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New Trek Greg LeMond Commemorative (very) Limited Edition 
PostPosted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:42 pm Reply with quote
nicolas
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 543
Location: Paris, France
It's been 5 weeks...that I said I had a "bike project".

Some of you have been curious about it.

I just got my bike back this evening. Unfortunately it was already dark and the pictures I took with or without flash are pretty ugly.

I won't have a chance of taking other shots anytime soon as i'll be away on vacation near Le Mont St Michel for 2 weeks but I thought I could give you a little preview...

So...here it is :



Let's just say...I'll enjoy riding this baby !

See you, guys !


Last edited by nicolas on Fri May 09, 2008 12:00 am; edited 2 times in total

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nicolas' new ride 
PostPosted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:10 pm Reply with quote
Paul Wiseman
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Looks like it's TIG welded.

Steel or aluminium?

Did you have it painted in the retro early 80's colours?

Looks like early 2000's campy cranks. New Centaur brake caliper????

A modernised gitane?

Good work Nicolas. Enjoy your vacation.

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1985 Victoire
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:35 am Reply with quote
Gtane
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Posts: 681
Location: UK
This looks like an interesting machine Nicolas. This shot is far too tempting to want to know more. We need the description in the title! Looking forward to the full description and further shots. 2 weeks - ahhhh!

It looks like a modern frame - is it alu 7002? Looks very interesting on what I can see. If you have gone for a retro look and feel with modern equipment, that's a really nice idea.

Thanks for the preview.

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PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:00 am Reply with quote
nicolas
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 543
Location: Paris, France
I'm back !

For 2 years I've come around this idea of getting my own Gitane. As some of you may have noticed, i'm not much of a mechanic and i never get technical about bikes, i'm a fan of the "Gitane years" i/e Guimard, Hinault, LeMond, Fignon...so building a true vintage bike was out of the question.

I came to think that I could do a Gitane tribute or Gitane bootleg, keeping the design of the old 83/85 bikes but with the advantages of a modern bike.

So, with no further introduction...VOILA Arrow











This is a 2003/2004 Trek aluminium frame and carbon fork that my brother gave me when he switched to carbon. I kept it ever since as i feel pretty good on it. ITM carbon handlebars came with the frame.

As my brother kept the original Bontrager wheels, I had to find proper ones for cheaper and came to buy those Shimano wich are not great but good enough for what I do.

Everything else has been changed in one way or another : saddle, pedals...

But the final great move was 1/ to switch from shimano to campagnolo centaur (as an 83 modolo brakes hommage)and 2/ to get the frame a proper paint job.

All of this has been done by Mr & Mrs Levacon, who own a shop about 1&1/2 hour east of Paris.

http://www.levacon.com/index.html

They are frame builders & painters who specialized in carbon & titanium.

Mrs Levacon had to make the paint from scratch, using just a reference shot. She did an amazing job. Pictures just don't do it justice.

Then I added those Gitane decals from our good australian friend on e-bay.

I had a few doubts about wether or not the black accessories would look good but I think the black on top/ chrome on the bottom pattern works quite well.

I'll have to choose a good yellow saddle and switch to benotto yellow tape at one point (found it in Mexico) but other than that it's pretty much it.

Any suggestions ?

Any advice on a proper saddle ? (that comes in yellow)

Oh, just a funny thought...I took my Trek bike to the shop only week prior to the announcement of Trek dropping LeMond bikes...so, basically i'm also (by accident ?) making a very small political statement, if you see what I mean Very Happy

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Très beau 
PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 10:13 am Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
Nicolas,

This is the best looking "modern" (post 1980s) bike I've ever seen! Great job! Cool

VOILA indeed! Wink

Chas.
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PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2008 7:02 pm Reply with quote
Paul Wiseman
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Superbe Nicolas.

Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow comes in yellow.

But my pick would be: http://www.fizik.it/catalog.aspx?subid=Pave_CX_HP_yellow


Great job.

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PostPosted: Sun May 04, 2008 12:56 am Reply with quote
Gtane
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Posts: 681
Location: UK
Great machine Nicolas and a very striking bike it is too. The paint is excellent, your shop did a superb job, and I really like the modern twist that you've given to the project. Totally unique.

Tim

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PostPosted: Sun May 04, 2008 7:55 am Reply with quote
nicolas
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 543
Location: Paris, France
Thanks everyone.

It's good to know you appreciate this. I was a bit frightened to scare the purists away... Wink

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Looks Great 
PostPosted: Sun May 04, 2008 10:54 am Reply with quote
smilingroadrunner
Joined: 10 Aug 2007
Posts: 278
Location: Salina, Ks.
Wonderful paint scheme Nicholas, Maybe the folks at Gitane should consider re-enacting the '80's paint & decal scheme on modern chassis.

I Like Steel !!
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PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 3:44 am Reply with quote
Paul Wiseman
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Brisbane, Australia
I know this will all be terribly upsetting to Sandman, but.........

This is my current TT rig. Frame was built by a local guy back in the early 90's. It has been somewhat modernised, and somewhat left the same. I kept the old Trialist disc wheel because is only gives away a couple hundred grams to the modern ones, and who needs more than 7 gears in a TT really? Probably only going to use 3 of them as it is. The Mavic 3G is an old favourite. I use the Modolo calipers as they have hefty springs to function well with the internally routed brake cables. 8 speed Shimano RD with bar con lever to work perfectly with the Sachs-Maillard 7 speed freewheel. Record Cranks. Campy FD. Simplex DT shifter for the FD (what else?). Deda bars & aero bars. Turbo Matic (the only) saddle. Frame is made from Reynolds 731OS tubing. Steel, lugs. With a carbon fork.

I repainted this and badged it as a Gitane for fun about 12 months ago (sorry Nicolas) but didn't post anything for fear of the WRATH OF THE SANDMAN. But since we're all coming out of the closet........

Oh, yes I know there are no tyres. I'm waiting for some new Veloflex rubber.


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PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:57 am Reply with quote
nicolas
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 543
Location: Paris, France
GOOD fun ! Very Happy

I love it.

C'mon everyone, show us your false Gitanes !!!

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PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2008 5:34 pm Reply with quote
sandranian
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
Ok...now you are all kicked off the list.

Just kidding. The only time I don't like "pretender" bikes is when they are sold as originals. I would say that as long as the true identity of the bike is disclosed to the potential buyer...then all is fair. After all, professional riders have been known to rebadge bikes and other gear from time to time...so why can't we???

Both bikes look great, by the way. I hope they are getting some use! God knows my bikes haven't been!

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PostPosted: Wed May 07, 2008 1:29 am Reply with quote
Paul Wiseman
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Well if we are getting kicked off, I think we will start a new list called fakegitaneUsa.com Twisted Evil

One does wonder how many of the gitanes ridden by BH, LF, GL et al were actually gitanes. But does it really matter? The bikes that we all fell in love with were cheap ass, badly finished genuine articles for the most part.

Hey Nicolas, you realise that if the paint doesn't start falling off in a couple years, you have to take the gitane decals off because it just won't be "up to standard". Wink

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Wisey
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1974 Paris - Nice
1985 Defi
1985 Victoire
1985 Victoire (yes, another one!)
1985 Professionnel
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PostPosted: Wed May 07, 2008 2:00 am Reply with quote
nicolas
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 543
Location: Paris, France
Paul Wiseman wrote:
Well if we are getting kicked off, I think we will start a new list called fakegitaneUsa.com Twisted Evil

One does wonder how many of the gitanes ridden by BH, LF, GL et al were actually gitanes. But does it really matter? The bikes that we all fell in love with were cheap ass, badly finished genuine articles for the most part.

Hey Nicolas, you realise that if the paint doesn't start falling off in a couple years, you have to take the gitane decals off because it just won't be "up to standard". Wink


No, I decided that instead of having a legendary rider riding a crappy bike, I'd do it the other way... Laughing

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PostPosted: Wed May 07, 2008 12:11 pm Reply with quote
Paul Wiseman
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Brisbane, Australia
nicolas wrote:
No, I decided that instead of having a legendary rider riding a crappy bike, I'd do it the other way... Laughing


Laughing Laughing Laughing
So............... Why did you use a Trek? Twisted Evil

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Wisey
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1985 Victoire
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New Trek Greg LeMond Commemorative (very) Limited Edition 
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