LeJEUNE frame with vertical dropouts ?
 

Just bought a complete bike, all campagnolo equiped. The seller, Jean Pichette, was a speed skating olympic athlete in the 80s and is a personnal friend of Louis Garneau. The bike was actually given to him by Louis Garneau for summer training purpose in the 80s. The frame has been repainted all blue at the time.

The seller told me the bike was originally yellow. It has vertical dropouts, it actually is the first time I see this kind of dropouts. Look like a spider web.

Anyone remeber a yellow LeJEUNE ? Or a LeJEUNE with vertical dropouts ?

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3316.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3313.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3312.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3311.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3310.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3304.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3305.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3303.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3302.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3301.jpg

Sounds like Huret "honeycomb" DOs, and more typical of Gitane, but no reason that LeJeune wouldn't have access to them.

Thanks unworthy1 for the reply. I Googled what you just told and yes it is very similar to Gitane honeycomp DO. Like this : http://www.flickr.com/photos/28267220@N05/4449921492/
I'm now wondering if the seller was right about LeJEUNE or it actually is a Gitane. Anyway it has a couple of hundred dollars of campy stuff on it.

Please do share photos.

I just posted photos. Let me know what you think. I would like to entirely remove paint as a winter project if I don't find a buyer.

too bad you didn't leave it a whole bike

Si ça peut aider, j'ai vu un Gitane avec des dropouts assez similaires, mais peut-être pas verticaux.....

Edit : à combien tu le fais, ?? c'est quoi la grandeur exacte ? il est peut=être trop petit pour moi...

Still have the campy seatpost, campy NR hubs, Shimano 600 BB, Gran Compe brakeset, 3T handlebar, campy NR derailleurs...

But these parts are not original I believe, the bike was a build at the time so it is worth more dismantled.

Correct me if I am wrong.

I am inclined to agree that this is more likely a Gitane simply because we have proof of these Huret ends being used by Gitane and absolutely no evidence Lejeune ever using them. It does have characteristics similar to some Lejeune frames, but those same characteristics are found on Gitane frames using these dropouts.

Looks a lot like my Gitane Tour de France except the TdF had chrome fork legs and drop outs, I believe mine is mostly original and it's equipped with Huret Jubilee DRs although my brakes have been changed out.

I would be willing to put Gitane graphics on it, not LeJeune.

It could use the correct BB spindle too, My guess is it has the thick wall cups and a Japanese spindle, maybe even a mtb unit.

Does anyone know what that stamping on the lower head tube lug means?
Interesting

BCM stands for Bocama lugs. Those are the long version of the Professional models. You can't tell from the pics, but there is probably also a number (73, 74) stamped in the upper lug - that would indicate the angle.

The one in front is or should be BCM the C is missing, maybe even a file hit it...
Trademark of Bocama, a lug maker.
They also would stamp the lug angle on the side near the crook of the joint.

I'd say Gitane as well. It looks like a really nice frame overall, but what's with that big seam along the bottom of the rear brake bridge?

just that: it's a seam. this bridge was made by rolling flat steel and no attempt to make it pretty. altogether looks like a mass-produced FR maker, and I'd guess Gitane, too but not like the typical models in the US that got those Huret DOs (the TdF and Interclub) given those long-point BCM Pro lugs and lack of any chrome. I'd say it was a model for the FR market...post to the folks at gitaneusa.com and see what Gitane experts say.

It was fairly common practice to use rolled tubes for bridges. It wasn't until the late 70s that fancy bridges machined from bar stock started to appear on high end bikes.

Just posted on gitaneusa.com
Will wait for an answer.

Thank you all

Here are some pics of the fork:

Huret
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3330.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3329.jpg

56
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3325.jpg

Nervor
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3327.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3324.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3323.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3322.jpg

Writting on the head lugs:

3
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3338.jpg

60
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...e/DSC_3337.jpg