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scozim

I picked up the "new" bike this morning in Seattle from the original owner. Pretty much everything except the tires and shifters are original - even with a Bernard Hinault saddle. I'll start looking for new derailleurs for the future. It's even got the first year (that's what the owner said) white Look clipless pedals that came with the bike. The owner couldn't find the original brochure he had with the bike but he did give me a Cycles Gitane jersey (too small for me but it will look good on the wall).

The owner stated he was very happy to have someone buy the bike that wanted it original. He bought it new in 1985 and rode it for a year and then moved to a Colnago and has been dragging the Gitane around with him for 20 yrs.

The only disappointing part is the paint - it's had quite a few chips which the owner told me he had touched up poorly - and that's true. The good part is a frame can always be repainted.

I took it for a spin in a parking lot and really like the ride. The rear derailleur skipped one cog and then slipped back onto it so I have a few adjustments to make on it.

I think I'm going to really like this bike and will start riding it next spring when it warms back up. It's got a 12-21 right now but I've got a Regina Superleggera 13-26 6spd freewheel that I'm tempted to put on it so I can deal with the wind - but, we'll wait and see how the rides go in the spring. By the way, anyone see a freewheel like this with the red spacers?

sandranian · Site Admin

Awesome bike. I remember those jerseys available in the catalogues as well.

And for the record, I disagree with you about the frame being painted. Of course you CAN do it, but then it will never be the same!!!

My theory is that all PARTS can be replaced...but the frameset is unique!

And yes, those are the first generation look pedals. Luckily, you can still get the cleats for those (I think)!

Gtane

Scozim, that's a great bike and what a super buy.

I would not respray it because the bike's condition is actually great. Just touch up the spots that you're concerned about and hang on to any bits you replace as they're part of the machine.

The machine looks wonderful in the first shot against the plinth.

Thanks for posting.

Tim

verktyg

Looks really great!

I agree with everyone else, leave the paint alone. Any bike that gets used gets scratches and paint chips. I think of them as "battle scars". Laughing

Unless of course you are looking for a concourse de elegance or a wall hanger. If you can't see them from 5 feet.... Wink

BTW, those "sick room green" Bianchi Celeste tires have to go... Rolling Eyes

(Celeste is the color green that Bianchi has used for years) Twisted Evil

Chas.

scozim

verktyg

Are those sewups? They would look good on my Bianchi too. Cool

I have a new set of these Panaracer "Practice Dual" tubulars to put on one of my blue Gitanes with yellow trim. Wink

Chas.

smilingroadrunner

Just curious if any other members have thoughts about (as time & miles pass by---typically about 600-800mi sometimes less) separation begins to happen on my sew-ups, between the casing body sidewall of the tire---and the cotton tape covering the seam of the sew-up threads.

Initially I would assume the manufacturer has placed some type of latex adhesive to glue the tape over the casing threads, and seal the cotton strip to the sidewall of the sew-up casing.

I would assume that my mounting technique is OK, as the cotton tape and bond to the rims is always good. I've always run about 105-110 psi in these "Rally" tubulars. Just a lateral pulling-torquing effect of turns under speed on the casing body that eventually leads to the casing beginning to pull away from the tape, and eventually this gap getting wider and wider.

Is there a latex sidewall treatment that could be used to keep the sidewall - tape interface fresh???
Is it just that I ride moderate priced sew-ups "Vittoria -Rally tubular road tires" and have for decades?????
I've never tried an expensive "hand made" higher quality sew-up---so I don't know if I would experience the same separation issue with time & miles.

Again thanks for the tip earlier this season about the "Tufo--extreme" sealant. I've experienced 3 punctures on the 70 TdeF this season so far and the Tufo has worked well each time and I continue to ride on the sew-ups mounted in March (now at about 1300-1500 miles on that frame for this season). Would have been more if the Back problem hadn't flared up for the month of July & August Mad

I Like Steel !!!!
___________________
C.A. Salina, Ks.

verktyg

C.A.

Jevolot Tire Life liquid latex compound is what you are looking for.

You can find it online for ~ $10-12 USD.

This is them same liquid latex that tubular tire makers use when they manufacture their tires. It's also what's used to hold the rim tape onto the tire casing. I use cheap throw away brushes to apply it.

On a lot of my sewups I've had a little separation of the tape from the casing on the exposed portion of the tire not in contact with the rim especially after they'd been mounted and used for a year or so.

Italian made Clement Paris-Roubaix cotton tires were my favorites followed by Clement Campionato del Mundo Setas and Clement Paris-Roubaix Setas (silks). I used to get 5,000-7,000 miles on these tires.

I think that Clement used more latex on their tires especially versus D'Allessandro and Vitoria (which may have been the same Italian company), thus less separation. Also smaller diameter, highly inflated tubulars are more like to have the tape pull away from the casing where it's not in contact with the rim. Larger diameter tires have more contact with the rim.

Here's a picture of a circa 1972 Clement 50 cotton sewup that I used as a training tire back when I was a "starving student". Someone gave it to me for a spare when I first started riding sewups. It was flat and already had about 2000 miles on it. I patched it and used it for commutes and bad weather training for 2-3 years afterward. Cool

Clement 50s were mid range cotton tubulars. Notice the "snakebite" patches on the casing - there's at least 6 of them to cover up nicks in the sidewall threads. This tire still holds air after all these years plus 4-5 patches to the tube (I would never chance riding it though). The rim tape is still sticking to the casing too! Shocked

Last year I got a great deal on a bunch of sewup wheels. Most of them still had tires attached. When I removed the tires I was surprised to see how easily the tires separated from the rim tape which still stuck to the rims. A number of these tires were new or had very low mileage and still looked ridable but the latex holding on the rim tape was all dried out. Shocked

It looks like newer tubular tires use less latex to attach the rim tape plus the tape is made from thiner material that the latex doesn't soak into very well. Recently I threw out a bunch of 30+ year old sewups that the tubes had given up the ghost. The tread and casings on these tires still looked usable and the rim tape was still firmly attached.

I lived in New Mexico back in the day. It was prime goathead country. We rode sewups most of the time and got very few flats. Part of the reason was that we only pumped our tires up to 85-95 PSI.

Goathead thorns in a car tire

There have been some tests done to show that goatheads and other sharp objects are more likely to puncture a bicycle tire that is inflated over 95 PSI.

The reduction in rolling resistance between 80 PSI and 110 PSI is only about 7%. Shocked

Why harder tires feel faster - from an article in Bicycle Quarterly magazine:

"On a road, a moving bike transmits a high frequency buzz to the hands, feet and seat of the rider. The faster the rider goes, the higher the frequency becomes. Therefore most riders are accustomed to equating a higher frequency with faster speed."

"... Increasing tire pressure also increases the frequency of the vibrations thus giving the sensation of greater speed, even though the bike rolls no faster than before."

BTW, my first experiment with Tufo is still working! I bought a bike off of eBay last fall. Both of the tubulars were flat. One held air for a few minutes the other wouldn't hold air at all. I put the recommended amount of Tufo in the tires and they're still holding air after almost a year! Cool

Chas.

sandranian · Site Admin

I don't believe your story/theory about less flats on under/lower inflated tires. I have found that I get flats when:
(1) My tires start to get worn out; and
(2) They are underinflated.

That's just me though...no data to support the claim(s).

smilingroadrunner

Thanks Chas, Stephan, for your thoughts.

Cold --Rainy afternoon here in the plains of Ks---so I'll do some searching for the Latex treatment.

Oh, and by the way Scozim, nice vintage ride---I would have to support the idea of trying to preserve the original patina---conservative touch up of any scratch - rust areas. I'm envious, I really wanted to throw some $$$ towards that auction. Looks like you've got a great ride.

Thanks fellows and any other forum members for their feedback related to tubular care.

C.A.

verktyg

sandranian · Site Admin

Compelling argument. However, it is moot...as I am the "moderator" of this list, and can merely purge any dissenting view from cyberspace!

Wink

smilingroadrunner

Guys you've made my day !!!!

"Jocularity---Jocularity"

And that's why I love this place Wink

From the cold rainy plains of Kansas this evening---Off to Scouts now.
Thanks fellows for putting on smile on my face this evening.

C.A.

verktyg