gitaneusa.com :: View topic

Paul Wiseman

I got another one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm still looking for that magic mint condition bike, but how's this for $60???

Opinions on what it is? Check the '74 catalogue. Paint scheme of the TdF. No chrome on rear. But different derailleur. This has a Huret. But Reynolds 531 for certain. Original decal still there. Check the "S" on the chrome front tip photo. ?????any ideas?

How happy am I tonight?

sandranian · Site Admin

That's just not fair. When am I going to find something like that? Where did you get that...and for $60??? To add insult to injury...was that $60 Australian? That is like $40 US!!!

Paul Wiseman

OK, that's enough gloating, I think.

Bargain huh?

I saw it advertised as "French bike, brand gitane on frame" It had an auction sticker on it, so I think the owner probably paid $20 for it and thought he was making a teriffic profit. He had the mother of all hangovers when I arrived to see the bike at 2:30pm! I offered his asking price of $60AU, and he was happy to take it and go back to bed I think. The front wheel has been replaced with a cheap alloy one, but other than that it's pretty original I think - not sure about the cranks though. Does anyone have a photo of a 1975 TdF? Only the Interclub is in that catalogue. I did a bit of cleaning last night, and it had gold outlining around the lugs. I think it's a TdF, but not 100% sure. The Interclub for 74 & 75 had different fork crown and only half rubber hood on Mafac brake levers. It certainly doesn't have the top of the range ensemble of the Super Corsa in the 74 catalogue, and doesn't have chrome rear stays. It's very close to the TdF in 74, but just not quite. Perhaps the 75 had some minor changes?

Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?
Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

sandranian · Site Admin

I have read some different stuff about the frames with the "Racing Team" sticker on them...they are slightly different from the Tour de France models. I will look into it, but that bike rocks. I would get all of that simplex stuff off of it, and replace it with Nuovo Record...drilled throughout!

And if you won't do it...sent it to me!

By the way...what are all of the other bikes in the garage?

Paul Wiseman

No way!!!

In the absence of the current model Camp record that I can't afford, it's getting the Ultegra treatment. I'm gonna ride this baby. Also going to put a carbon fork in it as well to shave of a bit of weight. If/when I stop riding it, I have a pair of super record derailleurs & shifters in almost mint condition that will be the start of an ensemble for that bike. Haven't had any luck with brakes or cranks yet............ not at a reasonable price anyway. However, I've lined up a pair of the original Roval wheels from a friend. That will be nice.

I'd really appreciate any info on the "racing team", I didn't realise it was different. Those black & white photos in the old catalogues just don't show as much detail as I would like. I imagine archaeologists get frustrated like this. The artefact is right there, but how do you get more info??!!!!!! At least we have www.gitaneusa.com. The simplex stuff is already off. She is stripped and waiting to be cleaned properly (and tenderly).

As for the other bikes: I've been meaning to get around to finishing and photographing them all, but you know how it is...........

I'll arrange some photos soon, but here is the list:

GITANES:

1. My original 1985 Victoire. I rode this bike into the ground as a teenager. The original front tips broke, and I replaced the fork with a Tange cro-mo with fully sloping crown. I then broke the rear drive side tip while stomping up a local climb. (I still think that's pretty heroic - how many of you can say you were SO powerful that you actually snapped your frame? - ok, ok, so they were really crap tips to start with) The tips were replaced with Campys, re-spaced to 130mm, and a decent rear brake bridge inserted. All this done by Brett Richardson, builder of Berretto bicycles. Darrell McCulloch ("Llewellyn"), worked for him as a young fella. This bike was eventually painted red, given a set of fake Colnago decals, and sold to my sister's boyfriend at the time. I ran into him last year, bought the bike back off him and have had it painted 1983 blue. It has been built with bits and pieces of campy NR, & SR. Still waiting for decals though. So, it will be a "real" Gitane pretending to be a "great" Gitane.
2. Why not restore it to original condition? Two reasons: (a) I don't have any of the original parts. (b) I found another Victoire in original condition and bought it for $50. Given that the huret & weinmann gear on that bike were junk, I built it with a combo of 1980's Chorus & Athena. That's what I rode in those days. So, it's a sentimental re-build. Both these bikes can be seen in the background leaning against the garage door.

*** I really should have cleaned up the garage - damn!

3. 1985 Defi. This was a rusted out trade-in at the LBS where I work on saturdays for fun. The only worthwhile part was the frame, but it cost nothing...... It's been built up with ultegra/105/tiagra/suntour superbe pro brakes, as my work bike. A little heavy, but a really nice ride nevertheless.

4. 1974 Paris-Nice. See other posts. Paid $60 for that one too. I'm still waiting for more feedback from you guys before deciding what to do with it..........................

5. The new member of the family. Blue TdF 'racing team'??????????????

OTHER BIKES:

6. Current road bike - Argon 18 Krypton. Without a doubt, the best handling bike I've ever ridden. It descends like a demon! But it's carbon, and like all carbon it doesn't have that lively feel that steel has. Yes, I know, I'm an 'old fart'. Velomax(Easton) circut wheels are great.

7. Silver Olmo Impact - 9 speed campag veloce. Was my work bike till I replaced it with the Defi. It's up for sale.

8. Blue TT bike. I had this built by SorenSon in the mid-90's. Reynolds 731OS tubing. And for anyone who thinks steel must be heavy, it's 1.6kg!! My Argon is 1.4kg!!! I know there is much lighter carbon (900g), but the new Reynolds 953 tube set builds up to 1kg. Guess which is stronger? And nothing beats the feel of steel. TT rig built with ultegra 9 speed.

9. My early 90's TT bike. This is a true 'period' bike. Reynolds 731os. 79 degree seat angle!!! Ultegra 8 speed. Dura Ace 180mm cranks. ITM cow horn bars. Profile first generation aero bars. Swift shift. Falcon disc on rear. Mavic 3G tri spoke on front. The way we were...........

10. 1954 Malvern Star 'Coronation' model. This actually belongs to my girlfriend's sister. MS is the big aussie brand. Think Schwin in the US. The coronation is a ladies bike built to celebrate the coronation of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1954. Cool bike that will get a full restoration - one day...................

11. My girl's bike. Trek 1000 frame rebuilt with 105 9 speed.

Well, that's the family. Cheers all.

sandranian · Site Admin

Paul:

You aren't seriously going to put a carbon fork on that, are you? You are also going to have to "adjust" the frame as well, to accomodate a modern wheel set. That involves bending out the rear stays, which will permanently alter the bike.

That frame wasn't meant for 9 or 10 speed, and won't ride the same way once you put it on. No matter how good of a job is done with the rear stays, it will never fit right.

That bike was meant to be ridden, for sure. But it was meant to have 6 speeds and the old spaced hubs (don't recall the mm right now).

Carbon Fork? Shimano Ultegra? Say it ain't so!

sandranian · Site Admin

I just got another catalogue: French 1975. I think it contains that bike...not the best catalogue (as it is a poster type), but the "Champion du Monde" model seems to be close, anyhow. I will scan it (somehow), and get it posted just as soon as possible.... Here is what it lists (we'll need Nicolas to translate, when he is back from vacation!):

Champion du Monde

Course grand luxe
Tout Reynolds
10 vitesses par derailleur Simplex Super LJ23
Direction et pedalier Stronglight Super 93
Freins Mafac
Janes Mavic Dural sport
Moyeux Maillard 700

Paul Wiseman

Aw, Sandman. You're being a purist again, but you'll grow out of it. hee,hee. If you could see this baby up close, you'd understand. This thing is just begging to have its cranks turned in anger.

As for your warning, yes I'm aware of the implications, but don't fret as it will all be done in proper fashion. I'm a good mech, but not a frame builder - so it will go to a frame builder and it will track just fine. If I do change it from 120mm to 130mm spacing, and then want to rebuild it with old campy later on, I can just put a 130mm axle into a NR/SR hub. My biggest problem will be finding a painter who is shonkey enough to give it that real gitane look.

At this point, I'm not even sure that I'm going to get enough saddle setback to be able to use this bike seriously or race on, so it's early days yet.

I still can't stop grinning though............

sandranian · Site Admin

Are you going to paint it??? Crying or Very sad

What size is that frame? To avoid the painter or someone bending the crap out of the back, I am willing to trade you a 2000 FdJeux replica frame set for it, if it is in my size!!!

DON'T DO IT, PAUL!!!!

Paul Wiseman

Don't worry so much man. I'm kidding Embarassed

myself anyway. It's too small for me to use seriously Crying or Very sad

. I'm just a bit over excited about owning it. It has a 55cm seat tube (C to C) with a 57.5cm top tube (C to C). Pretty long for a bike that height, huh? I use a 58cm top tube so I was kinda hoping...... But I'm 6 foot tall and mostly legs. i.e. 58 top tube is short for my height. I have a 59cm seat tube usually. Using a lot of seat post is OK, but I'd have had to use a new fork with a longer steerer tube and a riser stem to get the right bar height. It's just getting to out of control. It will be an ugly bike that only handles half as well as it should. Anyone got a 58 cm TdF they want to trade? Wink

(now I'm really dreaming)

verktyg

Hey, I know that bike!

The frame is now in my hands ready to be built up and ridden again. A well traveled 1974 TdF. Very Happy

As Wisey found her in OZ:

As Stephan rode her in SoCal:

The old gal is all ready to get dressed up again. "She's had work done"... I Touched some of the blemishes er scratches in her makeup. Wink

She's getting dressed in her original kit... Stronglight 93 cranks, Huret Challenger derailleurs, Mafac brakes and so on...

Mission Chas. - Home for wayward bikes! Laughing

Wisey

Beautiful, like a 1950s edition Playmate of the month........

................ not that I would know what that looked like Embarassed

scozim

Nice bike, Wisey and a heck of a deal. Besides the bikes that's a nice collection of yellow saddles also. Love the look of the drilled chainrings.

Scott

verktyg