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sandranian · Site Admin

I have (finally) scanned some catalogues that I had. It takes me a bit, so I apologize for the delay. Also...some of the catalogues have not been scanned in their entirety, because they are 30+ pages. I usually don't include mountain bikes and the like...only really the road bikes, because that is what interests me...and after all, that is really what is important, right??? Wink

Check these out on the site:

1975 British (complete)
http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues01.asp

1982 British (partial...all bikes pictured, but not all specs). Of particular interest is the "Profil" is included in this catalogue.
http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues02.asp

1997 French (partial: This one was HUGE, so the mountain bike and real lower end road bikes were excluded):
http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues03.asp

2009 French "Definitive" line (Partial: The framesets are really all that matters here, and those are pictured. The complete bikes were just different groupsets on these frames. Also, I didn't scan the Definitive line of mountain bikes).
http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues05.asp

I just purchased a 1984 British catalogue, but it hasn't arrived yet. When it does...it will be (eventually) added!

Enjoy!

Wisey

Anyone else notice something strange in the 82 catalogue? Shocked

Shhh, Sandman Wink

.
(no, it's not the profil)

sandranian · Site Admin

If you saw what I saw...funny, isn't it? They must have gotten a break from the printer, don't you think?

Wisey

It's nice to know that it wasn't just the bikes that suffered from lack of quality control. Laughing

sandranian · Site Admin

I like the bells put on every bike...except the Profil. But on the highest-end bikes, there are bells, which is pretty cool. Surprised they didn't put fenders on them too!

Also note that the model "Vigorelli" in the 1982 catalogue, which has been the subject of discussion on more than one occasion in this forum, is finally found in a catalogue. The tubing is listed as "Competition Camus Aero Profil", whatever the heck that is! (bottom right-hand corner)
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1982/british/1982-British-catalogue0003.jpg

Wisey

You'll probably find that in 82 in Britain it was still a regulation to have a bell during all amateur racing events. It was still the rule here. Guys used to buy those tiny little aluminium bells and attach them to the front hub as the rules stated that you had to be able to reach the bell while in the seated position. It said nothing about the bike being in motion.

I've been told that the Reynolds 531 profile tubing was simply 531 that had been run through a set of rollers to 'squash' it to the desired shape. I assume the Camus was done the same way.

sandranian · Site Admin

The "camus" stuff appears to have not even been that high-tech, because the tube ends are still round in order to fit into the lugs. I was going to ask about the law and the bells. In California, all new bicycles must be sold with reflectors, so even on your high end bikes, they are supposed to come with reflectors (front, rear, and wheel). Regulations which signal the death of common sense (and personal choice).

Wisey

You see, you guys in the States got it all wrong in the Cold War Wink

. You thought is was all about Nuclear missile bases and submarines. It was really about universal health care and bicycle refelctors Rolling Eyes

. There is no more choice. Democracy has lost. Welcome to the USSA - (United Socialist States of America). Twisted Evil

OK seriously: Over here it is law to have reflectors & lights once the sun goes down. It is law to have a bell if you are on a shared cycle/pedestrian path. So, it is law for bike shops to sell bikes with bells & reflectors on them. However, the consumer still has the choice to remove them as long as they don't infringe the law in doing so. Reality is that most bikes get sold with reflectors as they are already attached to the bike when it comes from the factory and mechanics are too lazy to remove them, even on top range racing bikes. On the other hand, bells are usually loose in the box so the mechanics are too lazy to fit them except on kiddies bikes. Go figure.........

verktyg

verktyg

lofter

sandranian · Site Admin

I figured it out. "Moorland" was the British distributor. That is their own decal on a bicycle...maybe not even made by Gitane!

verktyg · Last edited by verktyg on Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:29 am; edited 1 time in total

Where's Waldo? Confused

Help these old eyes out, how about a hint?

Chas.

sandranian · Site Admin

Sorry Wisey...I am going to "out" it!

Take a look at the 1982 British Catalogue. There is a model called the "Matador". The decals are not Gitane, but rather say "Moorland".

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1982/british/1982-British-catalogue0005.jpg

I believe this is because the British distributor was "Moorland Cycles", as noted on here:

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1982/british/1982-British-catalogue0008.jpg

It was Wisey who caught it originally...good eyes man (or "mate")!

Gtane

Super work on the catalogues Stephan and thanks for loading.

Wisey - regards bells. There has always been a 'means of approach' Highway Code regulation in the UK and even now shops are obliged to sell machines with bells, or similar. I didn't have a bell fitted for TTs and never saw one on a race machine at that time, or even at all from memory. Interesting to hear that this was the case in Australia. Thanks for that insight.

I love the additional Moorland machine. It could possibly have been made by Gitane and rebadged especially for distributors as a marketing tactic. It would be interesting to see if other catalogues at that time offer the same.

Tim