 |  | | | |  | |  |  | In praise of old low-end clunkers |  | |  |  | |
 Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:13 pm |
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| joe v |
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| Joined: 04 May 2009 |
| Posts: 15 |
| Location: Belgium |
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With road- and sewerworks all over the neighbourhood I didn't want to commute on my nice roadbikes anymore, so this gaspipe freebie came in handy. Seeing I used components from eight other bikes, it can certainly be called a frankenbike, but you know what? It's still a very good and comfortable ride. Proof once again that contrary to knowadays, low-end bikes back in the day still offered a decent ride.
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Last edited by joe v on Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:01 am; edited 1 time in total |
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:31 am |
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| greyhundguy |
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| Joined: 09 Apr 2008 |
| Posts: 678 |
| Location: South-Central VIRGINIA |
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joe v,
Looks like you have it set up very well for broken pavement and roads.
Jay |
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_________________
Dance like nobody is watching. |
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:09 am |
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| sandranian |
| Site Admin |
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| Joined: 27 Feb 2006 |
| Posts: 2701 |
| Location: Southern California |
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| That is a great looking bike. Nice tires on it. |
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| | | | | | | | | Gran Sport | | | | | |
| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:54 am |
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| verktyg |
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| Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
| Posts: 2814 |
| Location: SF Bay Area |
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Nice looking oldie! 
While I'm into the top end models, back-ina-day, the entry level Gitane Gran Sport bikes like yours were far nicer riding than the comparable models from the other top names like Pujoe, Motobecane and Raleigh.
Gitane used slightly lighter frame tubing in their lower priced models than most of the other entry level Bike Boom bikes. I had 2 or 3 Gran Sports myself. My first European 10 speed was an orange GS. I walked into the bike shop and there on the showroom floor it was love at first sight. She was a 60cm, too big for me but it didn't matter.
I sold her when I got into better bikes but later I put together some beaters and trainers based on GS and Interclub frames. I had one GS with all alloy components including Shimano Mighty Competition cranks and Campy hubs with clinchers that weighed under 24 lbs.
If I ever found and orange 57cm GS in nice condition I'd pick it up for old times sake.
Enjoy,
Chas. |
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:37 pm |
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| joe v |
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| Joined: 04 May 2009 |
| Posts: 15 |
| Location: Belgium |
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Yep, while nothing like my Super Olympic, I was still surprised what a good ride this is. Also, those knobbies wouldn't look right on any of my other bikes (and wouldn't even fit on most anyway), while here they look kinda sexy! You're right too, Chas, about the weigth; it's certainly not the heaviest oldie I've ever ridden.
Joseph
P.S. Chainrings are 52 & 47(!) teeth - no 'Alpine' gearing here  ! |
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Last edited by joe v on Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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| | | | | | | | | Pave | | | | | |
| Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:05 am |
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| verktyg |
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| Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
| Posts: 2814 |
| Location: SF Bay Area |
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Joseph,
The frame geometry on most of those types of French bikes from that era were designed for use on the pave streets and roads found in Belgium and Northern France.
So while they were heavier than say an all Reynolds bike they still had a comfortable ride.
Chas. |
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