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Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:32 am |
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littletinyfish |
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Joined: 23 Apr 2010 |
Posts: 3 |
Location: Milwaukee, WI |
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I tried looking into when this bike was made. One hint was the Columbus tubing, which was only used through the years 1983-1984. The "Gitane" decal seems to match that era as well. I thought it might be a Team Pro, but the cables aren't internally routed and the lugs seem to be of a later style (87?). It's also not that brilliant color of blue, either. The dropouts are Campy, too.
I like the cute little bird inscribed in the seat stays.
The fork appears to be replaced and basically all the group has been replaced with Campy and Dura-Ace.
It occurred to me that this may not have been an American bike and maybe that's why it doesn't match what I've seen. Thoughts? |
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:40 pm |
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cooltech |
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Joined: 21 Aug 2007 |
Posts: 27 |
Location: U.S. Pennsylvania |
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Nice bike! Sorry I can't help on the yr. I would expect someone on this site will know. Sure could use an old catolog. Any serial# or yr. possibly on the frames bottom?
cooltech |
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_________________ Tks. for th op. to be here. glad I found the Gitane site |
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| | | | | | | | | Non una donna Zingaresca | | | | | |
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:12 am |
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verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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littletinyfish wrote: |
I tried looking into when this bike was made. One hint was the Columbus tubing, which was only used through the years 1983-1984. The "Gitane" decal seems to match that era as well. I thought it might be a Team Pro, but the cables aren't internally routed and the lugs seem to be of a later style (87?). It's also not that brilliant color of blue, either. The dropouts are Campy, too. |
I saw this bike on eBay.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but the Gitane decals are the only thing that says Gitane to me.
This bike SCREAMS Italian! |
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_________________ Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
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1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica |
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| | | | | | | | | Non una donna Zingaresca continued | | | | | |
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:23 am |
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verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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I was having problems posting the above message so here's the balance...
From about 1982 until well into the 90s all top of the line Gitane bikes had internally routed rear brake cables running through the top tube.
Premium Columbus SL tubing was only used for a few years and only in the top models. Gitane used some lower grade Columbus Alle and Chro-mor tubing in some of their mid range models.
Is the Columbus decal in French like this:
Or Italian like this:
littletinyfish wrote: |
I like the cute little bird inscribed in the seat stays. |
Again. from 1982 until the 90s all of the top Gitanes had fastback seat stays. I've never seen a Gitane with Columbus seat stay plugs with the white dove logo (again, Italian). Also note the rear brake cable exiting the top tube.
Note the difference in the way the seat and chain stays are finished off at the dropouts.
littletinyfish wrote: |
The fork appears to be replaced and basically all the group has been replaced with Campy and Dura-Ace. |
It appears to be a pieced together "frankenbike". The Alan aluminum fork doesn't match the frame.
Alan was an Italian maker of lugged, glued together aluminum frames and I'm not sure that they ever sold forks separately except as replacements.
littletinyfish wrote: |
It occurred to me that this may not have been an American bike and maybe that's why it doesn't match what I've seen. Thoughts? |
When I saw this bike on eBay, my first thoughts were someone who worked in a bike shop and had access to a lot of older components pieced this bike together, maybe as a rider or just to sell it. We did that all of the time at our shop but we informed our customers about what we had done!
It looks like a nice frame with decent components so it should be a great riding bike, but it's not a Gitane. |
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_________________ Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica |
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 12:17 pm |
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littletinyfish |
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Joined: 23 Apr 2010 |
Posts: 3 |
Location: Milwaukee, WI |
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It definitely has the Italian Columbus sticker on it. I knew the fork and the group was not stock, but this information on the frame set is a total surprise to me.
So...what does this mean for me? It's still a very quality bike (the best bike I've owned so far, anyway) but what is the frame? Just a generic Italian frame?
At any rate, thanks for your help. |
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:09 pm |
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verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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littletinyfish wrote: |
It definitely has the Italian Columbus sticker on it.
So...what does this mean for me? It's still a very quality bike (the best bike I've owned so far, anyway) but what is the frame? Just a generic Italian frame? |
It's anybodies guess what make of frame it is especially without the original fork. The lug work looks pretty good and I suspect that it might be a repaint. It could even be a frame built by a US or Canadian builder!
If the bike fits you and you like the way it rides just enjoy it and consider it a custom built "bastardo" (one of unknown parentage in Italian).
The only word of caution, keep an eye on the fork and do regular inspections. It's made of glued together parts and it may date back to the 70s. Any signs that something has moved or come loose, replace it with a steel fork or shudder, a plastic fork. |
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_________________ Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
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1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica |
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 4:13 am |
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sandranian |
Site Admin |
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Joined: 27 Feb 2006 |
Posts: 2701 |
Location: Southern California |
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By "plastic" Chas. means carbon, of course. |
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:09 am |
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littletinyfish |
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Joined: 23 Apr 2010 |
Posts: 3 |
Location: Milwaukee, WI |
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I think I'll call it Gitalian.
Thanks for all your help. |
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:08 am |
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verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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littletinyfish wrote: |
I think I'll call it Gitalian |
Zingaresca is Italian for Gitane, a Gypsy woman. |
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_________________ Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica |
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| | | | | | | | | Year/Model | | | | | |
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