Gitane model identification
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Gitane model identification
Any idea of the model.
It has that hanger under the top tube. Was it raced?
It has that hanger under the top tube. Was it raced?
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
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appears mid-to-late eighties
lug pattern Prugnat 62/d with cutouts added
may be a domestic market model
have you checked over at the Gitane forum?
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appears mid-to-late eighties
lug pattern Prugnat 62/d with cutouts added
may be a domestic market model
have you checked over at the Gitane forum?
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I did not checked there.
I will
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
Last edited by marius.suiram; 08-10-23 at 06:03 PM.
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Yes, I got a hint from the Gitane Forum.
It should be a Team Pro, but maybe 1983, being fitted with Simplex. The 1984 was made with Campagnolo.
It should be a Team Pro, but maybe 1983, being fitted with Simplex. The 1984 was made with Campagnolo.
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
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If I owned it, I would outfit with period-correct Campagnolo, but utilize those Simplex shifters.
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Definitely a Gitane Pro, but not sure of the model year. Maybe an 83 or 84, which I think mine, (pictured), is. As it has the Columbus tubeset that the early Pros had, after which they switched over to 531 tubing for the later versions. I think the later ones also switched over to either the Vitus rear dropouts or Campy. The early ones had Simplex dropouts.
One thing I cannot figure out is, some of these Pros had the French style brazed on FD, while some, like mine had a clamped on FD.
One thing I cannot figure out is, some of these Pros had the French style brazed on FD, while some, like mine had a clamped on FD.
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83 Davidson Signature
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84 Gitane Tour de France.
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88 Pinarello Montello
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83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
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#8
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John
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Most C&Vers will think it's a dumb question, but what is a French-style braze-on FD? Even into my 4th decade of this hobby I've never had a French bike, mainly due to my fear of their quirkiness, e.g. odd seatpost sizes, unique stem sizes, etc. Might have to add FD mounts to that list.
John
John
The bad thing about the French style mount FDs is, you are limited on FD choices as very few companies made FDs of this style.
Simplex, Mavic and Huret are the only companies I know of that made FDs with the French style mount. The weird thing is, these three companies did not coordinate with each other to standardize the location of the threaded boss location on the downtube, so you cannot use a different brand of FD from what originally came with the bike. You end up with an FD location that is not clocked properly on the seat tube, and your FD cage plates ends up not parallel to the chainring. There's also a difference with the height adjustment slots on the three FD brands, so you end up either too high or too low at the slot limits.
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Juy offered braze-on front gear mechs at least as early as the 1950's - do no know how far back theirs go...
catalogue page for the Juy model 53 front mech; offered both as clamp-on and as braze-on
catalogue page date 1953
the Simplex Randonneur model Nr. 22 front mech
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Juy offered braze-on front gear mechs at least as early as the 1950's - do no know how far back theirs go...
catalogue page for the Juy model 53 front mech; offered both as clamp-on and as braze-on
catalogue page date 1953
the Simplex Randonneur model Nr. 22 front mech
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Last edited by juvela; 08-14-23 at 05:21 PM. Reason: addition
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It’s an 83 team pro. Here is what it would have originally looked like
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It was on the bike, but the previous owner of the bike wanted to keep it. Anyway was cracked.
I am not sure about the wheels it had.
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
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Wheels ; mavic rims and Spidel Professional with helicomatic rear
Last edited by Slowride79; 08-16-23 at 02:07 PM.
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One thing odd about the subject bike that I did not notice, is the fully chromed fork.
As far as I know, the forks on all Gitane Pros were always painted.
IIRC, only the clamping surfaces for the quick release skewers on the fork dropouts had a chrome finish.
Maybe the tork was always totally chromed and they painted over it, leaving only the chrome on the dropout faces exposed and maybe the PO just removed all the paint and polished up the chrome.
As far as I know, the forks on all Gitane Pros were always painted.
IIRC, only the clamping surfaces for the quick release skewers on the fork dropouts had a chrome finish.
Maybe the tork was always totally chromed and they painted over it, leaving only the chrome on the dropout faces exposed and maybe the PO just removed all the paint and polished up the chrome.
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83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
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88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
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72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
#17
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It looks high end. I think I spy a Columbus tubing sticker on the down tube.
BITD the best Gitanes wore Reynolds 531 double butted stickers & the name "Tour de France"
Weigh it. If it's a two finger bike it's worth bank.
BITD the best Gitanes wore Reynolds 531 double butted stickers & the name "Tour de France"
Weigh it. If it's a two finger bike it's worth bank.
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The first Gitane Pros that were issued, did have Columbus SL tubing. Same goes for the Pro Team bikes of 1983.
Gitane chaned over the 531 the year after that for the Gitane Pros and till the model was discontinued inn the later 80's.
Gitane chaned over the 531 the year after that for the Gitane Pros and till the model was discontinued inn the later 80's.
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The fork is a replacement and marked 1991.
Also in the bb is marked The year 84, but the bike was equipped like a 1983 model.
Also in the bb is marked The year 84, but the bike was equipped like a 1983 model.
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1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.