1975 Gitane Tour de L'Avenir
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
1975 Gitane Tour de L'Avenir
...or so I think based upon the catalogue specs. This one was rarely ridden I think, spent most of its life in a collector's garage. Shame, because it's a nice ride! Was told it's all original, but the 27" wheels confuse me a bit because I think it would have come with 700's. In any case, they're nice Normandy hubs laced to Mavic hoops with Continental tires so I'm not complaining. No tubing decal, something humble I imagine but so am I so that too is alright. Standard lower mid-range mix of compnents, Simplex derailleurs and Mafac Racer brakes. The Simplex stuff works surprisingly well. Saddle is a very comfortable Ideale Model 39. I like the cranks, even if they're not high end. The only thing I'm planning on doing is re-routing the cables, because original or not they don't make sense in front of the bars with centre-pulls. Nicest is the fact that the paint and decals look almost brand new, which is pretty rare for Gitanes. And it's orange!
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 3,556
Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 2011 Jamis Quest, 1980 Peugeot TH8 Tandem, 1992 Performance Parabola, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-S LTD, 197? FW Evans
Liked 1,243 Times
in
605 Posts
I'm still trying to wrap my head around that being a 40 year old bike. It just looks too nice.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Me too! I didn't even clean it, there was not a speck of dust or grease on it. Except for some cracking on the leather of the saddle from dryness it looks like it just came off the showroom floor.
#5
Polymultiplié
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,238
Bikes: Yes, please.
Liked 5,269 Times
in
1,940 Posts
Beautiful. Congrats!
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That's the idea. I have lower back problems so I now prefer larger frames so that I can get the bars higher without having to use a telescopic stem. I was never too flexible to begin with, and time hasn't helped.
#8
Senior Member
Really nice. Cool that the frame pump is intact. An orange bike with mafac brakes... You did good!
#9
Semper Fi
Excellent bike, always liked that model Gitane, and the orange is as classic as it comes. Enjoy this one, it is a sure winner IMHO.
Bill
Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks Bill. I was unfamiliar with the model before getting this one, and I thought I was fairly well versed in Gitanes. I believe the frame is the same as the one used for the Interclub.
#12
Semper Fi
Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Last edited by qcpmsame; 10-26-16 at 06:19 AM.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#15
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 41,052
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Liked 3,050 Times
in
1,724 Posts
I suspect the crankset is not original. I don't remember seeing Simplex Prestige derailleurs come on a bike with a cotterless crank in those days.
You can reroute the cables by simply loosening the handlebar binder bolt and rotating the handlebar in the stem.
You can reroute the cables by simply loosening the handlebar binder bolt and rotating the handlebar in the stem.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,955
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Liked 4,324 Times
in
2,384 Posts
This is a cool bike. I suspect the frame tubing (or at least the main triangle) may be pretty decent quality given the nice forged drop outs. I've been keeping my eye out for an older french bike for a while; still haven't quite found what I want but the supply is scarce in the mid-sized city where I live in the midwest.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
This is a cool bike. I suspect the frame tubing (or at least the main triangle) may be pretty decent quality given the nice forged drop outs. I've been keeping my eye out for an older french bike for a while; still haven't quite found what I want but the supply is scarce in the mid-sized city where I live in the midwest.
#19
Polymultiplié
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,238
Bikes: Yes, please.
Liked 5,269 Times
in
1,940 Posts
Yes, those Sugino Maxy cranks appeared on many Gitanes, at least here in Europe. I have them on my ' Racing Team' as well. This was the model that superseded the 'tre tubi' TdF here. Mine's a '76:
#20
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 41,052
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Liked 3,050 Times
in
1,724 Posts
As for your tip on re-routing the cables, boy you just saved me quite a headache so thank you very much!!!
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,955
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Liked 4,324 Times
in
2,384 Posts
Thank you, I think it's pretty cool too. The tubing that I can see at the seatpost doesn't look particularly thin, and it's not the lightest bike, probably about 26lb, so I think it's pretty basic. I've yet to find a Gitane that didn't have a great ride, even the low-end ones, and I'm the oppposite of a tubing-snob so it doesn't bother me.
#22
Freewheel Medic
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 13,019
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,341 Times
in
1,036 Posts
I like the cranks! Very distinctive! I hope to be coming into the ownership of a '71 Tour de France in the next several weeks. French goodness all around!
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Good luck on the TDF, one of my all time favourites that has thus far eluded me. If it rides anything like the Supercorsa I had you're in for a treat!
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Beautiful bike!! Are you sure that's not a TDF? The "Racing Team" decal appeared on the chainstay of those as well.
#25
Polymultiplié
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,238
Bikes: Yes, please.
Liked 5,269 Times
in
1,940 Posts
I just haven't been able to establish the correct local 1976 model designations yet. I did spot a white 1976 Tour de l'Avenir on another forum, looking similar, but without the Reynolds decal, and sporting the same 'Racing Team' decal, so you may well be right.