tiger1964 

I normally hang out on the Classic & Vintage forum but thought I'd give this a try. Looking for a "frame person" not too far away, I'm in the MD suburbs of DC.

Don't need a frame but someone that can handle the addition of a couple of braze-ons on a 1961 Gitane. I'll be using an odd old derailleur and need TWO housing stops on the chain stay, side by side. I probably don't need much else, maybe add top-tube brake housing routing but then again maybe not.

Apparently I cannot ask the pros (private sub forum )

Andrew R Stewart 

This certainly would be an interesting project, too bad I'm a long day's drive from DC.


I follow the Classic Rendezvous group, https://groups.google.com/group/clas...ntage-bicycles , and some of them would throw a s--t fit if someone suggested doing what you're doing. But back then (the 1960s) what your proposing is what a rider would do. Modify the bike to work the way they wanted with no concern about any loss of "virginity".


What kind of rear der are you using? Andy

StarBiker

Yes. I must be in a very different part.

dsaul

I'm in Southern New Jersey and would be glad to help out. My daughter is going to school in Owings Mills, MD, so I am down that way on a regular basis. Maybe we could meet up near there to save you the drive to NJ.

tiger1964 

I was kinda hoping that someone could/would cross-post on the professionals sub-forum, I presume this is 20 minutes' work for anyone with a shop.

The derailleur is called the Simplex 543 and only mildly era-inappropriate (more mid-to-late-1950's). I bought the bike in 1974, already spray-bombed and I only took the seller's word that it's a Gitane; I doubt there's any virginity to preserve, I'm just building it up using my favorite French components.

A different part of MD?

Yeah, perhaps that could work. Please keep in touch.

dsaul

With 2 thread and 3 posts, I don't think there is anyone there.

tiger1964 

Rather like the on-line equivalent to "would you take what's behind door #2 instead"? No idea what is or is not in a private sub forum.

I had been given the name of one pro in the region, but no answer to my e-mail in over a week. He might not bother to check e-mail, or the project is too small, or...???

unterhausen

there used to be more pros around here, but there has been a fall-off of pro framebuilders having internet activity all over.

I forget how you get old threads to show up, sort of curious how old the forum is. None were posted in the last year

tiger1964 

I apologize, I had forgotten that I had posted this topic.

The good news is that a frame builder within an hour's drive helped me out, I picked up the frame this morning and it looks great. Got the twinned derailleur housing stops and, while at it, got a rear centerpull-housing-stop-bridge on the seat stays, and also a pump peg. Next stop: chrome shop!