Mr. 66

Not me!!! My TdF with the Juy and claw


It just doesn't get better than this...

Jacob_R_59 

It’s a bummer to learn that even your AV 3 front derailleur’s plastic cracked.

If I use a surplus Record FD, should I expect flak for my Simplex RD?! 🤷🏿‍♂️

Jacob_R_59 

I removed all of the parts-except the cranks-and the paint and chrome look pretty good, except for the driveside rear dropout that “went through a garbage disposal.” 😱

Does anyone have a source for the top tube “Service Course” decal? I looked at the Cyclomondo website and Greg Softley appears to have all of the replacement decals except that one.

Here’s another oddity: the top tube brake cable clips were supplied by Huret, NOT Simplex…🤷🏿‍♂️

Oh, and of course the front derailleur’s plastic body was cracked.🙄

big chainring 

Heads up on the crankset. Most likely french pedal threads.

kroozer 

I have three bikes with Simplex derailleurs, one set is all-alloy and the other two are mixed alloy-steel-plastic (Delrin). The rear units have all performed very well. My FD with a Delrin body cracked, and I replaced it with a humble-but-loveable (and all-steel) Huret 700, which works fine.

oneclick 

Not with Simplex if that's a crack at the top of the inner face:

rando_couche

IIRC, Gitane had a reputation for using whatever they had on hand, specs be d***ed.

Scott Peterson
Newport OR
...wishing I still had one of my bike-boom TdF's.

chain_whipped

Shall you play the roll and keep it vintage, go with a Simplex LJ1000 rear with hanger. Yes, it has Delrin body but does have a steel parallelogram. These particular derailleurs don't break. Nor wear out like Campagnolo.

You girls can argue much as you like, but from my experience and having N.O.S. Campy NR and SR, the Simplex shift with better precision and smoothly. Ugly, yes.

Ps. Don't fall for some of the ebay overpriced sellers. Just search Simplex cycling. Often found in a multi parts lot. Though right now listed from a UK seller is a LJ1000 with hanger, sans pulleys for $22.

chain_whipped

For the front derailleur, another option for reliability and giving a few in the Eroica circle a head scratch, convert the craplastic to a matchbox type aluminum. Paint it black, too. 8 gram difference.






^^(Forget about searching for one of these.)^^


'72 PX-10 w/ LJ1000 rear and DIY ally matchbox front mech. Bulletproof.

rustystrings61 

It seems to me that at least one of the THREE TdFs and TWO Super Corsas that have passed through my hands had Huret brake cable clips instead of Simplex. I think they just ran with what they had. I suspect Gitane got in the habit of substituting things partially because they were competing with the 800 lb gorilla of the French Veloverse, Peugeot. I don't recall EVER seeing a Peugeot with substitute standard parts, whereas Gitane TdFs turn up with the OP's Simplex ends (also used by Jeunet on their model 630), the classical Simplex with an integral hanger that usually gets tapped and filed on to create a stop, and a certain number with Campagnolo dropouts. Apparently, they also used Huret ends with a Huret-specific hanger for European-market bikes.

If Simplex had used their same designs but built of aluminum all along, today we would all agree they worked much better than Campagnolo.

All of that said - this bike is going to be glorious. I have never ridden a TdF that didn't have that special something to it. And I note that yours appears to be a 60cm to top, and in the color I always lusted for. Why do I only find them in Omnium Vert?

top506

That's odd, I've ordered that top tube graphic from Greg. Try emailing him direct. He's easy to work with.

Top

Jacob_R_59 

Thanks for all of the great tips & ideas.That green TDF is lovely. Random thoughts:

1) Point taken on the French pedal threads. I use Soma CDM (Citoyenne Du Monde) English threaded pedals on all my bikes. These 170mm cranks are too short, regardless.

2) I’m toying with finding a metal Juy FD from the pre Delrin era. It might be even cooler to find a “suicide” front derailleur. That will get them talking…

3) I have 1 or 2 “surplus” Campagnolo front derailleurs…🤔

repechage

operationally, a “matchbox” Campagnolo front mech or an earlier Record with the cable stop would be the most straightforward alternate brand choices.

repechage

Tough being a Gypsy.

marnar

That's what I heard...I have Sugino and Huret on one of my TDFs, with a Campy Headset. All French threading. Of course who knows what it came with originally. It still had one of the original Tipo hubs.

marnar

I have a 21" like this one. It appears to have all original parts including the Ideale saddle and setups. Going to keep it.

Markeologist

If it is a TdF and you do have a Campy headset, you may be playing with fire as the TdF’s steerer tube was cut for 33mm Stronglight headset and a Campy NR needs 40/41mm to purchase on sufficient number of threads. I’d measure the stack height to figure out what you should be using. Good news, if taller steerer tube, you might have a Super Corsa instead of TdF as Chas has been pointing out for years.

marnar

Thanks for the info. I don't know much about the bike but I like it's ride. I'll measure for sure. Interesting, there appears to be plenty of threads on the steerer so I think I'm ok. I thought the Super Corsa would have Campy fork ends. Wish there was more information on Gitanes. This one clearly, or not so clearly, has Simplex. Perhaps a fork replacement over the years. The only stickers left on it are on the seat tube.

Markeologist

Go over to GitaneUSA site and read the posts from verktyg (Chas) and you will find a wealth of information on Gitanes … Chas has a number of posts just on TdFs.

Jacob_R_59 

Hi Folks,

I’ve been busy making some updates to the Gitane TDF:

1) Wheels. The bike came with Roval aero clinchers which are all wrong for the early 1970s time period.

I had a pair of spare tubulars that came with my 1974 California Masi GC. Campagnolo Record rear hub, Gran Sport front (36h F/R) with mixed Mavic & Wolber rims. I brought them to Charles Hadron of Wright Brothers Cycle Works.

He trued them and repacked the rear hub. The front hub had pitted cones & races. Charles had a friend (thank you Chai, if you’re on here&#129761 bring by a 36h Record front hub & Charles relaced the wheel with the “new” hub and existing spokes.

Sacrilege maybe, but the rear hub was Italian threaded so I had Charles change the threading to English; I like to use modern (IRD/Suntour/Shimano) freewheels on my vintage bikes.

More to come and thank you for reading!

Jacob_R_59

I picked up the wheels yesterday. Chai very kindly provided the front Record hub and both skewers. 🎁

repechage

change the threading to English… I know the difference, how was this done? That change in inclusive angle and the thread form at the peak…

Mr. 66

Chai is an interesting guy. Haven't seen him much these last few years. I did see him at the bike swap but by the time I was finished a transaction he had disappeared. I don't think he's a forum member.

Good choice having Charles do that for you, he is pretty much the only person I would used for work beyond my knowledge or tooling.

Pcampeau

Awww, the skewers are too new. Just kidding, those wheels will look great!

Jacob_R_59 

I should have seen THAT one coming. 🙄 I’m going to remove the rim decals, polish the rims (and the rear hub) and get replacement decals from Cyclomondo (Greg Softley)

Jacob_R_59 

I don’t know how Charles did this. I’ll have to ask when the shop is open, and post back.

Jacob_R_59