Gitane Diffusion de Grande Luxe
 

Following an interesting exchange of information in a couple of other recent threads on a Gitane and a Tourmalet, I was looking for information on French touring bikes from the late 60's / early 70's, and stumbled upon this Gitane for sale. The toe clips caught my eye and I made an offer which was accepted and now I am the owner of this example of what seems to be the "Diffusion de grand luxe" sports model.
Apparently the previous owner was serious about the "sports" bit, because besides the toe clips there's no kick stand (surprising!) and no lock (amazing!).
The bike is dusty and rusty, but otherwise in pretty good condition and, more importantly, almost complete and original. The only thing missing seems to be the frame pump.
It will need some cleaning, polishing and greasing, but there's still a very pretty bike underneath the grime and the rust.

Edit: scroll down for pics, please.
http://www.mijnalbum.nl/index.php?m=...0&key=MM6LPYPL

For some reason the pictures are not working ...

Indeed, they are not working. Bummer.

Aaahhhh, that's better:

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-MLDJ84U4.jpg

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-E483WJW6.jpg

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-44GJFHFV.jpg

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-EWTSTWGL.jpg

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-Q4WCB7ID.jpg

This one can clean up very nice. What are those brake levers? Are they made of plastic?

And to make up for the inititial disappointment, here are some more (including the brake levers ;)).

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-VLGMJOAZ.jpg

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-FH4WUNZK.jpg

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-MM6LPYPL.jpg

I think they are...Snap Crakcle Pop!:eek::eek:........you're dead!:p
Reminds me of "Mon Oncle" and the Plastic factory in the movie.......The French seems to really love plastic so much back then

Chombi

What? This is A-grade Delrin, man! Who's worrying?

Exactly. They're French. What could possibly go wrong?

Cool, that bontekoe sticker. My concorde has one of those as well, they seemed to be a quite famous shop back in the day. They even made it into one of the books of Kees van Kooten in a cycling related story of his youth.

Bontekoe is still there. Friendly little shop, now operated by the grandsons of the late great Gerrit Bontekoe, pre-war track star. Sold nice bikes under the "Cycles Bontekoe" brand as well. I'll start a new thread on mine one day.

That bike isn't cool or anything...

Cheese Louise.

Actually, they feel pretty solid, much better than they look, and I will try them, although maybe not at 40 mph downhill on the first run.

Cool! I'll start a thread on the concorde as soon as I'm finished building it. That said, I can pop by tomorrow at the Bontekoe store to pick up the parts (cables and cablestops) I need for the build!

Remember, solid can also mean brittle after many many years of outgassing platicizers.
I still remember my San Marco ski boots I had delivered from my brother's attic in WI to CA so I can go skiing in the Sierras. It took just a couple of really hot WI summers in my brother's attic to dry out the plastic to the point that theyt literally exploded apart when I buckled them on in the ski lodge. Otherwise, they looked totally normal with no cracks or signs of deterioration. I think 30 year+ old plastic brake levers might have passed their safe "use by" date a long time ago......be vewy vewy kewful!

Chombi

Thanks for the warning, Chombi. I will. As it is, with the wet weather we're having and the steel rims it's not going to make a very big difference anyway ...

Awwww...just try not to use them. :)

I have a set of those brake levers, they're metal with a plastic coating but the ends aren't fully reinforced so the tips can snap off.

Very cool bike, shold be gorgeous when done.

Thanks for the info on the levers. Comforting to know. Kind of.

Love it. The chainguard is sweet. It has a great patina to it. I even like the reflector circle. What a great find. Can't wait to see it all spiffed up and road ready again.

Thanks. I just took it out, put some more air in the tires and took it for a spin around the block. Everything seems to be in working order, albeit a little stiff.
First thing I did was take off the wheel reflectors, though. I have positively disliked those ever since they were introduced. I will look for tires with sidewall reflection instead; a much more elegant solution.

This is it in broad daylight, for the first time in decades probably:

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-SJIQVVAB.jpg

After recomissioning it will be stiff competition for my '73 Batavus Sprint (which, BTW, is equiped with the tires mentioned above):

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-CG6GKSSZ.jpg

Fine machines non-fixie thanks for sharing. If you have the chance could you please post photos of how the chain guards are attached to the frames?

-D

Sure. My camera battery is empty, so the close-ups will have to wait, but perhaps these will work. The Gitane Diffusion de Grande Luxe (can't get enough of that name yet) has braze-ons on the down tube and the right chainstay to which the chainguard is attached. The Batavus uses clips on the down tube and the seat tube. As you can see, the clip on the seat tube, at least in this position, will not work in combination with a front derailer.

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-W8V8BUA7.jpg

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-TTQ7KIU8.jpg

Cool. Thanks! Can't get enough of French chain guards.
-D

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 http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk...fac2-comp.html