 |  | | | |  | |  |  | Can anyone ID this Gitane? |  | |  |  | |
 Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 11:22 am |
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| harv |
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| Joined: 23 Sep 2010 |
| Posts: 2 |
| Location: London, England |
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Hi
New to this site, which I found after buying this bike:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddieandroushka/sets/72157624886464920/show/
Really looking to find out model, year etc - anything really. From a quick browse of the catalogues on here it looks like an early 80s model.
I bought it from a buy who had been using it for commuting into London for the last year (until the brake fell off) hence the general grime and marks on the frame from tying to lampposts etc. He bought it ("in much better condition"!) from someone who had hardly ridden it. The ride is still pretty smooth.
Shame about the brake because the welding will mean a respray I suppose and I'll lose all those nice old decals. Love the Shimano groupset though! never seen one like that before.
Anyway, I think I got a bargain (£75!) and when it's finished it will be a lovely bike again.
I'd be grateful for ideas on its history and restoration. Thanks |
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| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 1:28 pm |
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| verktyg |
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| Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
| Posts: 2814 |
| Location: SF Bay Area |
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Welcome to the Forum.
It looks like a 1980 or maybe 1981 Vuelta;
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1980/french/Gitane_1980_Page_10.jpg
Too bad about the broken brake bridge. A competent frame builder should be able to quickly repair it and maybe even match the paint.
The first advice to anyone considering restoring a bike is ride it for a while. Disconnect the rear brake. You can probably get by with just a front brake while you are checking it out. |
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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: Thu Sep 23, 2010 1:42 pm |
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| harv |
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| Joined: 23 Sep 2010 |
| Posts: 2 |
| Location: London, England |
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Thanks Chas - that does sound like the right one.
I know of a reputable frame repairer that I can take it to. In the meantime I've taken the back brake off and I'm just going to take it out for a few rides. |
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| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 3:55 pm |
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| verktyg |
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| Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
| Posts: 2814 |
| Location: SF Bay Area |
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| harv wrote: |
| I know of a reputable frame repairer that I can take it to. In the meantime I've taken the back brake off and I'm just going to take it out for a few rides. |
Sound's great. Super Vitus 971 has the same wall thickness dimensions as Columbus SL tubing, thus the same kind of smooth ride.
My riding experience with Gitanes has been of pre 1976 and post 1984 models so I have no idea how the late 70s and early 80s models ride.
In the early 80s Gitane and some other French makers shifted from standard Reynolds 531 tubing to lighter Super Vitus 971, 980, 983 and Columbus SL tubes for many of their performance models.
They also fine tuned the frame geometry. Gitane published their frame geometry specs in their 1984 US catalog.
I'll match the ride and handling of my three 1984 Gitanes against any fancy Italian bike! |
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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: Thu Sep 23, 2010 4:04 pm |
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| scozim |
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| Joined: 26 Sep 2008 |
| Posts: 629 |
| Location: Ellensburg, WA |
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| verktyg wrote: |
I'll match the ride and handling of my three 1984 Gitanes against any fancy Italian bike! |
I'll agree with that! |
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