gitaneusa.com :: View topic

msteeves

I'll post some images tomorrow.Meanwhile, here are some details:

Yellow frame (original paint)
Original Gitane decals with "Team Racing" decal on the driveside chainstay
Chromed fork; painted chainstays
Sugino crank
Simplex derailleurs
Mavic aluminum wheels
Hutchinson 32-700 tires (either originals or very old replacements, dry-rotted)
Shifters are on the downtube

I see the most similarity in some of the 1974 models in the old catalogs on-line, but none of the images/model specs quite match.

Other than being very dirty and some paint chipping, and having dry-rotted tires, this bike is actually in pretty good shape. The bearings roll like the bike just came off the showroom floor.

Any help with ID greatly appreciated.

Mike Steeves
La Junta, CO

msteeves

Here are the images of the bike:

http://luckydawg.home.bresnan.net/tidbits/gitane/index.html

sandranian · Site Admin

That is one bizarre bike! I wonder if it has been refitted with a number of parts, because I haven't seen anything like that before.

I am not sure of the tubing material: Is there any sticker on it? I really like those rear dropouts. Huret, I believe.

If you want to restore it, I wouldn't necessarily have it painted. Copper wool will shine up the chrome on the forks. Definitely take that plastic spoke guard off ASAP! Also, that saddle was added by an owner (I don't think any Gitane came with springs like that).

The good news is that the bars and brakes are good. The crankset could be replaced at some time, but no need to do that immediately. I would replace the shifters and the cable guides throughout, including the "clip on" cable guides on the top tube. You can get some nice Simplex, Huret, or Campagnolo ones on ebay for relatively cheap.

Not sure if you are looking to redo the bike, but that's what I would do with it!

Paul Wiseman

The decals are the same as bikes in the 1974 catalogue.
Check out the Tour de L'Avenir on page 1 of the '74 catalogue on this site. The cranks, simplex derailleurs, mafac brakes all match. The chrome fork only matches too. Only the higher end bikes had rear tips like that. The cheaper bikes all had tips stamped out of flat sheet metal. Best guess from the translation gave me for the Paris-Nice, was that each bike comes in a range of colours.

msteeves

I think you've got it. The handlebars being on backwards or upside down sort of detract from the overall picture, but I think that's it. The only thing really wrong with this critter is the broken springs in the rear derailleur and the dry-rotted tires. And the seat. If I can get the derailleur fixed this will be a nice little ride, I think. I've got another derailleur that will work, but it's off a salvaged US bike. Not quite the same effect as the real deal.

Thanks for the help with the ID.

Paul Wiseman

Was it a mid range "simplex"????
I've seen a few of those on ebay for not much $$$.

msteeves

I have no idea. I know nothing about these bikes. This one was found by the local cops, abandoned, and lay around the impound lot for months before I was able to retrieve it. Got it for nothing, as a matter of fact, as part of 'house-cleaning' of unclaimed property.

The derailleur in question has two internal coil springs, one at each end, and each spring has the anchoring tab broken off.

It's very similar to this eBay item:

150011260487

except this item is a claw whereas the one on the bike is not.

I'll look on eBay to see what I can find.

My bike de jour, BTW, is a Fisher XCaliber.