gitaneusa.com Forum Index Register FAQ Memberlist Search

gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Owner Gallery » ~1960 Randonneur
Post new topic  Reply to topic View previous topic :: View next topic 
~1960 Randonneur 
PostPosted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:03 pm Reply with quote
sandranian
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
I have finished the first phase of the restoration of this bike. As you may recall, it came to me from France as a single-speed...so it was just begging to be restored to a 3-speed. Of course, I went with Simplex, which is the nicest looking of the old stuff. The single shifter on the top tube is the best, with its brass or copper colored butterfly tightening bolt. Just ahead of the shifter is a clamp on cable stop, as the original cable stop was broken off at some point during the last 50 years. It is a Huret double stop, but I sawed off one side to make it a single.

The three-speed freewheel was a hassle to get a hold of, and was finally provided by a classicrendezvous list member (for a trade!). It is NOS and came in its original box...french threaded...manufactured by 'J.Moyenne'. The rear wheel is not an original, but is pretty old nevertheless. I believe the front wheel is original.

The rear light was also replaced by an identical one (Catalux 6)...as the top part on the light was smashed when I received it. The reflector is glass, which is cool! I have not yet wired the lights, but that is coming soon.

Another addition is the crankset, which is the only "Gitane" specific crankset I have ever seen. From everything I have learned about it, it probably pre-dates this bike by about 10 years or so, but looked so great, that I had to put it on. It was badly pitted, with almost no chrome left on the set, so I removed the rust and then spray painted the set to preserve it. It (along with other parts on the bike) needs to be re-chromed, but that will have to wait....

Of note also is the saddle bag, which I obtained from fellow GitaneUSA listmember Jay (aka 'greyhundguy'), who helped me a lot on this bike...which I really appreciate. It matches the saddle and makes this bike that much more "custom".

Original ebay post:




Pictures as "restored" to be added soon...just a brief post to pique your interest.


Last edited by sandranian on Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:29 pm; edited 1 time in total

_________________
Stephan Andranian
Costa Mesa, CA
www.gitaneusa.com
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
 
PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:16 pm Reply with quote
greyhundguy
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 678
Location: South-Central VIRGINIA
Stephan,
Thank you for the acknowledgment. Now POST SOME PHOTOS!!! I wanna see it.

Jay

_________________
Dance like nobody is watching.
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:59 am Reply with quote
sandranian
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
Here it is...click on the thumbnails below for large (and extra large) images.
































_________________
Stephan Andranian
Costa Mesa, CA
www.gitaneusa.com
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
 
PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:23 pm Reply with quote
greyhundguy
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 678
Location: South-Central VIRGINIA
Stephan,
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Great job! It looks KEWL!!!

How many miles have you put on it? Though not period correct, I have a Cateye computer I'll donate if you want to keep up with it Laughing

Jay

_________________
Dance like nobody is watching.
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:37 pm Reply with quote
Gtane
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Posts: 681
Location: UK
Lovely bike Stephan, dare I suggest that this will become THE favourite of the collection?

Well done to you both on the overall job. Super machine.

Tim


Last edited by Gtane on Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:37 am; edited 1 time in total

_________________
Everything has a cycle
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:58 pm Reply with quote
greyhundguy
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 678
Location: South-Central VIRGINIA
Gtane wrote:

Well done to you both on the overall job. Super machine.

Tim


Tim,
Just to clarify, I only sold Stephan the Gitane Satchel. It seemed proper for his project. The finished Bike is all his work.

Jay

_________________
Dance like nobody is watching.
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 3:22 pm Reply with quote
STW
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 20
Congratulations. I see what you mean about the tool bag.
Great bike.

Who is the lovely gypsy lady on the headbade? Haven't seen that Gitane headbadge before; wonder if it's an older traditional Gitane one that was on race bikes too?
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 3:39 pm Reply with quote
greyhundguy
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 678
Location: South-Central VIRGINIA
STW wrote:

Who is the lovely gypsy lady on the headbade?


I believe that is Fifika (Romanian)...Fifi in French Wink...one of many lovely Gypsy names.

Jay

_________________
Dance like nobody is watching.
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:19 pm Reply with quote
smilingroadrunner
Joined: 10 Aug 2007
Posts: 278
Location: Salina, Ks.
Awesome work Stephan. I like everything about this ride---but my eyes are constantly drawn to the "Hand Hammered Fenders" they are too cool.

If we could only know the stories this vintage bike could tell. It's in a rightful place with a caring owner now.

And I have to tell you, my spouse ( who often questions why I have soooo many bikes in the basement Rolling Eyes ) Gives this girl 2 thumbs up !!! Very Happy

So thanks for your work, Cheryl may cut me some slack now as I continue to restore the Super Corsa Smile .

I Like Steel !!!
_________________

C.A.
Salina, Ks.
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
 
PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:20 am Reply with quote
smilingroadrunner
Joined: 10 Aug 2007
Posts: 278
Location: Salina, Ks.
Stephan,

How does the rear 3spd derailleur operate. Do the pulley wheels and support mechanism operate on a shaft with a compressed spring--that is drawn in-and-out by the small chain?

Again, congratulations on the rare item, and its' fitting refurbishment---The paint finish looks like it cleaned up & polished out wonderfully. Pretty amazing for a 50yr old ride.

Maybe your spouse can shoot some evening video when your get the dynamo & lights operating.


I Like Steel !!!
___________________

C.A.
Salina, Ks.
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Nice work 
PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:21 am Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
Stephan,

Nice job, I like the color.

Personally my taste in bikes runs from the late 60s to late 80s. I prefer the performance improvements that made shifting and braking easier (prior to brifters and all that crap).

Chas. the Ludite - I'll ride carbon when they pull my cold dead fingers off of my down tube shifters! Laughing
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:23 pm Reply with quote
Wisey
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 631
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Lovely, Sandman. I think everyone else has said the rest. It's just lovely. It's kind of like having that one pretty girl out on a century ride with all the other meat head bike riders. She might not be strong, fit, or experienced on the bike, but there's 50 guys queued up to ride along side her anyway. It would be great if this old girl could tell her stories. Perhaps one of our grandmothers rode this bike in her prime...... (or one of Chas' old girlfriends Twisted Evil .
View user's profile Send private message
Re: Nice work 
PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:24 pm Reply with quote
Wisey
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 631
Location: Brisbane, Australia
verktyg wrote:
I'll ride carbon when they pull my cold dead fingers off of my down tube shifters! Laughing


The quote of the year award goes to Chas! Laughing That's great Chas, I'm going to quote you on that one.
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:08 pm Reply with quote
cooltech
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 27
Location: U.S. Pennsylvania
Very nice work. Thanks for sharing photos.
cooltech Cool

_________________
Tks. for th op. to be here. glad I found the Gitane site
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:08 pm Reply with quote
vanhelmont
Joined: 11 Dec 2007
Posts: 242
Location: Florida
Stephan,

This is really fantastic. I'm not sure if re-chroming would even be an improvement. It looks like a bike with 50 years of experience.

Dave
View user's profile Send private message
~1960 Randonneur 
  gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Owner Gallery
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
All times are GMT - 8 Hours  
Page 1 of 1  

  
  
 Post new topic  Reply to topic  


Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group
Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.