Found this low-end 70's Gitane Grand Sort DeLuxe in the trash. I thought at the very least I could remove the derailleurs, the rear brake and make it a single speed without losing the rear cassette or crankset. Most of the decals need to go, and the hard as a rock plastic bar tape, too.










Frame is mild steel but is in great shape, so's the leather saddle. It looks like somebody got tired of riding it and just parked for 30 years then rolled it out to the trash.

Would my time and money be better spent on something else? How expensive would it be to convert to Fixed? French bottom bracket, most likely 27" wheels.






More pics here
https://homepage.mac.com/bbattle/PhotoAlbum45.html

Clean it up, build a fixed rear wheel (suicide hub, only need to buy a cog), remove the inner chainring, add an aero brake lever and a sidepull brake, and ebay it for $200. Ebay superfluous parts for $50

The frame is rather pretty, actually.

Pretty frame, but still junky. LoFarkas knows the routine. Take some low-res photos, hawk it to some college kid with too much money.

Some warriors deserve another day of glory

Then there are pikers that should just fade away.

Personally, I wouldn't get too attached or spend a lot of money. This is an up hill battle (27", sad saddle, pipe clamp seat post of unknown dia, potentially hard to get BB and Headset standards) and with the stamped rear drops, the frame doesn't look all that "special".

Cool bike.
I'd take the SS route. Unless you have the parts, a fixed convert wouldn't be worth it (IMO).

Whats up with the rim side walls? I think it looks cool as is.

^Dimpled steel, for extra noise when attempting to slow the bike down.

The rim side walls have those diamond dimples.

I'll give the singlespeed option a try; otherwise, back in the trash or down to the LBS, see if anybody wants it.

That's the kinda bike that's great to ride, and spend next to no money on. If it works as is, replace the bar tape, a couple of cables, tires and tubes max. if the derailers don't work, SS it. Hopefully you've already got parts around for it, otherwise send it back from whence it came.

On the other hand if you really like it, you could buy whatever parts you want for it, and use them again later on another bike.

Donater to the local bike co-op. They can use it.

da best things on this bike are the centerpulls and levers with half-hoods (are they mafac ?)
and the clamp on bottle cage

the campy knockoffs by pelissier are kindof cool too, but probably not so great

Yeah, Mafac centerpulls and levers. Faux chrome crown on the fork.

The decals on this frame can be peeled off with your fingernail, which is the first thing I'd do. (keep the huge one on the seat tube)

ain't nothing cheaper than free...i say go for it. if you're feeling a bit non-commital, you can try the single speed route first. keep all the parts in case you wanna put it back together.

Convert it to a fixed gear and go hang out by the local hipster hangout and sell it for twice the amount you built it up for.

Clean it up, donate it.

Get it in good running condition, spend very little money to get it in order, then resell it as a commuter. Somebody wil be stoked to have a vintage ten speed to get around on.

One way or another, I would totally ride that. I love Gitanes.

singlespeed beater/rainbike/suicide hub beater/rainbike. don't spend much money, and don't get attached.

take it to your local bike shop and ask them if they need a new shop bike. Or better yet, show up with a few beers (if your over 21, if not warm milk and cookies. drinkings baaad hmkay) and yell "hey, I got half a tall bike, who has the rest?!

most of us that work in shops appreciate the effort, and its never a sour time to ressurect an old beater and do something that could potentially be dangerous on it.

If you tall bike that thing, you're a criminal.

Not a criminal, an "outlaw" get it right. Tallbikers are outlaw badasses who could care less about the laws of physics and fashion.

Also there is nothing special about that bike except the pretty paint