gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » Questions about a "Record" from a new member... Goto page 1, 2  Next    View previous topic :: View next topic  Questions about a "Record" from a new member...   Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:26 pm grumpyphil Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 28 Hi all! I just bought (eBay) what I believe is an '86 or '87 Gitane Record. My original intention was to "upgrade" it to modern components but now that I've got it, I'm beginning to have second thoughts. This thing looks as if it was rarely ridden! So now I'm thinking I should restore it as near as possible to original. I've not been able to find the original specs for the bike but from what I can see it looks as if the stem and bars are not original as well as the saddle and wheels. Can anyone enlighten me about what I should be looking for? I'd be grateful for any pointers. I just got the bike and I'll try to post some pics of it over the weekend. Thanks, Grumpy   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:34 am Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK Welcome to the forum Grumpy, Please do post photos over the weekend. That will really help. Thanks. These catalogue links below should help you pinpoint the model, year and spec. http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1985_pg2.jpg '85 specs http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1985_pg5.jpg http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1987_pg3.jpg '87 specs http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1987_pg7.jpg The full list of 1980's (1983 to 1988) catalogues are here; http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues02.asp It sounds like you have a great buy. If it is in original condition I would definitely keep it as is, as you suggest. Do as little as possible to the paintwork to retain its originality. You should be able to find yourself the correct components to return it to its original state but it may well be that the machine was like it is when new. Good luck with the machine and the next stage. Thanks for posting. Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle Gitane Record   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:41 am grumpyphil Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 28 Tim- Thanks for the info. This definitely the Record shown in the '85/'86 catalog. I'm completely ignorant where it comes to "collectible" bikes and it wasn't my original intention to do that but now that I find myself with this thing, I'd like to do it justice. So some questions: Are upgrades acceptable? For instance, a Cinelli bar and stem as opposed to the cheap Belleri stuff? I'm also thinking about a San Marco Regal saddle. Does that lessen the desirability of it as a collectible? Thanks for all your thoughts. Grumpy ---------------- Now playing: Charles Mingus - Dizzy Moods via FoxyTunes   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:06 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA Grumpy, You bought a 1985-86 "Record". The Stem, Bars, and at least the rear rim have been replaced. Here's a link to the Catalog page: http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1985_pg2.jpg I will also tell you that you had some competition from several list members on this Bike. I believe it was a good buy. I'm glad to hear it was in such good condition. The bike is deserving of being kept intact and proper replacements found if you desire to get it to original. Regards, Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching. Apology...   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:39 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA ...for not completely reading all the posts fully. I was excited to hear someone did not want to strip the bike. Saddles are personal, ride what you like. The Cinelli would also be a proper upgrade. Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching. Gitane Record   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:51 am grumpyphil Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 28 Thanks for that Jay! I take it you were bidding on it as well. I wasn't sure what I was going to be getting...If it hadn't been as nice as it is I'd be "modernizing" all the components. As it is, I'm going to confine it to being (mostly) ridden on the trainer. Thanks, Grumpy   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:11 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA Grumpy, Yup...I was in there for awhile. I was hoping for a sleeper with the way the economy was going during that time frame. I already have 4 Gitanes and really did not have to have another. There a a couple of other brands that I have my eye out for. Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching.   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:50 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Quote: I already have 4 Gitanes and really did not have to have another. There a a couple of other brands that I have my eye out for. Jay Heretic! _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:04 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA Stephan, ummm, errr, other French Brands. Go give Chas. a hard time will ya Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching. Re: Gitane Record   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:52 am scozim Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 629 Location: Ellensburg, WA grumpyphil wrote: As it is, I'm going to confine it to being (mostly) ridden on the trainer. Thanks, Grumpy Good luck with this. I bought my 84 Sprint to put on the trainer over the winter. I've been on it the past three days and even had my 12 yo on it. I love how it rides and responds - much quicker than my Bianchi. In fact, I liked it so much I bought a 84 Tour de France two weeks later and will probably be on it most of next summer. And, Stephan count me a heretic too because I'd love to have my 84 Peugeot PSV10 back, or one like it. At least it's French too. _________________ 1984 Gitane Sprint 1984 Gitane Tour de France mid-1970's Gitane Olympic Plus many more http://eburgcycling.blogspot.com   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:05 pm sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Quote: And, Stephan count me a heretic too because I'd love to have my 84 Peugeot PSV10 back, or one like it. At least it's French too. Blasphemy! (Ok...that is the last Monty Python shriek!) _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:11 pm greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA Scozim, Ya gotta remember not to mention the "P" word in front of Stephan Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching.   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:45 pm scozim Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 629 Location: Ellensburg, WA That's ok - I won't utter the 'P' word because I don't have one - and Gitane has quickly moved my loyalties in a different direction. _________________ 1984 Gitane Sprint 1984 Gitane Tour de France mid-1970's Gitane Olympic Plus many more http://eburgcycling.blogspot.com Apology to Grumpy   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:08 pm greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA Grumpy, Sorry you have to listen to all this List bantering...Please post your photos for us to droooooooool over. We promise to get serious... Regards, Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching. Re: Gitane Record   Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:39 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area scozim wrote: grumpyphil wrote: As it is, I'm going to confine it to being (mostly) ridden on the trainer. Thanks, Grumpy Good luck with this. I bought my 84 Sprint to put on the trainer over the winter. I've been on it the past three days and even had my 12 yo on it. I love how it rides and responds - much quicker than my Bianchi. In fact, I liked it so much I bought a 84 Tour de France two weeks later and will probably be on it most of next summer. I bought my 84 Super Corsa frame around January last year to build up as a wet weather beater bike. After the first ride, I changed my mind and it became one of my favorites. I ride with some local Classic Rendezvous folks and they're REAL big on older Bianchi bikes. So last year I bought this 1988 Bianchi Giro on eBay. It was almost new but someone had apparently ridden it through the surf. I had to rebuild all of the mechanicals on the bike. I finally got it on the road this past June. The frame size is a perfect fit for me but it rides like a tank compared to my Gitane Super Corsa. Chas. Questions about a "Record" from a new member...     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 2   Goto page 1, 2  Next All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.