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Paul

Not sure I got the pic attached. New to this site. Trying to ID a Gitane road bike. Appears to be from 70s, Mafac Competition brakes, 531 tubing, Huret FD. Stronglight crank. Campy QR. Says Racing Team on rear chain stay. Green color.

Frenchbuilt

Probably 77 or 78 Gitane Tour de France/Olympic.

Great huret Jubilee derailleurs! Keep those

sandranian · Site Admin

Likely a Tour de France.

verktyg

Looks like a 1974 Champion Du Monde, here's why:

1. In 1974 Reynolds changed their 531 decals from these:

to these:

This pretty much dates the bike to 1974 or early 1975.

2. In 1974 and 1975 Gitane switched the TdF frames from all Reynolds 531 tubing to only the 3 main tubes Reynolds.

This bike has an all Reynolds 531 decal on the down tube which is how the Champion Du Monde frames were made.

3. The rear stays were not chromed on the 1974-75 TdFs, the CDMs were.

4. Gitane only used the Huret honeycomb rear dropouts from very late 1973 to late 1976 or early 77. They were only found on performance model bikes from those years (they were not very popular back then).

By 1976 Gitane started using Campy style rear dropouts on their top of the line models - Super Olympic, Olympic, Champion du Monde and Tour de France bikes.

5. The Stronglight 93 cranks were discontinued by 1977, replaced by the model 105 and 105bis cranks.

1976 TdF

Stronglight 105bis cranks (with Spidel sticker)

6. Gitane stopped using Campy Nuovo Tipo hubs by 1975 and switched to Normandy Completion Luxe or Maillard 700 hubs.

I had a 1974 Champion Du Monde frame a few years back and sold it to a former Forum member. It was in decent shpe but the first thing he did was strip it and rattle can spray it...

The frame was made from lighter gage Reynolds 531 and was probably a great riding bike. I would have kept it but it was a size too big for me.

During the mid 70s (and later on) Gitane TdFs came with Simplex Criterium or Huret, Challenger, Success or Jubilee derailleurs.

They also used both Stronglight 93 cranks or Sugino Mighty Competition cranks plus various hubs wheels and rims, saddles too.

I never saw any literature of the TdFs after 1975. Gitane Pacific probably imported a few but they didn't have a clue. Same thing with the Super Olympic, Olympic and Champion Du Monde.

In fact I never knew that the CDM existed until I saw it listed in the 1973 Gitane French catalog about 4-5 years ago.

Paul

Thanks for the help everyone. I will post a few more pictures later. Looking forward to getting it apart, cleaning it up and see where I go from there. The parts all looked good, low mileage and in working order. I would like to get it painted, new decals, and put back as close to original as possible. Keep it for "wall art" and sunny day short rides.

Paul

verktyg

Before getting the bike painted, I'd try cleaning it first. Reason being, some of the chrome looks to be a little rusted.

The rust on the chrome will stand out like a sore thumb against a new paint job.

Cleaned and polished it should look great with the patina of 38 years of life.

Paul

Here are a few more pics. I will clean it up proper before rushing to the paint shop. I think it will clean up pretty well as most of the grime is just from sitting in a garage for a few decades. Chrome looked good. The bike is in VA and I cannot get started untill December. Will have to wait a few months to get into it. Thanks, Paul

verktyg

Paul,

The frame that I sold looked just like yours looks before I cleaned it up.

Before:

After:

Here's another before and after (the before picture was taken in OZ by forum member Wisey):