Need Help with my New GITANE frame???
 

Today i finally brought frame that i wanted for long time..That is french classic 531 high end frame in my 58 size that is not so easy to get here in Croatia. Please if someone can tell me is this Super Corsa or i am wrong??

I would like to restore it to original if would be possible....

Thank you very much in advance!

Greetings form Croatia!http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250330http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250331http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250332http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250333http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250334http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250335http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250336http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250337http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250338http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250339http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=250340

The Vitus (vs Campy) DO's suggest to me that it's a mid eighties Team Pro/Replica.
Hopefully an expert will chime in and set me straight.

In any case - it's a very impressive frame. Congratulations on a terrific find.

If it's a Gitane Pro, I think it would be from the earlier 80's as by the mid 80's they were made with Columbus tubing and had ther race number tag hanger under the top tube.

Chombi

The seller told me its 1986 super corsa. It camed with full dura ace
Arabesqe era but its not original set up...From the links you posted it looks like it could be mid 80"s Team pro..

Maybe numbers from the bottom b can help somebody who has Gitane's degree :)

It's a Supercorsa then (The bleu color threw me off as I think I'm used to seeing most Supercorsas in red, for some reason.), not a Gitane Pro as we first thought. A very nice racing Gitane with a very solid 531 frame. I think the Pro which was their top of the line will be only one or two model levels above it..
You can hang either a full Campy NR or SR gruppo on that or go all french aith a mid 80's Spidel group. bith will work well and look good on that frame.

Chombi

I think it´s earlier.
1982 Olympic maybe?
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/cata...alogue0002.jpg

A very nice frame, good luck with the build!

By the way, I spent a weekend in Zagreb while traveling around that area about 8 years ago. Wow, what a beatiful city! I didn't know what to expect before going there and I was totally surprised. I didn't want to leave. It's a dream of mine to get back there some day with my wife and daughter.

You're lucky on two accounts, a beatiful bike in a beautiful city!

Thank you very much. You should come for cycling during summer.....

It might be a Euro model, probably not an '82 Olympic (due to Campy gruppo on that versus this all DA) but might be a year later Olympic...maybe go to the Gitane USA forum and Stefan A. or another Gitane expert will know for sure.
And it can't be fitted with ALL Campy due to that annoying Shimano-specific shifter boss.

Its metalic blue. So we all agree its a Super Corsa then ????

That would be nice , just if i would have NR instead of DA 7400.....in my box....I think i will put full 600ex arabesqe from my 1982 Bridgestone Diamond Road cause will fit better since i am equiped only with Japan components..for now.:)

Thanks

Not yet, but I think we all agree it's a helluva nice Gitane...whatever year and model.;)

That's for sure! :)

I would not hang your hat on the group that happens to be on it. (More than one Gitane has had a Campy-ectomy performed.)

Generally tubing labels, Dropouts, Steerer tubes and other frame details are the more telling.
+1 to post to Gitane USA: You can expect a definitive answer there.

The Vitus dropouts are unsual too, even on French bikes. I've only seem them in special team frame builds and some special Mercier frames. They look really different, proportion-wise compared to even Simplex DO's. Everytime I look at them, I can't quite figure them out with their half rounded and half squared shapes and their large cut outs.

Chombi

I v had french libera 531 frame with very similar cutouts an
and vitus dropouts. From what i saw on the web & on the frame
I think its 1986/7. Team Pro.m
http://m.flickr.com/lightbox?id=6501316167

I don't think it's a Super Corsa, at least not one I'm familiar with. If memory is correct (I'm talking early '70's here), the Tour de France had Simplex dropouts and the Super Corsa had Campagnolo dropouts. Both had 531 tubing.

If the BB and HS threading is french than it's probably a 1982 'Olympic' that was repainted with the lighter and brighter metallic blue used on mid-eighties (1983-86) Team Pro/Replica. If the threading is english/iso than it's probably a 1986/87 'Professional'. A nice frame that merits any high-end group like the Mavic SSC ridden by King Kelly & Co.

I checked some details. Threading is english. Lugs are BCW, tubes are butted 21/24, fork neck is also made of reynolds..
I will check on Gitane USA too.....Now would like to be sure...:)

It's more than likely a 'Professional'

I looked on the auction site last nite for the heck of it. There's a nice Super Corsa there, but it's priced high.

This is what Stephan from Gitane USA says:

Your frame is probably a 1984 European model. In 1984 Gitane switched to the "fast back" seat stay attachment.
In 1984 Gitanes made for the US market used Columbus (Team Pro), the 3 lower priced models had Super Vitus 983 tubing.

In 1985 the US Gitane Professional changed to Reynolds Competition tubing and long point lugs. They also had later style Reynolds decals.
Reynolds 21-24 tubing had a wall thickness of 0.8mm at the butted ends and 0.5mm in the middle. This was some light weight tubing. The down tube may have been heavier gage 20-23 - 0.9mm x 0.6mm.

I would use th 1984 decals on this frame.