My 1971 Gitane Tour de France is due for a truly major overhaul, including refinishing the frame.

While I have NOS Campy cranks (both NR & SR), I’m quite fond of the original Stronglight 93 crankset. I just love the look. (Anybody have source of NOS chainrings for the SC 93?)

I’d like to put a Phil BB into the bike. It’s a 68mm, French threaded, but I’m not sure what model (spindle length), nor if a standard Phil BB spindle will take/fit the Stronglight crank. I’d appreciate any advice.

And, if only to hedge my bets, would the same Phil BB purchased for the Stronglight accept the vintage (mid 70s for NR, 81-82 for SR) Campy cranks, if it turned out I went that way?

I appreciate the advice.

Thank you.

Is there something wrong with the original BB or are you just anxious to spend a lot of money? The original spindle is 118 mm. In my experience, they last forever with minimal maintenance. I swapped the Stronlight 93 on my PX10 for a post '78 Campy Record double and the chainline was acceptable. If you have a pitted spindle, I see them all the time on Ebay. There really is no '81-'82 SR crank. The cranks are all the same. There are just NR and SR rings.

My Gitane has a Campagnolo NR BB. It had Sugino when I got it, but I didn't want to have any Japanese parts on it.



I f you want to know which Phil BB to order, call or email the company. They're very helpful, in my experience.

Grand Bois,

I really love what you’ve done with your TdF. I saved a photo of it you posted ages ago, just ‘cause I like to look at it from time to time.

Not sure of the condition of the original Stronglight BB, as I haven’t taken it apart in some years. I should clarify that this is my “first child” among bikes, and it is at my aging mother’s house in middle USA, while I am not. (I’m in Va.)

I was recently there and spent some days riding it, as I do at least once a year. In my inspection, I became aware that it was certainly time to do a complete strip-down and overhaul. This site has pretty much inspired me that I should really go the whole way and refinish the frame, too. It’s had years of heavy riding in its (and my) earlier years.

Anyway, I’m trying to build up a few of the bits and pieces not already in my parts box that I’ll want/need when I retrieve the bike to do the overhaul.

I’ll certainly need new SC 93 chain rings if I’m to keep the Stronglight. And, it just seems like a Phil BB would be a worthy investment, as I’d basically never need to worry about it again (within reason, obviously). I have this odd notion that this bike "deserves" the special treatment. But it IS true that I’d probably not have to do that.

I do have two NOS Campy cranksets – AND French threaded BBs for each. My dating was more to when I bought them rather than specific to the models. I found my “treasure box” of parts when digging through deep storage last month. I knew I had purchased the SR set in Rome in 1983, but had forgotten I even had the older NR set!

But that is why I asked about whether a Phil BB would fit either the Stronglight 93 or the Campy Record cranks? I’m guessing that if you have a Campy BB in your TdF, and I see that you are still using the Stronglight 93 crank, then that pretty much tells me that the Campy spindle is fine on the SC 93 crankset, yes?

I’ve hesitated bugging the company with newbie-like questions until I’m certain that I will buy. Given the parts I have, there really IS no reason to buy a Phil BB, except that they’re such excellent BBs.

It’s kinda like why buy Phil hubs when one has NR hubs? Maybe ‘cause we like ‘em???

But I really do appreciate the thoughts. It’s good to reign in some of the impulses, if only to save for other impulses.

Thanks!

I am not nuch help with french bikes but, I just installed my seconf Wood BB and they are very nice. a bit tricky to get centered, I can't imagine what an asymetrical will be like. great BBs and the best part is once you have the BB you just need $30 rings to move it from an Italian to french frame.

nice looking bikes

I recently bought two NOS rings for a Stronglight 93 on Ebay, a 48t outside and an inner 40t. Both are hard sizes to find. It came to $65 + shipping. I wish I could remember who the seller was, because I think he had more. I believe he was in Belgium.

Yes, the Stronglight and Campy crank can use the same spindle if you're willing to settle for + or - 3mm. It works for me.

The cups on my Gitane are Campy NR, but I'm not sure which spindle I ended up using.

Thank you. This helps a lot. I'll go hunt E-prey for the rings.

I have one more option for BBs, which would be to mount my Avocet triple (see the thread on half-stepping) with the OMAS sealed BB that I pulled from my '77 PX10 I recently sold.

Cheers!

By any chance, would the chain rings for the "Stronglight 200", which have the same 122 BCD, fit?

Here's a current offering: https://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-VINTAGE-STRO...efaultDomain_0

Thanks.

Beauty! I wouldn't change a thing. Completely disassemble, clean, grease, re-assemble, and enjoy. Some new tape, and maybe some new brake hoods? The Stronglights have a ton of style and are perfect for your bike. And, no repaint will ever be as nice as original paint, even if a bit beaten up.

Thanks for sharing the photos...

Well, you see that's my '71 Tour de France.

Here is my '71 Super Corsa, essentially NOS, ready for it's shake down cruise. Yes, handlebars are now taped and better angled.



So, looking at my poor, beat-up TdF makes me feel bad. I love that bike, and I think a proper refinish has been earned.

I do respect the "earned patina" argument, but she just looks beat. I'm thinking a special refurbishment is in order, no?

Having two phil wood tools so you can work both cups at the same time makes centering the bb a cinch.

It may work, but it won't look right. A 93 ring looks like this:

https://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-Stronglight-...g_bikeparts_SR

Also, watch out for 122 BCD rings with undersize bolt holes. I don't know which crank model they're made for, but they're out there. I know because I bought one. It's a good thing I own a drill press.

Thanks for the advice, on all accounts!

Owen

One more thing:

Level your racks!

Yeah, really. I think I just can't use this one.

The struts for connecting to the upper part are pushed in to their shortest point. Can't quite figure it out. I bought a new one, but it turned out to be for 23" frames or smaller, so it went onto the wife's mixte. It's a brake-bolt mount.

This one is temp, I guess, until I buy another. It IS quite annoying, tho.

Find an old Blackburn that uses the brake bolt.

Yes, I think that's my solution. I rather like the silver, too. There is a shop here that tends to have a stack of old stuff.

I just love your Gitane. That's a fabulous color that is rarely seen, too.

Here's what the underside of this rack looks like: