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Convert it or back in the trash?

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Convert it or back in the trash?

Old 09-05-06, 07:11 AM
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Convert it or back in the trash?

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
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Old 09-05-06, 07:24 AM
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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.
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Old 09-05-06, 07:48 AM
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Pretty frame, but still junky. LoFarkas knows the routine. Take some low-res photos, hawk it to some college kid with too much money.
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Old 09-05-06, 07:56 AM
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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".
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Old 09-05-06, 09:10 AM
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Cool bike.
I'd take the SS route. Unless you have the parts, a fixed convert wouldn't be worth it (IMO).
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Old 09-05-06, 09:12 AM
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Whats up with the rim side walls? I think it looks cool as is.
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Old 09-05-06, 09:21 AM
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^Dimpled steel, for extra noise when attempting to slow the bike down.
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Old 09-05-06, 09:23 AM
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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.
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Old 09-05-06, 09:49 AM
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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.
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Old 09-05-06, 10:19 AM
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Donater to the local bike co-op. They can use it.
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Old 09-05-06, 10:58 AM
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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
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Old 09-05-06, 11:07 AM
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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)
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Old 09-05-06, 01:29 PM
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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.
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Old 09-06-06, 12:05 PM
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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.
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Old 09-06-06, 12:24 PM
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Clean it up, donate it.
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Old 09-06-06, 12:33 PM
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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.
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Old 09-06-06, 04:25 PM
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One way or another, I would totally ride that. I love Gitanes.
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Old 09-06-06, 10:41 PM
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singlespeed beater/rainbike/suicide hub beater/rainbike. don't spend much money, and don't get attached.
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Old 09-07-06, 08:11 AM
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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.
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Old 09-07-06, 08:50 AM
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If you tall bike that thing, you're a criminal.
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Old 09-07-06, 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Sammyboy
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
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