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dancheet

Hello all!

My nishiki, which I restored, was stolen after I left it overnight infront of my office building. After looking on craigslist I stumbled across this gem.
Rode 15 miles today and this thing is light and quick!

From what I am told, it is a 1984 Gitane Tour De France 58cm. (Although under the crank housing it is stamped "Modele VITUS Depose". I bought it from a bike mechanic who was the second owner. Original owner evidently had it on an indoor trainer for over 10 years! It was taken down to bare metal and professionally repainted in a metallic burgandy. It is made of Super Vitus tubing 983. The bike weighs 21lbs as it sits. Everything that's old on it has either been replaced or rebuilt and polished. It has first generation Shimano Durace Cranks, Platform pedals, Mavic Open CXP Hoops, Brand new Hutchison Tires, Shimano Durace 8spd rear hub, Shimano 600 Groupo(ultegra), Durace brakes front and rear.

I will post more detailed photos very soon! Happy to learn more about this bike and the community!

- Cheetham

scozim

Welcome. Very nice bike - you'll love the ride. I like the white saddle/bar tape combination. I've done that on one of mine and it really stands out.

dancheet

Thanks! yeah the white helps out alot, especially here in Arizona where the sun can heat things up pretty quick.

Also, I know most of the people here like bikes that are original as possible, so thanks for putting up with this modernized set of wheels!

Here are some better frame pictures...tell you anything new? Does it look right?

Thanks!

sandranian · Site Admin

The forks are not original. They appear to be aluminum, and that bike should have come with steel forks.

The "Vitus" stamp that you were referring to is a removable plastic cable-guide. Most Gitane's included those in the 1980s, so that would make sense. The serial numbers are pretty feint. If you remove the cable guide, you might see the original color underneath(?). It appears that it was left on the bike when it was resprayed, which is an oddity.

Can you take a picture of:
(1) The seat tube cluster, including the seatpost binder bolt;
(2) The rear dropouts.

Interesting bike.

Wisey

The mid 80s 'bubble' decals would look nice on that deep red, I think. Cool

Like the 1984 TdF, but with a nicer red.

dancheet

Here is an image of the rear dropouts...

and seat post...

I there is a set of white Gitane decals that would look killer...40 bucks tho Sad

sandranian · Site Admin

The frameset appears to be a Gitane...with the "fastback" binder bolt, lugs etc. The fork is not original though, but as long as it doesn't affect the ride, then more power to you! I agree that the bubble decals would look great...but the white ones would too...so whichever you choose I support!

verktyg

The frame is most likely a 1983 or 84 Tour de France model. You can probably confirm that by looking at the overspray in the seat tube, head tube or bottom bracket shell.

A 1983 TdF may be a solid fire engine red. I've never seen one, just judging from the color in the 1983 catalog. In 1984 the color was an orangish slightly metallic color red.

If there is overspray and it's blue, it could be a Super Corsa, Criterium or even a Sprint model frame.

The fork is not original. It's an aluminum fork from a Vitus aluminum frame bike.

The original fork on a Tour de France or Super Corsa from those years would have been chrome plated steel.

Tour de France and Super Corsa frames were the same during those years only the paint color and components differed.

dancheet

Wow!

Thanks a ton guys! The more I research Gitane, the more excited I am to own one. I will post more pictures as the "Red Baron" continues to evolve.

Sunday I will have pictures from the bike shop whigh show before/after of the bike, including it's original paint, taking it down to bare metal, etc.

Wisey

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