FS: 1971 Gitane Tour de France 19.5"
07-25-21, 03:20 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 237
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 107 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times
in
96 Posts
FS: 1971 Gitane Tour de France 19.5"
1971 Gitane Tour de France
Serial number: 335371
Size: Seat tube: 19.5” center-to-top; Top tube: 20.25” center-to-center
Very nice vintage bike, bearings repacked, in ready-to-ride condition. It would be perfect for your next Eroica ride.
I purchased the bike last year from its original owner who had it in storage for over 30 years. This was a COVID-19 restoration project through which I hoped my 11-year-old son would learn a bit about how mechanical things operate and, at the end, have a vintage bike to ride. After completion, he rode it a few times, but, as children are known to do, he’s outgrown it. (He’s now almost 5’ 4”.)
The original owner had the wheels re-built to clinchers a few years after buying the bike. He also said the Campagnolo Nuovo Record front derailleur and shift levers came on the bike when new. The Gitane catalogue spec. page for this bike lists the derailleurs as Simplex Criterium. However, I also found on-line a US dealer spec. listing the derailleurs as “Simplex Criterium or best available”. The Gitane catalogue also lists the fork ends as Simplex, but the ones on this bike are Campagnolo.
The headset and bottom bracket bearings have been re-packed. Neither appeared to have been previously opened and the bearing grease was dried out – like beeswax. Races and cups are smooth – see photos. The crank arms have been re-tapped to accept pedals with 9/16” BSC threads. (The current pedals are BSC threaded Maillard “Spidel” early 1980s, French made, alloy pedals.)
$500 plus Shipbikes shipping cost (free pick up in Columbus OH)
Frame and Fork:
Tubing: Reynolds 531 (frame, stays, and fork)
Lugs: Prugnat
Fork ends: Campagnolo
Rear dropouts: Simplex
Cockpit:
Headset: Stronglight
Handlebars: un-branded, assume Pivo
Stem: Pivo
Seat: Brooks Champion Standard B-15
Seat post: steel w/ steel clamp
Bar tape: Baumann cotton
Brakes:
Calipers: Mafac “Competition”
Levers: Mafac Racing “dural” w/ rubber hoods and plastic lever covers
Drivetrain:
Shift levers: Campagnolo Nuovo Record (right lever is slightly bent – see photos)
Front derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Rear derailleur: Simplex Criterium (missing “Simplex” name plate)
Freewheel: Cyclo 64 (5-sprockets, notched remover like a VAR 188 req.)
Crankset: Stronglight Super Competition 93 170mm arms – (pedal holes re-tapped to English threads using Hokan pedal taps)
Chainrings: Stronglight 52/42
Bottom bracket: Stronglight
Chain: KMC Z8.1 (new)
Pedals: Maillard “Spidel” alloy (English thread, early 1980s)
Wheels:
Hubs: Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo (dated 1971) 36 spokes
Skewers: Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo
Rims: Rigida AL1320 700c (clincher)
Spokes: stainless steel
Tires: Schwalbe Lugano 23-622 (700 x 23c) (new)
Serial number: 335371
Size: Seat tube: 19.5” center-to-top; Top tube: 20.25” center-to-center
Very nice vintage bike, bearings repacked, in ready-to-ride condition. It would be perfect for your next Eroica ride.
I purchased the bike last year from its original owner who had it in storage for over 30 years. This was a COVID-19 restoration project through which I hoped my 11-year-old son would learn a bit about how mechanical things operate and, at the end, have a vintage bike to ride. After completion, he rode it a few times, but, as children are known to do, he’s outgrown it. (He’s now almost 5’ 4”.)
The original owner had the wheels re-built to clinchers a few years after buying the bike. He also said the Campagnolo Nuovo Record front derailleur and shift levers came on the bike when new. The Gitane catalogue spec. page for this bike lists the derailleurs as Simplex Criterium. However, I also found on-line a US dealer spec. listing the derailleurs as “Simplex Criterium or best available”. The Gitane catalogue also lists the fork ends as Simplex, but the ones on this bike are Campagnolo.
The headset and bottom bracket bearings have been re-packed. Neither appeared to have been previously opened and the bearing grease was dried out – like beeswax. Races and cups are smooth – see photos. The crank arms have been re-tapped to accept pedals with 9/16” BSC threads. (The current pedals are BSC threaded Maillard “Spidel” early 1980s, French made, alloy pedals.)
$500 plus Shipbikes shipping cost (free pick up in Columbus OH)
Frame and Fork:
Tubing: Reynolds 531 (frame, stays, and fork)
Lugs: Prugnat
Fork ends: Campagnolo
Rear dropouts: Simplex
Cockpit:
Headset: Stronglight
Handlebars: un-branded, assume Pivo
Stem: Pivo
Seat: Brooks Champion Standard B-15
Seat post: steel w/ steel clamp
Bar tape: Baumann cotton
Brakes:
Calipers: Mafac “Competition”
Levers: Mafac Racing “dural” w/ rubber hoods and plastic lever covers
Drivetrain:
Shift levers: Campagnolo Nuovo Record (right lever is slightly bent – see photos)
Front derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Rear derailleur: Simplex Criterium (missing “Simplex” name plate)
Freewheel: Cyclo 64 (5-sprockets, notched remover like a VAR 188 req.)
Crankset: Stronglight Super Competition 93 170mm arms – (pedal holes re-tapped to English threads using Hokan pedal taps)
Chainrings: Stronglight 52/42
Bottom bracket: Stronglight
Chain: KMC Z8.1 (new)
Pedals: Maillard “Spidel” alloy (English thread, early 1980s)
Wheels:
Hubs: Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo (dated 1971) 36 spokes
Skewers: Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo
Rims: Rigida AL1320 700c (clincher)
Spokes: stainless steel
Tires: Schwalbe Lugano 23-622 (700 x 23c) (new)
Last edited by James1964; 07-26-21 at 02:28 PM.
Likes For James1964:
07-30-21, 02:32 PM
#2
Full Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 373
Bikes: '71 Raleigh Inter, '98 Tommasini, '83 Trek 500, 83 Trek 720 '
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 118 Post(s)
Liked 199 Times
in
110 Posts
I guess ill comment on this one also come on people who are of the first order vertically..
09-02-21, 02:11 PM
#5
Newbie
Ok, bummer. it was the perfect size for my wife she wanted to ride it in a eroica ride next year. Beautiful bike!
