Gitane Diffusion de Grande Luxe
11-24-11 | 10:35 AM
#26
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Cyclotouriste
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From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Both of your bikes are awesome, exactly the direction I want to go in with my Gitane.
edit- also, regarding the levers - this site seems to suggest that flexing was an issue https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk...fac2-comp.html
edit- also, regarding the levers - this site seems to suggest that flexing was an issue https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk...fac2-comp.html
Regarding the flexing: I think that concerns mainly the Guidonnet lever. Even the NOS ones offered on eBay are cracked:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mafac-Guidon...-/290558349982
08-10-18 | 01:03 AM
#27
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From: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
08-10-18 | 10:57 AM
#29
Patina Avoider
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Maryland, USA
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Vitus
I had always thought Maes/Kint was a specific shape of handlebar. Learn something new every day.
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Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 198? Vitus 979. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 198? Vitus 979. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
08-10-18 | 12:35 PM
#30
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Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,785
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From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
They were only made for a short period during the seventies. In no time the tire manufacturers had incorporated a reflective stripe in their sidewalls, which made these ghastly contraptions obsolete.
Your best chance of finding a set would be on a bike from that era.
08-10-18 | 02:03 PM
#32
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From: Seattle WA
Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage
[MENTION=173992]non-fixie[/MENTION] whats not to like about a spiffy looking vintage city bike that has a name like an herbal tea? 
09-23-18 | 11:12 AM
#33
Thread Starter
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,785
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From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Walked into an unexpected car boot sale yesterday, and waddaya know: found a pair, NIB. Remembered your quest and bought them. Let me know if you're still interested. For €2 they can be yours!
I was wrong on one account though: I thought they were introduced in the late seventies, but it was actually a decade later:
"Fits 26", 27" and 28" wheel sizes". We all know, of course, that it should read "26", 28" and 27".
And that a "round circle" is a pleonasm.
I was wrong on one account though: I thought they were introduced in the late seventies, but it was actually a decade later:
"Fits 26", 27" and 28" wheel sizes". We all know, of course, that it should read "26", 28" and 27".
And that a "round circle" is a pleonasm.
09-24-18 | 11:01 AM
#34
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From: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Hi non-fixie! Thanks for your post. I am gonna contact you via PM. I didn't know that they were produced by HEMA, by the way.
09-24-18 | 01:42 PM
#35
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Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,785
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From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
HEMA, the Dutch version of Woolworth's. They weren't the only ones that sold bike reflectors, but their version was rather cool. And somewhat laborious. And not cheap! Fl. 16.75 would have bought you a nice Ry Cooder album.
12-30-18 | 04:23 PM
#36
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From: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Those reflectors ended up on this Gazelle TdF I got a while ago. This low end Gazelle from the 70s got my attention because of its condition (I don't think that the bike has been ridden much), so I thought about possibly converting it to something else. The frame turned out to be too big for me so in the end I decided to give it a complete overhaul and keep it all original (plus the reflectors
). I definitely spent too much time on the bike, but I enjoyed working on it. Can move to the next project on my list..
12-30-18 | 04:55 PM
#37
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Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,785
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From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Wow! Impressive piece of work. The bike looks new. Those reflectors couldn't have ended up in a nicer place.
12-31-18 | 03:32 AM
#38
Full Member
Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Thanks! So riding on tires without sidewall reflectors and with no reflectors whatsoever is absolutely illegal, right? How strict is this rule in the NL, by the way?
12-31-18 | 04:19 AM
#39
Thread Starter
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,785
Likes: 6,997
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
12-31-18 | 04:47 AM
#40
verktyg
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,034
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Current favorites: 1988 Peugeot Birraritz, 1984 Gitane Super Corsa, 1980s DeRosa, 1981 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo, 1992 Paramount OS, 1988 Colnago Technos, 1985 RalieghUSA SBDU Team Pro
Zombie threads
What's with all the ZOMBIE threads in the C&V forum lately?
The Gazelle touring bike deserves it's own thread.
[MENTION=473145]alexnagui[/MENTION] you'll get more responses by starting a new thread rather than tagging onto a 7 year old Gitane thread.
verktyg retrogrouch
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
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