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1983-84 TDF 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 2:56 pm Reply with quote
superstorm
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 11
Location: Where Eagles Only Dare Go.
After a year of finding parts the TDF I purchased from edgeguy over a year ago is done. I made some changes to say the least. Gone are the ofmega derailuers and wore out rims and tires. I put on parts from another old steed of mine that died years ago, (Motobecane Team Champion) that was crashed and sacrificed her glory for the TDF. So here's what it is built with now.

Cinelli Criterium bar and 1A stem
SanMarco Concor Sprint saddle in Buffalo Hide
Campagnolo Record Drivetrain and shifters
Mavic GP4 (NOS) sew-ups with Campy Record LF hubs
Newer Looky Loo Clipless Pedals (Easier than Toe Clips) I know!!
Ofmega Mistral Crankset (Original)
Modolo Professional Brakes (Painted to match by me)

I think she came out pretty good. Hope everybody likes it. My 5 cents for the French cause. Embarassed
The Bar color is in Homage to LeTour De France winner 'The Professor' Laurent Fignon... Allez Laurent, Allez.


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 5:21 pm Reply with quote
scozim
Joined: 26 Sep 2008
Posts: 629
Location: Ellensburg, WA
That is a really sharp bike!!! These red Gitane's with such nice paint makes me long to repaint my TdF - but I just can't bring myself to do it and ride it as is.

This will make you the fastest member of the Fat Farts Cycling Club. Wink

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1984 Gitane Sprint
1984 Gitane Tour de France
mid-1970's Gitane Olympic
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TdF 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:21 pm Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
Looks really nice.

Did you put on those Reynolds 531P stickers or did it come that way? If I recall, during the very late 70s and early 80s many of these near top of the line Gitane bikes came with Super Vitus 980 tubing which was lighter than most of Reynolds' offerings except 753???

BTW, SV 980 was used by some of the top US builders during those days. They never told you what they used or put on tubing stickers.

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Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 3:32 am Reply with quote
mikkla
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 87
Location: The Netherlands
Looks awesome, please do not hesitate to share more pics Smile

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:18 am Reply with quote
superstorm
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 11
Location: Where Eagles Only Dare Go.
Quote:

Did you put on those Reynolds 531P stickers or did it come that way? If I recall, during the very late 70s and early 80s many of these near top of the line Gitane bikes came with Super Vitus 980 tubing which was lighter than most of Reynolds' offerings except 753???

BTW, SV 980 was used by some of the top US builders during those days. They never told you what they used or put on tubing stickers.


The Frame set is 980 through and through. The fork however is Reynolds 531. The steer tube has Reynolds' markings on it. Go figure! I applied the 531P decal set in french because they look good on the old bomber. If, and that's a big if, I ever sold it, I have the original replacement decals to put back on. I know these old birds very well as I built a great deal of them up as a snot nosed, shaved leg punk in bike shops during the 80's to support my racing habit. Gitane TDF's would arrive with everything from Modolo Pro's to Equipe's and Speedy's on them. Plus we had one time a TDF arrive in Red like mine with chrome stay's. I think in that era Gitane was doing anything to get orders fulfilled and frames of all types were being thrown together with whatever parts were available. What was in the brochures wasn't exactly what you got. My bike had older Spidel brakes when I bought it from edgeguy. It also had Mavic MA40's, a Sugino Seatpost, and Cinelli Giro de Italia bars with a Cinelli 1a stem. It came from a local shop that I had a couple of friends that worked there. Edgeguy said she was original and I believe him. That's the way they came. Miss matched and out of sorts. So don't be suprised if you see them running around with odd lot parts on them. I ill post other pictures. I deliberatly put decals on that are not straight like Gitane would've just to make her look authentic. Laughing Laughing
Thanks for the input friends.

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:32 am Reply with quote
superstorm
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 11
Location: Where Eagles Only Dare Go.
Some more pictures of her. Note closely the slanted made in France decal on the seat tube!! Genuine Gitane...














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PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 11:59 am Reply with quote
Gtane
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Posts: 681
Location: UK
That's a great looking machine. You've done a super job.

The shots of the bike from the rear quarter looking forward show the bike's style. The height of the bars, the angle of the bars, the saddle position, the position of the brake levers, it just looks absolutely right.

I'm sure it's a dream to ride.

Thanks for posting.

Tim

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:53 pm Reply with quote
trois tubes
Joined: 16 Apr 2010
Posts: 136
BRAVO!!! You've done a super job with the bike.

I love those Mistral cranks. I had a late 80's DeBernardi decked out in Ofmega components that I ended up with from a barter deal. It was typical italian - form follows fashion.

Thanks for sharing.
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 11:08 am Reply with quote
superstorm
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 11
Location: Where Eagles Only Dare Go.
Thanks for the comments everybody. I found the original pictures of it. So a before and after look. Very Happy







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PostPosted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 11:37 am Reply with quote
sandranian
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Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
Why did you pull the "tour de france" decal off?

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:29 pm Reply with quote
superstorm
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 11
Location: Where Eagles Only Dare Go.
The left side decal was ripped pretty good and it didn’t match the newer decal set. Someone is making a new set that will match the newer decals. I will post a picture of it when it is done. Smile

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 9:45 pm Reply with quote
sandranian
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Huh? I was talking about the top tube decal. There should have only been one, and they do match the "newer" style decals (they were used with both)....

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TdF Decal 
PostPosted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:36 pm Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
Thus one...


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Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 8:01 am Reply with quote
superstorm
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 11
Location: Where Eagles Only Dare Go.
I too was talking about the top tube decal as well.Shocked There were 2. One on each side facing in opposite directions. Like I said before, Gitane's from this era were notoriously screwed up during the time these bikes were built. Decals installed wrong, paint schemes wrong, lug work not done to specification. Parts added and deleted at will. Consider yourself lucky if you actually got one new that was equipped as listed in the brochures! A whole myriad of problems which led to the demise of the former Gitane USA. If memory serves I think there may have been a class action suit filed by dealers in 1984-86 time frame regarding this very issue.
So whilst it is incomplete because it does not have the 'top tube TDF' set, rest assured it is still a TDF through and through. Wink

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 3:41 pm Reply with quote
sandranian
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Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
I am not doubting the pedigree, just wondering why you would remove the decal, when it appears to be in perfect order.

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1983-84 TDF 
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