Just picked up this basement dweller from its hooks for at least 30 years according to the owner, who bought it used in the 70's. I'm clueless about French bikes and this Gitane has no model name anywhere, except for a decal stating "Tubes Flash"? Durifort fork, Mafac Racer brakes and levers, Campy Gran Sport RD and FD, Benelux shifters, Stronglight cranks with some very cool Lyotard pedals-Christophe clips-Lapize straps. Original Silca pump in Orange, never seen one that color? Ava stem (is this bad?) with 3TTT bars which I guess are Cinelli, original cotton tape. Campy high flange hubs laced to Mavic rims with Sprint tubulars. Unicanitor saddle in good shape.

I'm guessing this was a high end Gitane, based on the components. Any help would be appreciated, or a link to a brochure. I'd be happy to know if it's from the 60's or 70's. Another nice winter project maybe. Check out the Velox repair kit included.

U forgot to mention the tubulars. Interesting bicycle, please don put clinchers to it, it would be a crime.

That thingy in the back of the fork is to avoid the tubulars to get punctures. Interesting design because is pretty big.

Good luck.

This is a new one for me. Way cool. This is only the second bike I've come across with anything Durifort on it. The first bike is the Stella I'm selling.

Wait a tick. I've seen those seat stays before. Possibly the lugs, too. Let's see what I can dig up.

Where's Chaz when we need him? That's certainly an interesting amalgamation of parts on that bike. I don't think it's a TdF but I aint no expert. May pre-date the TdF model. It says sixties to me. But the derailleurs are 50's. And the shift levers may be too. Maybe a custom/customer build way back when that has had some upgrades since? Hard to see the hubs but the skewers look like Record. Bars are 3TTT, not Cinelli. Certainly a cool bike. And complete with the elusive Stronglight crank puller and a set of tire savers! Good find. Can you post more pics of the frame details and decals?

Looks interesting, what crankset is on it? The Durifort decals look like '60s vintage.

Post up at Gitane USA for your quickest answers https://gitaneusa.com/forum/

I've located a serial number on the bottom bracket of #73489, not sure if this will translate into anything?

The shifters are puzzling to me. The owner I bought from yesterday added the tape under the shifter clamp, said they were slipping way back when. I guess this means they're not the right size for this downtube, possibly from another bike?

Really nice find and that tool set is surely a keeper. I haven't seen tire savers in a long time. A lot of people swore by them.

Bill

That or the PO didn't adequately tighten the clamp prior to adding the tape.
Really cool bike. Let's see more pictures!

It's not a TdF, and probably predates the bike boom. The folks at Gitane USA probably will know best, but judging by the 1964 catalog, it might be something like the "Grand Prix" (a Durifort frame) that's had upgraded cranks and derailleurs.
The AVA stem might be something to replace.

First off I'm not a Gitane expert so I could be way off here. But I have seen those lugs before, and they are a chunky inexpensive lug. I've seen those lugs that are on the fork on a variety of heavy inexpensive bikes and supposedly were made by some Japanese company called Sakie (spelling? though not the same as the Sakae components). The Gitane top of the line bikes used Nervex with cutouts or the standard short point lug with or without cutouts which I believe were also nervex, which appears to be on the frame but not on the fork.

Yes, it would be quite odd if the French used Cyclo-Benelux English parts on a bike, but possible. My guess is they're from a different bike, as are many of the parts on that bike. Just a note of caution. I would be very careful when removing that white adhesive tape underneath the shifters. Might lift the paint if it's been on there long enough, which it appears it has. Go slowly and you might try saturating the tape with some mild solvent like lighter fluid or Goo Gone to help dissolve the adhesive. But you're probably way ahead of me here.

I also don't think it's a TdF and may be a 60's model. Can you post of full side shot of the bike? Would like to see the decals - the G and I on the downtube decal looks like it could be from the early 60's or older.

Thanks for the input so far, I'm still anxiously awaiting to hear from the French experts on what this really is. I have posted to the Gitane forum as well. In the meantime, here are some additional full shots and decal close-ups as requested.

Additionally:
*the bathroom scale reads exactly 24.0, pretty light in my collection
*does the clamp-on rear derailer cable guide suggest an age, I'm used to these brazed on
*as mentioned earlier, serial number is #73489 which I guess means little
*yes, the seat post is mounted backwards, inscripted "TAIHEL Compe" I think the owner did not know much about the bike since he referenced the "Campo gears"
*there are no Campy or Simplex markings on the dropouts, they look naked
*top tube cable guides look like a Simplex logo?
ANY guesses on the value, even though I think it's a keeper for me, fits PERFECT.
Yes, I plan to keep tubular and not repaint.
Thanks in advance!

I typically mount the tire savers in the opposite direction from shown. I like the opportunity of something catching to lift the saver as opposed to pushing it. It iwll fit under the fork and be less obvious. The rear is mounted correctly.

Good find. I would not expect the tubing to be the best. I had a 72 Motobecane that had 531 DB that weighed about 22 Lbs with a brooks saddle (about 1 Lb) that had close to the same equipment with 1320 Rigida rims and Specialized turbo 1" clinchers.

I love that bike. My buddy just found one of those seatposts. Never seen another till now.

Certainly 60s I'd say, and very cool. Seat and seatpost newer. (seatpost backwards!)

Yes, given that downtube decal, this is an early one, maybe mid-60s. There's been a lot of parts swapping/upgrading. The Tahei post is one used on a lot of early Nishikis, you want to check the size and make sure it's correct for your Durifort seat tube...and it's indeed backwards. Those are Simplex clips...good job you have the correct puller for that Stronglight crank.
Clean and wax it, keep it original (at least the paint/decals).

I wouldn't be surprised if those were mostly the original parts. Front derailler is right for early/mid 60s. Check the hubs for a date. That's a Gitane worth having!

the naked dropouts are the big clue, it's a low end bike.

You mean, no derailler hanger? Not necessarily a clue in the 50s and 60s... Durifort, though not the greatest tubing says its better than bottom of the barrel.

If the crank puller is any indication, I'd say "Stronglight."



Yup, mod. 49D, with TA Criterium adapteur and rings:

Looks like a beautiful 1960's bike to me. Nothing about it says low-end to my eye. Durifort made a range of tubing, and was used by Zeus, among others. If the 24lbs is remotely accurate, then there's no way the frame is gas-pipe considering it's got a pump and steel gran sport on it. Never seen those decals before on any Gitane, but I love them - much nicer than the early foil decals that I've seen on most early Gitanes. The French checkerboard decal on the seat-tube is the coolest.

No, the dropouts are not forged with either Campy or Simplex engraved into them, their just plain stamped steel which represents a low end French frame.

I've owned a low end Gitane in my time, and it weighed around 36lb, not 24lb. You may find these lugs chunky but you obviously haven't seen the really low end ones. Obviously this bike is not the top of the line, but it's nowhere near the bottom either.