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trois tubes

Hello all,

Last winter I started a website about Hinault's race wins. I try to add content whenever I get something different and some spare time (not too often on both counts). The latest batch of mags that I receive regularly from a friend in France had a picture of Hinault riding a chrome(?) finish bike in the '83 LBL. I know he rode an aluminum Vitus for the Fléche Wallone a few weeks earlier but this one looks distinctly different.

Any ideas on what type of frame it could have been? Perhaps a prototype?

BTW - If anyone has pictures of the 'Badger' they want to share, PM me and I'll give you an email and specs to send. To view what's already posted got to: www.velovault.webs.com

Wisey

Have a look at the Hinault interview on this site that Nicolas managed to get for us. Hinault was asked the question about that bike, but even he had no recollection of what it may have been. Do you have a photo that shows the other bike to definitely be a Vitus Alu?

You pic is interesting from a gitane perspective. Who is the rider to Hinault's left? What team is that? He appears to be riding a gitane?

trois tubes

Hi There Wisey,

The team was Eorotex and the rider is Jostein Wilmann from Norway. The team rode Gitanes with older graphics used previously by the Renault team.

I may be mistaken about the bike being an aluminum Vitus in the Fléche Wallone. If you look closely at one of these pictures, the headtube is lugged.

I've sent an email to Nicolas, maybe he can look into a bit more.

Wisey

Yes, I think you are correct TT. It looks like a lugged frame. Given the state of the saddle and the poor weather conditions, I wonder if it was simply his wet weather training bike?

I guess we'll probably never know unless someone turns up whose uncle thrice removed lived next door to an old lady who bought her pet dog from a pet shop owner whose aunty was the store keeper who rented out the room above to a fellow who just happened to be a part time mechanic for the Renault team.........

But that is still more likely that any of us figuring out the gitane serial numbering system. Twisted Evil

verktyg

The head lugs look like Bocama brand. The frame could be chrome plated and just covered in mud?

It could also be one of the "Team Neutral" Service des Courses spare bikes too?

nicolas

Grrrr..... That damn bike again Wink

It's most likely the same bike on both races. If you look closely you can see a small badger and a tiny Gitane logo.

Interesting remark about the condition of the saddle, though. My idea would be : a prototype that got used by Hinault during the winter when the blue/yellow pattern was not green lighted yet that for some reason was taken on the road for Hinault's belgium trip...

mikkla

Or he just liked this seat sooo much that it was mounted bike after bike after bike...