Dating Gitane bikes
 

Hi all
Anyone have any good info on dating a Gitane bike? Just got this with a so far vague plan to do a classic race, but need to get a confirmed date first. Spidel cranks and brakes, Simplex 5500 rear mech, cinelli bars and stem, any other useful info, just ask!
Thanks!
Miles

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=400036

[MENTION=384627]MiloFrance[/MENTION] - I new the French have love affairs with bicycles! welcome to BF! I could use google to do the research but I would encourage you to do so as you will learn a lot about the bike because of the motivation! I would start with VeloBase. VeloBase.com - View Brand

Someone here will likely pop up with a guess based on one picutre. You might submit a few more inculding decals, bottom bracket, seat lug, head tube, fork crown, drop out identification. Cinelli bars and stems were made for decades, so not very useful unless you can describe the markings. There are several generations of them that can be identified by the markings but not down to the year. Who knows if they were replacements.

What are the date codes on the RD and FD? They might be an indicator too.

Gitane USA - Models/Pictures

http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues02.asp

The decal graphics are consistent with a mid-80s Gitane.

Thanks all! Some new things seen on the links, which is great! The catalogues so far as I have read don't mention 531 tubing, and the wee beastie has 531 respray decals. Also, the rear triangle is part chromed, and the rear brake cable is external through 3 braze-ons not internal. It has Simplex stamped on the drop outs and only one set of bottle bosses. So far nothing matches. The search continues... :)

G+ Album

Yup, the "Bubble" font graphics, as used on those bikes, came out, I think in 1984 - 85. It's the graphics that were on the team bikes during the big Lemond, Fignon and Hinault TDF years with Gitane..... Before that, they had the more mundane looking, black lettering within narrow chevron pattern fields on the DT and ST....

Well. Its been confirmed that it's not a Gitane frame. Booo! Anyone have any idea how I can find out what it is? Frame is likely a custom or highish quality large manufacturer like Peugeot. Lugs are the same as some Peugeots but frame number does not fit. 8123003 could be 1981, Week 23, 3rd Frame built? Anyone have a French or italian beast with similar numbering?