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Early 60's Gitane Info

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Early 60's Gitane Info

Old 12-11-19, 08:34 AM
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gegarrenton
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Early 60's Gitane Info

Hi all,

I've picked up a Gitane which I'm pretty sure is early 60's and built for the French market, then imported, or special ordered to the US. The Gitane forums are basically dead at this point from what I can tell, so was hoping to glean what I could here. It looks to be all Reynolds tubing, including tall head tube for the Campy headset. Rear drop outs are Campy, and rear derailleur is a Campy Gran Sport. The GS ceased production in '63 I think, but I've heard they were still being put on bikes for years after that. Stronglight Crank which was obviously super common for years.

I would have guesses a Super Corsa/Olympic if it was a later bike, but I can't find much on the French models of this time. The 102 was the TdF level I believe, could be a 100?

Appreciate any insight.
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Old 12-11-19, 08:56 AM
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I don't know much about Gitane. I am always looking to learn more especially about an early '60's domestic market bike. Please get you post count up to 10 so that you can post pictures. We have plenty of member, besides me, that would love to see it and we have some members that are knowledgeable on French bikes including Gitane.
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Old 12-11-19, 08:58 AM
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Didn't even realize there was a 10 post minimum for pictures! Hopefully be there soon.
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Old 12-11-19, 09:37 AM
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You can also upload photos to an album here sooner than 10 posts and then get a pic assist from another member without pics its all guess work
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Old 12-11-19, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by ryansu
You can also upload photos to an album here sooner than 10 posts and then get a pic assist from another member without pics its all guess work
Ah, gotcha. Thanks. Will give that a go.
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Old 12-11-19, 10:09 AM
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Whatever works, do please post (lots of) photos, please!
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Old 12-11-19, 10:12 AM
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Alrighty, uploaded to my album a few pics. Should have some more this afternoon.

One curveball is that the crank is a Stronglight 93, which is 1967 or later. My first inclination is this may be a retro fit? There is the chance the Campy Gran Sport is a leftover that made it on a later bike though.
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Old 12-11-19, 10:17 AM
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Looks like an early 70s Tour de France, in a color I love! I have same bike same size I believe but in sky blue. Campy add-ons came after-the-fact, probably when the Delrin cracked on the original front and rear Simplex Criterium derailleurs.

Pic assist:







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Old 12-11-19, 10:19 AM
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PS: Pics of mine here, so you can compare: https://www.bikeforums.net/18711750-post230.html
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Old 12-11-19, 10:20 AM
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Pic Assist For 70's Gitane







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Old 12-11-19, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by francophile
PS: Pics of mine here, so you can compare:
Awesome, thank you!

Do you have any pictures of the outside of rear right dropout?
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Old 12-11-19, 10:31 AM
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Inchworm

I'm going to guess, based on the rear brake cable braze on, the seat stay array, and the ornate crown of the forks, 1972-ish,

Though the pic links are broken, verktyg 's post, number 10, is a "definitive" guide to Gitane TdFs.

For purely personal reasons, what are its measurements, especially C-T seat tube?

Thank you.
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Old 12-11-19, 10:36 AM
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C'est Tout

Originally Posted by gegarrenton
Awesome, thank you!

Do you have any pictures of the outside of rear right dropout?
I posted all I found in your album.
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Old 12-11-19, 10:37 AM
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Originally Posted by machinist42
I'm going to guess, based on the rear brake cable braze on, the seat stay array, and the ornate crown of the forks, 1972-ish,

Though the pic links are broken, verktyg 's post, number 10,

For purely personal reasons, what are its measurements, especially C-T seat tube?

Thank you.
Gotcha.

Yes,I read verktyg's post but as you say no pictures.

I should have measurements later today will certainly post.
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Old 12-11-19, 10:44 AM
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Les Mots Comptent

Originally Posted by gegarrenton
Gotcha.

Yes,I read verktyg's post but as you say no pictures.

I should have measurements later today will certainly post.
Thanks, measurements will be appreciated.

Absence of images is not really an impediment if you Google Image search for his accurate descriptions. It's a little more work, but rewarding.
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Old 12-11-19, 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by gegarrenton
I should have measurements later today will certainly post.
Pretty sure yours will end up being 60cm CTC, just like mine linked above. Felt a little big for me on my first ride, but with some slight adjustments, it's in a much more rideable state. I tend to hover around 58-59cm CTC as an ideal height for me with a 100-120 stem in the mix.
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Old 12-11-19, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by machinist42
I posted all I found in your album.
Yes, was asking @francophile about his bike. He also has a different stem, which is intriguing.
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Old 12-11-19, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by francophile
Pretty sure yours will end up being 60cm CTC, just like mine linked above. Felt a little big for me on my first ride, but with some slight adjustments, it's in a much more rideable state. I tend to hover around 58-59cm CTC as an ideal height for me with a 100-120 stem in the mix.
Nice. What model crank is that, I can't find a Stronglight that looks like it?
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Old 12-11-19, 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by gegarrenton
Nice. What model crank is that, I can't find a Stronglight that looks like it?
That's because it is a Sugino.
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Old 12-11-19, 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by gegarrenton
Yes, was asking @francophile about his bike.....
Figured that out after I posted. As our our replies were mere minutes apart, I did not see his post until after.
No worries.
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Old 12-11-19, 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by gegarrenton
Nice. What model crank is that, I can't find a Stronglight that looks like it?
That's a Stronglight 93. That bike definitely looks like the twin to my '72, other than the Campagnolo derailleurs. Simplex Criterium were the standard for those bikes.
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Old 12-11-19, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by gegarrenton
Yes, was asking @francophile about his bike. He also has a different stem, which is intriguing.
Yup. My bike is all original minus maybe the saddle and consumables. As @verktyg would point out, Peugeot and Motobecane got 1st shot at parts in the early 70s so you'll find Gitane with all kinds of bizarre configurations with regard to cranks and dropouts.

For example, IIRC, mine (blue one) has Campy fork ends and Simplex dropouts. I have another one early 70s bare-frame which I believe was all-Campy dropouts and fork ends. They basically slapped on them whatever they could source. Sugino Mighty Competition with red dust caps is the "alternate" to when no Stronglight could be had.

Not sure on the stem, that's not uncommon to replace. And we also notice the absence of any seat tube stickers on yours, which actually gives it a very fresh look, the foils tend to get banged up and de-inked, which makes the bike look cheaper, I presume a previous owner removed those for just that reason.

Also, yours doesn't have the typical Campy Tipo hubs.
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Old 12-11-19, 11:31 AM
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Oh and to my point about foil removals - it's entirely possible you have a Super Corsa. To my knowledge, there's absolutely no way to tell apart the Super Corsa and Tour de France models once the top tube SC decal is gone.
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Old 12-11-19, 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by sykerocker
That's a Stronglight 93. That bike definitely looks like the twin to my '72, other than the Campagnolo derailleurs. Simplex Criterium were the standard for those bikes.
No, it's not a 93, which is what confused me.

Originally Posted by machinist42
That's because it is a Sugino.
Ah, that would do it!

Originally Posted by francophile
Yup. My bike is all original. As @verktyg would point out, Peugeot and Motobecane got 1st shot at parts in the early 70s so you'll find Gitane with all kinds of bizarre configurations with regard to cranks and dropouts.

For example, IIRC, mine (blue one) has Campy fork ends and Simplex dropouts. I have another one early 70s bare-frame which I believe was all-Campy dropouts and fork ends. They basically slapped on them whatever they could source. Sugino Mighty Competition with red dust caps is the "alternate" to when no Stronglight could be had.

Not sure on the stem, that's not uncommon to replace. And we also notice the absence of any seat tube stickers on yours, which actually gives it a very fresh look, the foils tend to get banged up and de-inked, which makes the bike look cheaper, I presume a previous owner removed those for just that reason.

Also, yours doesn't have the typical Campy Tipo hubs.
Indeed, I read about the Sugino addtion. The Campy Tipo hub were actually a substitution also, but not sure what these are.

The Campy dropouts only made it on to very few TdFs from what I've read, and a Campy headset would be an after the fact addition. I plan on measuring steerer to make a better educated guess there.
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Old 12-11-19, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by francophile
Oh and to my point about foil removals - it's entirely possible you have a Super Corsa. To my knowledge, there's absolutely no way to tell apart the Super Corsa and Tour de France models once the top tube SC decal is gone.
Yep, it appears to be one or the other.

Just like to thank everyone that commented, very much appreciate the guidance!
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