lugs, Dubois crowns, Campy front DO, Simplex rear DO, Tipo hubs, beautiful bike. Paint is in exceptional shape, decals are actually quite nice as well. FD is obviously cracked (go fig, delrin), and RD has issues I haven't checked out, but ...

Pics are worth a thousand words. Here's two big ones, click the smaller images under for more.




Still surprised by how little the TdF's go for. This one is so clean too.

I'm still surprised you can find them. They shared so many parts with their competitor bikes (PX-10, Moto GR, Mercier 300) that parting one out is guaranteed to make at least $300 on them, so I'm guessing they've been steadily cannibalized over the years as low-hanging fruit.

Personally, I like the way the early 70s models ride, but the foil stickers are garish and unattractive, same goes for Merciers of the same era. Motobecane and Pegueot had a bit of a classier element to their badging IMO.

[MENTION=413240]francophile[/MENTION] that's why they call it "French Fit!"

Hi!
I've got a Gitane frame and need to know something. Maybe you can help me about the year, parts, color, dcoration, anything for the restauration. Thanks

Try here for starters. Unusual colour, but I daresay one of the real experts will be along in a minuite

Pretty much the same with my Super Corsa.

Top

Really nice score, Francophile. Complete with optional Nuovo Tipo hubs and Ideale saddle. Nice one.

I've been thinking of selling mine but if that's all they're going for......

Ratro, a quick guess would be you have a 1974-1976 european model TdF.

Very nice color!

That looks like a nice frame, [MENTION=441316]ratro[/MENTION]! Expect the front to need really short reach brakes. MAFAC "RACER" probably won't fit.

Looking forward to the build. Keep us posted, please.

Thanks for your answers. I was born in 1975. Só, if I start the restoration i'll send the pics. Now try tó find brakes, wheels etc. I don't know what will I do. Original TdF or fresh design single speed.

Whatever you choose, do yourself a favor and build it up in such a way that you will use it often. These frames are really, really nice.

You've got the headset, but unfortunately not the BB. If you can't find one used, VeloOrange sells new sealed BB's that should work like a charm. The French, being French, had to use non-standard threading in the BB, the hub, the headset and the pedals (am I missing anything else?).

My recent purchase, probably a 1978-1979 GITANE "TROPHEE" or "NATION"..all REYNOLDS 531, MAFACS "COMPETITION", many parts are SHIMANO (headset, front wheel...) the triple STROGLIGHT 99 was optional
I dont know the meaning of the three stars on the decals and why they are blues and sometimes,red ...
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Deux vélos pour elle et lui. Vive la France!