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mikkla

Last weekend was the birthday of my wife so the tandem had to be ready.
It is not completely ready, I am still waiting for other pedals for instance and there are more few minor things.
Also the luggage rack is not finished, this will have to wait.

But all in all the tandem was ready enough to be presented
Some before and afters :

And some other pics :

My wife wanted the big bell to be added and my daughter had some dice ready…

I tried to stop’m but they were with the two of them!!
Anyway, once the weather clears up I will shoot some pics with better cam and nicer backgrounds.

greyhundguy

Michael,
You have truly done an exceptional restoration. I know you are proud and have a very happy wife to share it with.

Best regards,
Jay

sandranian · Site Admin

Truly a stunning bicycle: You did a fantastic job with that. I am jealous....

scozim

Wow, wow and wow!! You did a great job with this restoration.

smilingroadrunner

Mikkla, I'm green with envy, not just over the tandem project , but the time you will get to share with your family on your new tandem !!

Wonderful job, and appreciate your efforts to keep this vintage piece on the roads.

Completely unfamiliar with the brake operation on these bikes---Left hand brake working front & rear cantilevers simultaneously. & Right hand for the Rear Drum. Does one normally just use the Rear Drum and Cantilevers for extra stopping power ???? or Vice - Versa ??? (I can't imagine doing an end over no matter how hard front cantilever was engaged---but I could still envision locking up the front wheel & sliding)

Personally I like the street side images----I think the brick work and pavement has such a "spring Classics" appeal. Someday, I hope my spouse and I will get the opportunity to visit Europe.

Keep us posted as more images become available in the progress of your project.

Nice Work !!!

I Like Steel !!!!!!
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Salina, Ks.

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mikkla

Thanks for the nice replies guys!!

You are right Smiling RR about the brakes.
I also wondered why they mounted it like that.
I double triple cheked it but this is the way it was mounted when I bought the bike.
And as it looked original to me at that time I mounted it in the same way.

I first thought that cantilevers aren't as good as drumbrake.
So normal operation is cantilever, and when extra stopping power is needed the drumbrake can be used.

Other option would be that both rear brakes are operated with one handle.
The front brake would be alone then?!?
I can still change them if it turns out that it gives problems, but still..
mm little confused here lol

LOL everybody likes the look of my street here haha
Once the weather clears up I can do a shoot of "my town" as well.
With a Gitane here and there off course Smile

petermulders

Hello Mikkla,

I just bought the same model of tandem like yours! I just have one picture and it's a pretty bad one. I am not a collector or 'freak' (in a good way!), we just stubled upon it on a garage-sale and we felt in love with it Smile

We bought it from the first owner, an old man who loved the bike a lot.

For as far as I can see it's in good condition. The uncle of my girlfriend is a bike-technician, we are going to restore the bike with him. Your project is going to be our example, great work! So I hope you are still on the forum so I can maybe ask some questions later on, about ordering parts and stuff.

About the breaks, if my tandem is original, ... there are two cables going to the rear (one to the drum, one to the cantilevers), and the other one goes to the front break cantilever. BUT one handle is not original anymore, so maybe there has also been a change-over, don't know.

Hope we'll have a lot of great fun with this one. Any tips, help, dating, parts, ... are very much welcome! I'll post better pictures as soon as possible!

khunsa

very nice restoration and very nice tandem Shocked

mikkla

For some reason I can not reply to your post?

mikkla

LOL, this works, but it won't let me post what I want...
Will try again later.. confused here

mikkla

Still won't let me type more then a few words.
If you need any info just let know and I will try to help you.

mikkla

Congrats on the nice find, I also bought mine from the first owner!
I see you have the front luggage rack, that looks very nice, wish i could find that one some day.

You are right that two cables will go to the rear brakes, one for the drumbrake and one for the back cantilever. The other is for the front cantilever.
I have another topic where there are a lot of pics from the tandem, maybe it is of use to you.
Further if you have any questions I will try to help you with it.

One other tip, don't cut the spokes before you remove the freewheel Smile

http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1595&start=0

petermulders

Thanks!

Sorry not checked in here for a while. I found the old catalogues on the Gitane website. We are going to try to restore it (with kinda original steer like the pro bikers, don't know the englisch word ... "koersstuur", haha)

Don't get the joke with the spokes and the freewheel, but I probably find out soon Smile

Peter

livcyxingfoe

I found the old catalogues on the Gitane
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