Flea market find, 70s Gitane tdf?
12-17-18, 12:38 PM
#26
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The drop outs appear to be ref. 881/881 B from the pictures. I started taking it apart yesterday, the paint on the fork was removed. I was able to get a great deal on this bike
09-23-19, 07:33 AM
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Here it is, I changed the saddle and stem. The wheels are some clinchers I had, the original Mavic tubulars cost too much to revive.
09-23-19, 08:00 AM
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Beautiful, beautiful bike. I think that's a real Gitane fork, too, as it has the fish-mouth ends. Is that a 60 cm? Every TdF I've ever encountered in 60 cm was simply magical ...
09-23-19, 08:07 AM
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That bike is a keeper; great score.
09-23-19, 11:23 AM
#30
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That looks like a 58 to me, not a 60. I picked up one in 60cm that's all-original a couple of years back in light blue. I really want to get around to restoring it soon. Pics for comparison: https://www.bikeforums.net/18711750-post230.html
FD isn't original on yours. Barcons either. Everything else looks pretty close to stock to me.
Also managed to score a frameset ... on eBay? Bare metal. Was a mystery frame, I knew it was French but couldn't tell if a TdF or Super Corsa. Seller had a grandiose story about it, which I found unbelievable given what I knew about the frame details. Anyway, you'll see the braze points for the brake bridge. Still no idea what it was. Thread here if you're interested: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...corsa-tdf.html
ps: @verktyg is literally guru-level when it comes to Gitane, lots of wisdom posted up there. His posts have helped me so much over the years I can't even begin to express enough gratitude (thanks!)
FD isn't original on yours. Barcons either. Everything else looks pretty close to stock to me.
Also managed to score a frameset ... on eBay? Bare metal. Was a mystery frame, I knew it was French but couldn't tell if a TdF or Super Corsa. Seller had a grandiose story about it, which I found unbelievable given what I knew about the frame details. Anyway, you'll see the braze points for the brake bridge. Still no idea what it was. Thread here if you're interested: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...corsa-tdf.html
ps: @verktyg is literally guru-level when it comes to Gitane, lots of wisdom posted up there. His posts have helped me so much over the years I can't even begin to express enough gratitude (thanks!)
Last edited by francophile; 09-23-19 at 11:28 AM.
09-23-19, 11:29 AM
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ps: @verktyg is literally guru-level when it comes to Gitane, lots of wisdom posted up there. His posts have helped me so much over the years I can't even begin to express enough gratitude (thanks!)
09-23-19, 12:18 PM
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Nice find OP I keep going to the wrong flea markets and thrift stores!
09-23-19, 01:31 PM
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Verktyg identified this bike along with the RD as a 72 TDF. The frame is 58cm. I actually had it in the Corral at the bike swap last weekend just to see if anyone would bite on it.
09-23-19, 05:18 PM
#34
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Bikes: Current favorites: 1988 Peugeot Birraritz, 1984 Gitane Super Corsa, 1980s DeRosa, 1981 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo, 1992 Paramount OS, 1988 Colnago Technos, 1985 RalieghUSA SBDU Team Pro
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Gitane Frame Sizes
@francophile "ne touche pas ça" also "fa pas ça" (the first things that I learned in French when I was a little kid) 
@Johnnybikes
The French and Gitane in particular measured frames from the center of the BB to the top of the seat tube. This lasted at least until sloped top tubes became the norm.
All dimensions were "NOMINAL" - for advertising purposes only.
Gitane frame sizes:
50cm, 54cm, 57cm, 60cm, 62cm & 64cm in metric dimensions.
19 1/2", 21 1/2", 22 1/2", 23 1/2", 24 1/2" & 25 1/2" in fractional portions of a dead Brit king's foot!
"You don't frighten us, English pig dogs! Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of a silly person! I blow my nose at you...."
Late in the 1970's??? into the 1980's Gitane started offering frame sizes by 20mm increments on their top quality models:
50cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 60cm, 62cm & 64cm.
But... during the 1960's and most of the 1970's they made 57cm not 58cm frames. How do I know?
I can just squeak over a 57cm... A 58cm? "Not so close, we hardly know each other (and it's going to stay that way!)..."
Measuring frames center to center is the Rain man way!
"1234, 1234, 1234..." "Raymond what are you doing?" "I'm counting cows." "Huh?" "I count the legs and divide by 4!" "Definitely, definitely..."
verktyg
@Johnnybikes
The French and Gitane in particular measured frames from the center of the BB to the top of the seat tube. This lasted at least until sloped top tubes became the norm.
All dimensions were "NOMINAL" - for advertising purposes only.
Gitane frame sizes:
50cm, 54cm, 57cm, 60cm, 62cm & 64cm in metric dimensions.
19 1/2", 21 1/2", 22 1/2", 23 1/2", 24 1/2" & 25 1/2" in fractional portions of a dead Brit king's foot!
"You don't frighten us, English pig dogs! Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of a silly person! I blow my nose at you...."
Late in the 1970's??? into the 1980's Gitane started offering frame sizes by 20mm increments on their top quality models:
50cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 60cm, 62cm & 64cm.
But... during the 1960's and most of the 1970's they made 57cm not 58cm frames. How do I know?
I can just squeak over a 57cm... A 58cm? "Not so close, we hardly know each other (and it's going to stay that way!)..."
Measuring frames center to center is the Rain man way!
"1234, 1234, 1234..." "Raymond what are you doing?" "I'm counting cows." "Huh?" "I count the legs and divide by 4!" "Definitely, definitely..."
verktyg
__________________
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 09-23-19 at 08:57 PM.
09-23-19, 07:23 PM
#35
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@francophile "ne touche pas ça" also "fa pas ça" (the first things that I learned in French when I was a little kid)
09-23-19, 09:02 PM
#36
verktyg
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Speaking French
Picky, picky, picky... I fixed it.
I think in inches, feet or miles plus millimeters and meters.
It hurts my head to think in centimeters - 1000mm = 3+ feet (39.37").
Thomas Jefferson wanted the newly established US to adopt the metric system ~225 years ago.
verktyg
__________________
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 09-23-19 at 09:14 PM.
09-23-19, 09:20 PM
#37
verktyg
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Speaking French
Picky, picky, picky... I fixed it.
Thomas Jefferson wanted the newly established US to adopt the metric system ~225 years ago.
verktyg
__________________
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
10-01-19, 10:05 AM
#38
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Gorgeous bike and nice work. I am currently working on my Gitane Super Corsa build. Do you know where I could find the cable stop for the rear brake bridge or an appropriate substitute?
10-01-19, 11:12 AM
#39
PM me your cotters
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Aftermarket, maybe this would work? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047M95PI/
Amazon has good return policy. If it works, you have 9 spares to help the next C&V'er!
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