gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » Gitane Velocipede 1970s France Goto page 1, 2  Next    View previous topic :: View next topic  Gitane Velocipede 1970s France   Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:58 am modsixty Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Location: The Hague Holland Hello there all! I am new on this great forum/website. My name is Walter and I live in the Netherlands. I am a collector of 20th century design furniture. In search of funiture I bought this velocipede 1970s? Gitane fun bike!!. Can anybody tell me more about it? Many thanks, Walter   Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:07 am Karloman Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Fontainebleau, FRANCE I can't help you cause I've never seen one before but I think that it's an amazing bike ! And it seems to be in very good condition. Can you tell us how did you find it ? _________________ MY BICYCLES   Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:56 am modsixty Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Location: The Hague Holland I bought it in Holland two days ago in search of design furniture. I loved it immediately, I paid 250 euro for it. It is in very good condition, the brakes (weinmann type 810) and dynamo (Soubitez) are like new. I tried to make a close up picture from the Gitane mark, this is what is says: Gitane SA Micmo tel 78-50-39 44 Machecoul France nr serie 1158 It als has a small shop sticker at the front Fahrzeuge Zurfluh Birsfelden   Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:00 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California In English, that is what is known as a "Pennyfarthing". I have seen pictures of them before (same color, in fact), and one person a few years ago posted some questions about his as well. That one appears to be a bit newer than the pictures of the ones I have seen before. I am not sure what Gitane was thinking in manufacturing these bikes, and cannot imagine that they are very comfortable to ride. Perhaps it was built as an inner-city transport? They naturally wouldn't need much space for storage. However, Gitane did make folding bikes at the same time, so again...no idea what niche in the market this was supposed to fill. Very strange/interesting machine. Note: Although there is apparently a sign which reads "1960" on this bike, the decals would indicate that it more likely dates from the early 1970s. Also, the person who posted this image on their blog said that it was comfortable to ride. This model also appears to have gearing of some sort in the front wheel. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:56 am modsixty Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Location: The Hague Holland Thanks for the replies. The front wheel has got a freewheel, no gearing. Shown on the picture from the bike in japan (and mine) is just a black plastic protection for the freewheel. Yesterday I was at my famillies, I brought my Gitane to show. I knew they have had a tandem from that period and believed it was a Gitane aswell. I went to the garage to see and yes!, it is also a Gitane from the same period with the same orange finish.   Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:14 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA Walter, A Gitane Family!!! His and Hers and His. That is nice to see. I collected and sold Mid Century Modern for a number of years. Good things are hard to find in the US unless you are in a BIG City. Prices still seem to be strong for quality Designers. How are they over there? Now it's just Bikes that I collect. Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching.   Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:43 am Euroboy Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Posts: 4 Hi there. I got one Gitane Velo as same as Modsixty, but in a much worse shape than yours tho. Maybe you Modsixty can give me some info regarding tire dims (both wheels) as i´m unable to see any markings on mine. I have made this my "project" of the year and will try to restore the bike to it´s former glory. Does anyone know where i can find spare parts for this model, specially brake parts as mine are basically missing or damnaged. [url=http://postimage.org/image/ifv1b4psx/][img]http://s8.postimage.org/ifv1b4psx/IMG_0240.jpg[/img][/url]   Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:02 am lofter Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 1162 700c on the front i believe , you guys, im so jealous, ive wanted a mini penny farthing for awhile now . almost got my hands on one in portland . missed it by hours. cant get the pics to work euro .   Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:14 am modsixty Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Location: The Hague Holland Hi, What a great find!! do you have pictures to show? where did you find it? My bike is in my warehouse, I'll check the tire sizes asap for you. If you need any outher info let me know. Kind regards, Kim   Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:26 am Euroboy Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Posts: 4 Sorry for late reply. I delivered my bike to a pro bike restorer last week, he went ballistic and said he never seen anything like this. It´s gonna take some time to get all the parts needed for the project he said. I will post some pic when it´s done. By the way does anyone know where to get parts for this model?   Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:53 am lofter Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 1162 I've seen the seat that your bike uses on a gitane stationary excersise bike on lebriocon. They were selling it for 35 euro. The handle bars are going to be tough to find. My penny farthing I bought in Germany is finally in the states as of yesturday. Almost three months from the time of purchase. Should be here this week. I'm pumped.same color as yours.   Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:03 am lofter Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 1162 The gitane traveler,,the chrome bike with the funky bottom bracket ,uses the same stem different bars tho   Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:36 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area sandranian wrote: I am not sure what Gitane was thinking in manufacturing these bikes, and cannot imagine that they are very comfortable to ride. Perhaps it was built as an inner-city transport? They naturally wouldn't need much space for storage. However, Gitane did make folding bikes at the same time, so again...no idea what niche in the market this was supposed to fill. Very strange/interesting machine. We brought one in as a conversation piece at the first shop that I worked at in 1973. The impression that I got back then was that these were made as promotional gimmicks. I think that someone bought it very quickly. Last edited by verktyg on Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:00 pm; edited 1 time in total _________________ 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   Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 2:16 am Euroboy Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Posts: 4 Att: Lofter. Do you have a link to where i can find that saddle (Lebriocon)?   Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 4:29 pm lofter Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 1162 Leboncoin.fr search gitane that's where I seen the exercisebike.its been awhile since it was up. It had the same saddle. 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