Gitane mixte "Le Rat"
 

I just finished this for a friend that wanted a cool old road bike but he wanted something ratty that wouldn't draw too much attention due to the high theft rate around here.

I found this a couple weeks ago and he loved it so with just a good basic cleaning, grease and obviously tires, cables and chain it's done.

I don't know where it was stored, it was obviously in the sun but it seems like it was fairly dry since there was no serious rust and thankfully all the races and cones looked virtually new.

He picked the new bars, grips, stem shifters and cable housings.

Yes the stem shifters are a bit of a compromise and the Simplex braze on gets in the way a tiny bit but he's never ridden with downtubes and with the upright bars he didn't want to learn on this bike.

I love this bike.

As found,
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC05886.jpg

Done,
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC06080.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC06081.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC06083.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC06092.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC06091.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC06096.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC06101.jpg

Nice - Don't park that thing around Austin TX unless you want it to vaporise...

Especially like the way that cottered crank cleaned up...

Me thinks he could sell the stem and pay off the investment in the bike, no?

Looks like a late 60's frame. I'm a fan of mixte bikes.

:D

Nice job. I've been having a lot of fun riding the Moto mixte I picked up last spring. I'd never ridden one before but have found it quite enjoyable.

Thanks guys, this one was pretty easy but I think it's got a lot of character.

BTW-Am I missing something about the stem?



.

I've seen a few of these GB stems go for real money. Sorta surprised me, but the collectors are mad about "period correct" and the right stem is often a big deal.

YMMV, of course.

Hmm, good to know. I have a couple more in the stash :)