Gitane mixte "Le Rat"
#1
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,946
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From: Minnesota- the frozen tundra
Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Super Grand Prix, 1976 Gitane Tour de France
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,

Done,






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,

Done,






#2
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,603
Likes: 2,468
From: Bastrop Texas
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Nice - Don't park that thing around Austin TX unless you want it to vaporise...
Especially like the way that cottered crank cleaned up...
Especially like the way that cottered crank cleaned up...
#3
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 51
From: Work in Asia, now based in Vienna, VA
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.
Looks like a late 60's frame. I'm a fan of mixte bikes.
__________________
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
#4
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.
__________________
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1991 GT Karakoram, 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, 1989 Spectrum Titanium,
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1991 GT Karakoram, 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, 1989 Spectrum Titanium,
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 3
From: Minnesota- the frozen tundra
Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Super Grand Prix, 1976 Gitane Tour de France
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?
.
BTW-Am I missing something about the stem?
.
#6
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 51
From: Work in Asia, now based in Vienna, VA
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.
__________________
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 3
From: Minnesota- the frozen tundra
Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Super Grand Prix, 1976 Gitane Tour de France
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