verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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It's a "gussied up" Gitane Track Standard model from the early 70s. The short point "fat" looking lugs were the bottom of the line from Bocama. These plus the 16mm seat stays are the 2 features that lead me to believe that it's from the early 70s and not the 60s as advertised.
Standard Bocama Lugs like bike on eBay.
Bocama Short Point Professional Lugs used on ~1972-73 TdF and some other models.
Bocama Long Point Super Professional Lugs used on 1974 and later TdFs and other models.
Bocama lugs were available with or without the band on the head tube lugs and Gitane used them both ways.
Prior to 1973 Gitane used these Prugnat Type S lugs on most of their better quality bikes like Super Corsa, TdF, Pista and other models.
These Gitane track bikes were made from the same low carbon steel tubing used in the Gitane Gran Sport 10 speed bikes from that period. The tubing had a little thiner gage wall thickness than that found on a lot of other brands of Bike Boom bikes. The Gitane 10 speeds weighed ~28 Lbs. with 27" steel clincher rims, steel handle bars, a steel seatpost and a kickstand.
The Track Standard came with sewups which pulled 4-5 Lbs. off of the bike plus no derailleurs, brakes, freewheel and so on but they still weighed in at 22-23 Lbs. Because of the track geometry and heavy tubing (as compared to say Reynolds 531) they we rather clunky riding on the street. On a smooth track a frame like this could be a benefit for strong sprinters plus it could withstand frequent crashes without getting dinged.
It was rumored that some Intercub road bikes from this era were made of Durifort tubing and I seem to remember seeing one Interclub fork blade with Durifort embossed into the tubing. Since these were built for competition I would have thought that the Track Standards might have lighter tubing but they used the same size seatpost as the Gran Sport indicating the same size seat tubes.
The Track Standards were targeted as a very inexpensive fixed gear bike for beginning track riders. They sold for far less than $150 USD, maybe even less than $100. The seller is pretty proud of this bike.....
Chas. |
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