Last spring a friend gave me this 1973 Gitane touring tandem. It was pretty much a basket case in my eyes at the time. I decided that I would build it up as a around town cruiser and give the bike a classic look instead of the 70's metallic paint look that it had stock.

The first thing that I did was strip it down to bare metal and have a local frame builder install some Campagnolo rear dropouts with a derailleur hanger, then I noticed the nice front racks he was building so I had to have one.

The frame, fork, rear hub and Mafac brakes are about the only parts that I kept of the original bike.

It may ride like a wet noddle at speed but I think it has some European style for a local grocery getter.

btw: Thank You forums members for all of your help with the french BB.

Before,

[IMG] 1973 Gitane Touring Tandem by ibikergal, on Flickr[/IMG]

After,


IMG_8889 by ibikergal, on Flickr

[IMG] IMG_8888 by ibikergal, on Flickr[/IMG]


IMG_8882 by ibikergal, on Flickr

[IMG] IMG_8887 by ibikergal, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] IMG_8878 by ibikergal, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] IMG_8877 by ibikergal, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] IMG_8875 by ibikergal, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] Gitane Tandem by ibikergal, on Flickr[/IMG]

yeaaa! before and afters are both really nice. i am a sucker for baby blue though.

very sweet, and i hope it gets a lot of miles.

Wow! Great job, Jeff!

that turned out really really well, i really like the color/paintscheme with the brown saddle and grips

Very sweet. Must be a real head-turner when you're out running errands.

Fine job!

Beautiful.

WOW!!!! That is truly sublime. Who is the framebuilder that did the mods for you? Oh, and who did the paint?

Very nicely done. Now all it needs is a set of mudguards to finish the project atmo.

Beautiful work... ride should be fine as long as your stoker is not too big as these are pretty noodly and are a nice bicycle for two people who want to enjoy each other's company.

Thanks everyone,

The framebuilder that installed the dropouts and made the Rack is Bronson Silva at Silva Cycles in Campbell California https://silvacycles.com/

I had the frame and rack powder coated light blue and I painted the Cream white myself with single stage automotive paint. Maas Powder Coating https://www.maasbrothersinc.com/

That's good stuff to know and the work they did is excellent along with yours too.

So are you up for some mudguard suggestions?

Very nice! Almost makes be want to fix up the '73 Gitane Tandem the kids ride into the lake every year. Almost.

Who did the Giatne decals and are they period-correct??

The decals are not period correct for a 1973 Gitane, I could not stand the Gitane foil decals of the 70's. I picked them up on ebay here, https://stores.ebay.com/Cyclomondo/_i...4.l1513&_pgn=1

Nice. I think it looks more French now than in its original state. And I think that's a good thing.

VERY impressive work mtbjeff!

Comment: perfect.

Question: why replace the dropouts?

Observation: One man's "basket case" is another man's "looks like everything I have in my garage..."

The stock dropouts didn't have a derailleur hanger or axle stops ( thats what I keep telling myself), In retrospect I probably would not change them if I were to do this project over again.