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The ULTIMATE Gitane.... 
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:57 pm Reply with quote
sandranian
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Joined: 27 Feb 2006
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Location: Southern California
I was going to save this picture for the website update...but here it is anyways. This is the new "holy grail" of Gitane bicycles.....








Just when you thought they couldn't get any nuttier (see the bicycle with two person side car, the quadruple "tandem", etc.)! It isn't a tricycle...so what the heck is it???


Last edited by sandranian on Sat Sep 01, 2007 7:51 am; edited 1 time in total

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Stephan Andranian
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mystery gitane 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:24 pm Reply with quote
Paul Wiseman
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Brisbane, Australia
I think this is one of the mystery gitane prototypes that was stolen back in 1980. Laughing

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I have one too 
PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:44 pm Reply with quote
gregdov
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 5
Location: ithaca
I have one of these also, does that knock down the prototype idea?
also if you look closely on the label in front it says 44 im not sure if that is refering to the year it was made or something different
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 7:50 am Reply with quote
sandranian
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Location: Southern California
Based on the decals, this bicycle was produced in the early-to-mid 1970's. The "44" on the headbadge refers to the Department (state) in which it was produced in France: Loire-Atlantique. Gitanes are manufactured in Machecoul, just outside of Nantes, in Department 44.

It is an interesting bicycle, no doubt. I would be interested in seeing a picture next to a person...or other item...to give it some scale. Also interesting is the handlebar configuration, which apparently utilizes the old track style of stem (as far as adjustability is concerned only, of course).

Very odd bike, and I would say it is worthy of being restored just because it is so unique. I would hazard to guess that Gitane was the only manufacturer of "penny-farthings" as late as the 1970's...but who knows.

I wonder what the purpose of this bicycle was. They were making foldable bicycles at the time, so it probably wasn't for convenience sake.... Any guesses - or actual "knowledge" out there???

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PostPosted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:19 am Reply with quote
gregdov
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 5
Location: ithaca
If this helps with scale, the front wheel is a normal 700
and the back one is a 350a, which is a 14 37 x 288
I have no clue where to find a new tire, I thought
that hte handle bars were how they were to mimic the
original ones in the sense of wanting to be able
to hook your feet over the handlebars to go down hill.

Also i think it was more of a toy then anything else,
because while it the gearing does let you freewheel,
at least on mine it makes it very difficult to accelerate
because the chain slips, but this could be because of where
is the same thing true with this one in better condition?
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:32 am Reply with quote
sandranian
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Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
I had no idea that the bars were made for that! I wonder if that is the same reason they made the old "moustache" racing bars that way? But with the invention of the freewheel, it would seem redundant...although they might have been a vestige of the past, and simply the best known way to make handlebars.

I was more referring to the stem, which uses the old track "slide" system for adjdusting the reach of the handlebars.

How is that thing to ride? That is just the most oddball bike I have seen in a long time. Kind of like this one:

http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=223

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stearing 
PostPosted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:58 am Reply with quote
gregdov
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 5
Location: ithaca
once you get the hand of it its kinda easy, but at first its counter intuitive because it feels like it wants to dive, the chain on mine slips though so like i said i cant really acelerate
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The ULTIMATE Gitane.... 
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