1983 Renault-elf Gitane Team Pro

[plchin014]

[scozim]

Great looking bike! I love that Stronglight crankset

[verktyg]

Nice bike, but...

It's a 1984 not a 1980 bike.

Why? The decals are 1984 vintage, Gitane didn't start using Columbus tubing until ~1983, and your bike has fast back (shot in) seat stays which appeared in 1983.

Also, Stronglight 107 cranks first appeared ~1983. They were aerodynamic and used the same sized 144BCD chainrings as Campy.



This is a 1979 Gitane Team Bike.



1980 Olympic. Team bikes would have been similar except with painted forks. Notice the decals which were used from 1980-1982.



One of Greg LeMond's Gitane Team bikes probably 1981 or 1982. Notice the decals are the same as the 1980 bikes. Also the tubing is Reynolds.



1983 Gitane flyer with Fignon on a Team bike. Notice the Gitane seat tube decal is only on the front of the seat tube and the front derailler is bolted onto the seat tube.



An NOS actual 1983 Gitane Team bike. Notice the short point lugs and fast back seat stays.





A 1983 Team Replica bike - Catalog picture.



A Campy equipped 1984 Team bike.



List Meister Stephan's 1984 Team Pro with mixed campy components.



My 1984 Team Pro with mixed French components.



Gitane team bikes were equipped with all Campagnolo components, all Spidel (Simplex-Stronglight-Maillard-Mafac/Modolo) or rarely, all Mavic components.

After Fignon broke a Campy titanium BB spindle in 1983, Gitane switched to French made Spidel components for a while on their team bikes.

[plchin014]

After seeing some of the information that has been posted, I stand corrected.

It seems to be a 1983 Team Pro (Full French Componentry, except Modolo Master Pro Brakes & Shimano Seat Post).

The 1983 bike that was posted is most similar, except it has braze-on front derailleur.

Mine doesn't.

[verktyg]

It seems to be a 1983 Team Pro

The 1983 bike that was posted is most similar, except it has braze-on front derailleur.

Here's some more pictures of an NOS 1983 Team Pro:

http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/viewtopi ... =1984+team

The 1983 bikes had a single Gitane decal on the front of the seat tube and a Simplex/Spidel brazed on front derailleur.

The 1984 bikes had Gitane decals on both sides of the seat tube and a clamp-on front derailleur (like your bike).

1984 Team Pro frame.



The seat post that went with the Spidel gruppo was a Simplex/Spidel. Some were flutted:



BTW, the bikes in the pictures in the "1984" catalog are 1983 models.