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xcx4x

first of all, hi everyone this is my first post and the first thing i want to do is know what i have.

i got this bike for 40$ off my friend who has just purchased a brand new fixie bike.

anyways, it looks like
-the derailer was taken off and changed to a single speed
-from browsing the gitane catalogues, i think its 1969-1973ish.\
-i couldnt find the serial number beneath the bottom bracket.

anyways, it rides really nice but right now i am in the process of completely overhauling everything. seems like this bike hasnt been maintenanced since the nixon era.

pics:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/xcx4x/DSCN0171.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/xcx4x/DSCN0173.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/xcx4x/DSCN0175.jpg

alex w., san jose california.

sandranian · Site Admin

Yep...a circa 1970 Grand Sport DeLuxe. All the specifications are included in the catalogue on GitaneUSA.com

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for posting the pics!

Wisey

Those 3 arm cranksets are very cool.

sandranian · Site Admin

Nice because you can remove chainrings, unlike some of the later models. Perfect if you want to build a fixed gear bike.

xcx4x

ah, so i see a 3 arm crankset is not a norm nowadays. what else is there to know about the bike? does that dish near the hub of the back wheel serve any purpose? and during my overhaul, i removed one of the chain rings since it is a single speed. will that affect any structural integrity of my crankset/chainring set?

Zach

40 bucks is good. What I should have paid for mine. The bike looks kinda small though.

sandranian · Site Admin

The "dish" is a spoke protector. It can be (should be) removed immediately. Removing one of the chain rings will not affect the structural integrity of the crankset. It will be just fine. Make sure if you are making it into a fixed gear bike, that you get the chain line right.

verktyg

The stem is WAY TOO HIGH!

Stems should be inserted at least 2" into the fork steering tube. The expanding portion of the stem needs to be below the threads and not putting any internal pressure on the weak threaded portion of the steering tube.

See how this steerer is cracked perpendicular to the threads. This is a "lucky" crack.

The steerer pictured above is made of high strength Reynolds tubing. Gitane Gran Sport steering tubes were made of plain carbon steel, only about 1/3rd the strength of alloy steels.

The wall thickness of the steering tube below the threads is about 1.5mm (0.059"). The wall thickness of the metal at the bottom of the V shape in the steerer threads is only about 0.9mm ( 0.036")!

Cracks that form in a circle around the threads can cause the top of the steering tube to break off. This will leave the rider going down the road holding the handlebars with the top of the headset still attached to the stem. Been there-done that! Shocked

Pull out the stem and inspect the expander split or splits at the bottom of the quill portion of the stem. Look for any cracks like these.

If it's cracked, throw it away!

The whole bottom of the stem can break off like this:

This is why some cast aluminum stems are referred to as "DEATH STEMS"!

It's always a good idea to drill a hole at the top of expander splits to prevents cracks from developing.

Before reassembling, clean out the inside of the steering tube. If it's corroded, use some sandpaper or a brake cylinder hone or brush to clean it out.

Clean up the expander plug and threads on the expander bolt in the stem too. Put a little grease on the bolt at the top, the threads at the bottom and the expander. Also grease the outside of the stem and inside of the steering tube.

Chas.