Show off your Gitane!
#26
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Reynolds 753 that's quite the collection! I particularly like the last bike with the matching blue benotto tape, it looks fantastic. Man, I miss my Gitane!
#27
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Just got this build completed and I figured this was the place to show it. It's a Gitane Grand Sport de Luxe.
It's a total what-I've-got-in-the-parts-box build; the only thing I bought new were the cable, the single-speed freewheel and the stem. I got it as a bare frame (but with the crankset and bottom bracket); it was solid but the paint and most of the decals were shot (only the one on the seat tube was intact), and there was a little surface rust here and there. I removed the mangled decals, sanded the frame, and rattle-canned away (the frame was not Drewed in any way). It doesn't show up terribly well in the photo, but the head tube and the area surrounding the seat tube decal are white, while the rest of the bike is a sort of beige. I put together a set of wheels (the front was complete, the rear I had to build from bits lying around), drilled and tapped the inner chainring to fit directly on the spider (running 40-16), and threw a set of old pedals on it. It's only got a front brake right now - a ubiquitous Dia-Compe center-pull with a generic cruiser lever on the top of the bars - because I only had one (if anybody's got a matching center-pull they want to let go cheap for the rear, PM me). Taped up an old set of steel bars, tossed on an Avocet touring saddle, and it was good to go (extra bar tape as a protective wrap on the top tube). Just gave it a 15 mile shakedown: really quiet, smooth ride, lots of fun.
It's a total what-I've-got-in-the-parts-box build; the only thing I bought new were the cable, the single-speed freewheel and the stem. I got it as a bare frame (but with the crankset and bottom bracket); it was solid but the paint and most of the decals were shot (only the one on the seat tube was intact), and there was a little surface rust here and there. I removed the mangled decals, sanded the frame, and rattle-canned away (the frame was not Drewed in any way). It doesn't show up terribly well in the photo, but the head tube and the area surrounding the seat tube decal are white, while the rest of the bike is a sort of beige. I put together a set of wheels (the front was complete, the rear I had to build from bits lying around), drilled and tapped the inner chainring to fit directly on the spider (running 40-16), and threw a set of old pedals on it. It's only got a front brake right now - a ubiquitous Dia-Compe center-pull with a generic cruiser lever on the top of the bars - because I only had one (if anybody's got a matching center-pull they want to let go cheap for the rear, PM me). Taped up an old set of steel bars, tossed on an Avocet touring saddle, and it was good to go (extra bar tape as a protective wrap on the top tube). Just gave it a 15 mile shakedown: really quiet, smooth ride, lots of fun.
Last edited by 02Pilot; 04-13-12 at 02:47 PM.
#28
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Nice job! That looks very sharp. If you're looking for brakeset that would work well, Mafac Racers are plentiful, French, and would suit that bike. I had one of those saddles once, very comfortable and surprisingly light.
#30
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Rootboy I love everything about that bike. The colour combination is, as the French would say, su-pehr-cool.
#31
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So Reynolds 753 can you tell which model and which year the one with matching blue benotto tape is ?
vst
vst
Last edited by vestige; 04-15-12 at 05:57 AM. Reason: wanted to quote his bike to link my message to the specific post
#32
Senior Member
With all the recent threadage about the orange Moto Team Champion this is really cool!
Here's my 1969-1970 Super Corsa, as purchased in 2009
and here it is after a little restoring. I liked the Match Blue so I couldn't resist the color change
Jim
Here's my 1969-1970 Super Corsa, as purchased in 2009
and here it is after a little restoring. I liked the Match Blue so I couldn't resist the color change
Jim
#33
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Thanks Devinfan. Recently strapped some Campy components on it just for fun. I'm liking it but feeling a bit "stretched" out on it for some reason. Perhaps the longer reach of the Phillips(?) bars compared with my usual ride? Or, I placed the levers too low on the bars. Getting it dialed in. I'm beginning to think those tiny rings on the crank look a little funny.
#36
Senior Member
Okay. Just a quickie to keep the thread alive.
My 1971 Super Corsa. In the corner with the stable mates.
My 1971 Super Corsa. In the corner with the stable mates.
__________________
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
Likes For LeicaLad:
#37
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Arrrrggh ! That's TOO nice LeicaLad! I need a Super Corsa in that size.
At least my twine helper has been helping me with my own Gitane build. Not a Super Corsa though... More in a few weeks.
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- Auchen
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Last edited by auchencrow; 05-22-12 at 05:58 AM.
#38
If I own it, I ride it
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Not mine any more....knew I would never do it justice.
Gitane Super Corsa by CV6Enterprises, on Flickr
Gitane Super Corsa by CV6Enterprises, on Flickr
#39
Senior Member
BTW, I like your twine helper.
Last edited by leaping_gnome; 04-17-12 at 06:33 AM.
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#40
Senior Member
BTW, I don't know how many of you saw this recent ebay TdF? It didn't sell, a little over priced - but definitely cought my eye!
Full image set is here: https://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/open..._playback_link
Full image set is here: https://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/open..._playback_link
#41
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Posted this one as found in the show your French bike thread (very excited with the find), but now she looks really yummie. An Olympic (=Super Corsa) from 1978 or 79, more or less the bike Hinault won his first Tour on (ok less). Paint retouching went pretty well and all it needed besides cables and hoods was a new seatpost and saddle. The rear wheel with Ofmega hub is likely not original, but I replaced the cones and it will do for now.
#42
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Wow CMAW, that is really beautiful!
I'm not very clear on the late 70's model designations, but as I understand it, the Olympic was Gitane's long-running full Campy-equipped top-of-the-line, with the earlier Super Corsa and the Tour De France models positioned slightly below it.
I'm not very clear on the late 70's model designations, but as I understand it, the Olympic was Gitane's long-running full Campy-equipped top-of-the-line, with the earlier Super Corsa and the Tour De France models positioned slightly below it.
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#43
Senior Member
++1! Wow. That is really a truly beautiful Gitane. I've never been much of a fan of the "later" Gitanes (post '73!), but this one is truly stunning.
Thanks for the posting.
Thanks for the posting.
__________________
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
#44
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Wow CMAW, that is really beautiful!
I'm not very clear on the late 70's model designations, but as I understand it, the Olympic was Gitane's long-running full Campy-equipped top-of-the-line, with the earlier Super Corsa and the Tour De France models positioned slightly below it.
I'm not very clear on the late 70's model designations, but as I understand it, the Olympic was Gitane's long-running full Campy-equipped top-of-the-line, with the earlier Super Corsa and the Tour De France models positioned slightly below it.
#46
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Bikes: C 93 Colnago Early 70's Colnago Sport Mid 80's I think East German National Team Bike "77" Gios Super Record Early "90's" Contini GOIDESIGN Early 90's Contini Reynolds 501 oval tube tourer 70's J van Staeyen Flemish Club bike
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Re:Gitane Team Orofessional ???
I don't know anything about Gitanes. This bike was advertised as a Cinelli which it clearly wasn't. He advertised it as full Campagnolo with a BIN of 100 Euro. So I took a chance. I've been told its an 87 Team Professional full Campy C Record, English Threads full chromed frame including inside the tubes. Ed
#48
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I don't know anything about Gitanes. This bike was advertised as a Cinelli which it clearly wasn't. He advertised it as full Campagnolo with a BIN of 100 Euro. So I took a chance. I've been told its an 87 Team Professional full Campy C Record, English Threads full chromed frame including inside the tubes. Ed
Congratulations on the great Gitane find!
Chombi
#49
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Thanks for the reply. The paint is in horrible shape. But if you wet it down it looks like brilliant chromovelato. Do you think the paint could be original ? Except for the paint the bike is in fine shape. Ed
#50
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Here's a small one I just fixed up for sale. Nothing special, but it rides surprisingly well. It was a guinea pig for my first experiments with oxalic acid. I'd give it to my wife if it were bigger. Anyone know what year this one is? When did Gitane use the rainbow graphics (hard to tell from the photos, but there are rainbows on either side of "Gitane")?
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'72 Cilo Pacer • '72 Peugeot PX10 • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Nishiki Competition • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
-Randy
'72 Cilo Pacer • '72 Peugeot PX10 • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Nishiki Competition • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
Last edited by gaucho777; 05-22-12 at 10:42 AM.