1984 Gitane TdF
02-29-20, 10:42 AM
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1984 Gitane TdF
I am now the happy owner of a 1984 Gitane Tour de France! Our well-known gentleman of Gitanes, Verktyg (Chas) was willing to part with this beaut. Here it is hanging at his place.
And on a ride we took on my first day with it. Chas wanted to ensure I’d like the bike, so we went out on a 20 miler, his blue an my new orange. This is them, while we have lunch.
Coolest bike seller I've ever known.
At my place after a few adjustments.
What a great bike! What a great guy! I think he might soon be selling a few others from his collection. I'll buy as many as he'll let me (n+1)!
And on a ride we took on my first day with it. Chas wanted to ensure I’d like the bike, so we went out on a 20 miler, his blue an my new orange. This is them, while we have lunch.
Coolest bike seller I've ever known.
At my place after a few adjustments.
What a great bike! What a great guy! I think he might soon be selling a few others from his collection. I'll buy as many as he'll let me (n+1)!
02-29-20, 11:03 AM
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In my, not always, humble opinion, the seat post is dangerously high. Damage to the seat post lug is a definite, unless that post is longer than I think it to be. To that add, that should the post actually stretch the lug, and this is not an uncommon result of a insufficiently inserted post, a crash might well accompany the failure of the lug to secure the post.
Anyway, none of my business, but I would hate to see a fellow VB (vintage bicyclist) experience difficulty in such a situation.
All that said, lovely bike (love the color) and I would give my left te$ticle for the crank set, as the one on my Jamaica Bianchi bought the farm this year.
Anyway, none of my business, but I would hate to see a fellow VB (vintage bicyclist) experience difficulty in such a situation.
All that said, lovely bike (love the color) and I would give my left te$ticle for the crank set, as the one on my Jamaica Bianchi bought the farm this year.
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02-29-20, 11:10 AM
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Beautiful bike and verktyg has a cool collection of Gitanes, Bertins, and I'm sure other makes as well. Why don't you give a run down of the parts? Also what kind of drop outs? Is that supervitus 980 tubing? That's nice stuff.
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02-29-20, 11:28 AM
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Fine ride! Correct me, but shortly recall Chas stating this was one of his fave.
Always interesting to compare ~ does this Gitane with Super Vitus 980 tubing have a chainstay bridge? The SV980 tubed Peugeot PSV10 does have a chainstay bridge though I've read comparisons reporting the Gitane had less torsional flex.
Always interesting to compare ~ does this Gitane with Super Vitus 980 tubing have a chainstay bridge? The SV980 tubed Peugeot PSV10 does have a chainstay bridge though I've read comparisons reporting the Gitane had less torsional flex.
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02-29-20, 06:09 PM
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Thanks for the kind remarks all of you!
Indeed randyjawa, the seatpost is dangerously high. I have my eye on an Origin8 model, because I like the 2-bolt adjustability. But of course it's not a period item. Verktyg says he may have another.
The bike rides amazingly well. Much nicer than my specialized carbon/disc/ultegra bike.
Bikemig (Big Mig?) I started a ledger of sorts, see below. I don't know the model of shifters, but I suspect others will recognize them - Campagnolo. I'll likely change the bars and stem to larger & longer Nitto items soon.
Indeed randyjawa, the seatpost is dangerously high. I have my eye on an Origin8 model, because I like the 2-bolt adjustability. But of course it's not a period item. Verktyg says he may have another.
The bike rides amazingly well. Much nicer than my specialized carbon/disc/ultegra bike.
Bikemig (Big Mig?) I started a ledger of sorts, see below. I don't know the model of shifters, but I suspect others will recognize them - Campagnolo. I'll likely change the bars and stem to larger & longer Nitto items soon.
Last edited by cyclic_eric; 02-29-20 at 06:15 PM. Reason: legibility
02-29-20, 07:11 PM
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Love the ofmega mistral
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02-29-20, 07:34 PM
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[QUOTE=cyclic_eric;21348185]Thanks for the kind remarks all of you!
snip . . .
Bikemig (Big Mig?) /QUOTE]
Big Mig is a little faster than me. He's Basque and I'm not. But I reckon I have more bikes than he does, so there's that.
I like Gitanes a lot; this is a good one,
snip . . .
Bikemig (Big Mig?) /QUOTE]
Big Mig is a little faster than me. He's Basque and I'm not. But I reckon I have more bikes than he does, so there's that.
I like Gitanes a lot; this is a good one,
Last edited by bikemig; 02-29-20 at 07:46 PM.
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02-29-20, 07:39 PM
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02-29-20, 10:31 PM
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Thanks SurferRosa - I can now ride tomorrow without fear!
Still, a longer one would be better, she sa...
Still, a longer one would be better, she sa...
03-01-20, 02:56 PM
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Fine ride! Correct me, but shortly recall Chas stating this was one of his fave.
Always interesting to compare ~ does this Gitane with Super Vitus 980 tubing have a chainstay bridge? The SV980 tubed Peugeot PSV10 does have a chainstay bridge though I've read comparisons reporting the Gitane had less torsional flex.
Always interesting to compare ~ does this Gitane with Super Vitus 980 tubing have a chainstay bridge? The SV980 tubed Peugeot PSV10 does have a chainstay bridge though I've read comparisons reporting the Gitane had less torsional flex.
It looks like I could easily fit 28mm tires, but will they adversely affect the sweet handling the bike has with these 25's? It currently has Panaracer Pacela "Prolite Belt" tires, and they feel pretty stiff and heavy. All the rough roads, cracks, and potholes are beating me up - on all my road bikes. I'm thinking of switching to 28mm Continental GP4000's or GP 4 Season's.
