gitaneusa.com :: View topic - Gitane Mexico track frame on eBay.... Smokin' Baby!

verktyg

There's a Gitane Mexico track frame just listed on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gitane-Reynolds-531-Track-Frame-Fixed-Camapagnolo-WOW_W0QQitemZ120226369180QQihZ002QQcategoryZ56194QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m122

Seller is asking £299.99 ($590.02USD) for a bare frame that has only the 3 main tubes made of 531. I thought that they were putting limits on smoking certain substances in Amsterdam???

It looks like a 1975 or later Mexico model. Seller says it's from the 60s. Wish sellers would get their info straight... any old bike seems to be listed as from the "60s". The other rant is eBay sellers who post pictures of the left side of the bike. What? The right side has "private" parts? Laughing

Chas.

lofter

man that is really sharp! beautiful blue, so you in on this one verktyg? its close to your size.57 right?

smilingroadrunner

Guess I better go look in the catalog section of the forum and enlarge the catalog images. I've seen reference to Mexico in earlier posts but finally had to ask.

Chas - Lofter, when I see posts related to Mexico track bike frame, I assume that is the Model name (similar to the Pista track frame)??

Thanks Chas--this frame demonstrate quite clearly the point you were making for me earlier today about the darker green 531 lettering on the Reynolds frame tubing decal---and its' position on the downtube after '74.

Hopefully Greg will add your example of the period correct Reynolds frame tubing decal to his store site in the near future.

Sorry fellows, couldn't resist playing with a few colors tonight.

____________________
C.A.
Salina, Ks.

smilingroadrunner

I guess I should spend a little time looking at the resource on Stephan's catalog section of the website----Mexico in both the '74 and '75 catalogs.

Sorry Embarassed

_________________
C.A.
Salina, Ks.

verktyg

The frame is definitely from a Mexico model track bike. I was guessing that the frame is a 1975 or later because I don't recall Gitane using the 3 ring decals on top of the seat stays and top tube lug in 1974.

The 1978 Mexico has a painted fork whereas the earlier models are chrome plated so that narrows it down to a 1975-77 (that's my thought process for guessing Confused

)

Also, the Reynolds 531 decal on the downtube is really faded. The gold color is gone and the 531 should be a dark green. Rubbing compound or polish may have worn the colors away or maybe a cleaning compound like Simple Green caused the fading. There is remnants of polish or rubbing compound on the brake stay (that was never drilled for a rear brake).

Chas.

sandranian · Site Admin

We need those little stylized gitane decals that appear on that bike. We have to get our friend in Australia to add those to the decal sheet. Someone copy a picture of the two and send it to that guy...add it to the sheet...like 4 of them...

verktyg

Stephan,

I don't remember ever seeing a Gitane in the flesh with those little decals. That doesn't mean they weren't there on the few post 1974 Gitanes that passed through our shop.

I guess that they go with this decal set:

Let's get the foil one finished first... Laughing

Chas.

sandranian · Site Admin

He already has the art...just has to add the things. And I saw a prototype of the foil decals (a picture only). They look great, and should be ready any day now....

ti-commuter

exactly what i have,
except it needs a respray and decals.......

buyers advertise 60's style,but the bike is definetly 70's.
mine has 73 stamped on the front of the seatpost lug

lofter

verktyg

Those numbers have confused a lot of people, even me once, back in the day.

The French lug manufacturer Bocama stamped the angles in all 3 lugs. They made lugs for 71° to 76° head tube and seat tube angles.

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/France/Bocama_lugs.htm

Most other lug makers from those days just offered 72° or 73° lugs and builders who wanted a different angle had to get creative.

Chas.