Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Gitane Tour de France bicycle

Early 1970s Gitane Tour de France bicycle. beautiful original condition. The paint and decals are in excellent condition. Chrome is nice and shiny.
Reynolds 531 double butted tubing.

58cm center to center seattube. 58cm center to center toptube
Campagnolo Gran Tipo large flange hubs
Stronglight mod. 93 cranks
Simplex Criterium front and rear derailleurs(front derailleur is cracked, I will replace with correct functional Simplex front derailleur)
Lyotard 460d pedals
Ideale 2001 saddle
Mafac 1st version engraved Competition brakes
Pivo handlebars and stem. with original handlebar wrap.
Tubular tires need to be replaced.

$sold
email bikeville@gmail.com







3 comments:

somervillain said...

I never have, nor never will, understand the marketing hierarchy of older French bikes. Top of the line lightweight frame material, matched with heavy plastic derailleurs. I can not comprehend.

Via Bicycle said...

yeah, Simplex was really pushing it to all the French companies, it wasnt soon after the Super LJ line came out.

From what I have heard and read, this plastic stuff shifted really well, but I guess it was not their intention to have it last 40+ years.

Unknown said...

I had an early 70s Paris Sport with beautiful dark blue and cream paint, cantilever brakes, and sew-ups. It did not have a Simplex derailleur, but a very slight Huret derailleur that got the job done. This was an odd bike with unique components and a pretty but unsophisticated (read "heavy") frame. There were plenty of Peugeot PX10s (The "Flexible Flyer!) floating around at the time with Simplex and I'd had a Liberia (also French) prior which had Simplex. The Simplex derailleurs worked okay until they broke but were no match for the Campy Record, or even more so, the Suntour V.