GITANE "Tour de France" 1977

[Papik]

Hi,

I am Papik and I live in the south of France , near the Med...My last project is this 1977 GITANE "Tour de France" , an interesting bicycle , because it sleeps in a garage during 37 years ...and it has all the original components of the model.
I was searching a GITANE with the "honeycombs" drops , and I find this one ...quite new
It is a 3 REYNOLDS 531 tubes with a SUGINO 42-52 "maxy" crankset , SIMPLEX "criterium" derailleurs, MAFAC brakes .
Fork with SIMPLEX drop ,NORMANDY hubs with the date (05-77) and ATOM pedals with an other date (11-76) all the decals are originals,little damages, the saddle , a SAN MARCO was attacked by the mouses and the "boyaux" tires was pinched ...
My project is to change the crankset for a triple STRONGLIGHT 99 bis in order to climb the VENTOUX this summer...

[Papik]

Few other details :








And , after a clean ...

http://postimg.org/image/hh1scykq1/full/

[verktyg]

Nice job of cleaning up your bike.

I think that it's more of a 1975 Interclub or Tourde L'Avenir rather than a Tour de France.

Your bike has Simplex Prestige derailleurs, MAFAC Racer brakes, a Sugino Maxi crank set, Atom Pedals and a standard Gitane headset.








The Tour de France bikes from 1974-75 had Simplex Criterium derailleurs, MAFAC Competition brakes, Stronglight 93 cranks or sometimes Sugino Mighty Competition cranks, Lyotard pedals, and Stronglight P3 headsets. They also had Campagnolo Nuovo hubs.










I've seen a few mid 70s Gitane Interclubs that had the same Reynolds 531 "3 TUBES RENFORCE" frames as used on the Tour de France models.

The frames and wheels are the most important parts of a good bike.

It should be a great riding bike.

[Papik]

Thanks for your interest Verktig , and congratulation for your great knowledge of GITANE

Considering this bicycle, my first opinion ,as it have SUGINO crankset, was ..."it is a Tour de l'avenir" ...but reading the catalogs of this excellent forum, I conclude that it was not possible, because the TDA has HURET derailleurs and it is not built with 3 REYNOLDS tubes...so the "interclub" model...

The precedent owner said me that he do few kilometers with it and as the tyres was pinched and as he was not able to repare , he put the bicycle in the bottom of his garage and ...forgot it !

I don't think that it is a 1975 model , there is no doubt that the bicycle is in absolute original condition , and the 1977 hubs datation is reliable .

I have not the 1977 French catalog, but I have seen others Europeans 1976 / 1977 TDF with exactly the same components and lug sets that is why I named this one but perhaps, it is a mistake ... .

Whatever was his name, my project is to replace the SUGINO crankset with a triple 99 bis STRONGLIGHT , in order to climb the Mt Ventoux with this venerable bicycle (I am 65 years old,and with 30x22 I think it is possible ,but not with the 42x22 of the SUGINO) (last year I climb it with a "modern" PEUGEOT competition with a triple and 33x22...)

[Papik]

First little ride of 50 kms , this afternoon with no problem , the 57 frame is perfect for me , comparatively with my 1977 PEUGEOT PS10, I prefere the GITANE's geometry frame.

Front derailleur is a SIMPLEX "criterium" and rear derailleur is a SIMPLEX "prestige" 100 T, an entry level SIMPLEX but it made a good job , the front derailleur "criterium" has fragile "delrin" parts , I think I will change it when I put the triple crankset ...

[sandranian]

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing this with us!

[Papik]

Thanks Stephan ! this Forum is very interesting .
If you want, I can scan for the forum a rare 1992 French GITANE catalogue , Where I must send it ?

[Papik]

Two news tyres ,700 x 23 MICHELIN "dynamic classic" and a touch of green acorded with the decals , in this grey universe

It is ready to run !

[Papik]

Today , great job...I have changed the SUGINO crankset for a STRONGLIGHT 99 bis triple 30-40-50 and the front derailleur SIMPLEX " criterium" for a SIMPLEX SJA 23 for triple .
Now we can climb

That is the result...

[Papik]

Yesterday, 80 kms and little climb to test ...perfect ride , it is ready !

http://postimg.org/image/q90vujht5/full/

[Papik]

"Mission accomplie " ! this monday...with a perfect climb of the Mont Ventoux !





http://s20.postimg.org/6uzosiagd/ventou ... 014_48.jpg

[Papik]

[Papik]

[Mace]

Hi Papik,
Thanks for this super post! I have just bought an as-new condition 1977 TdF that was stored for the last 39 years. I am going to service the bike and put some photos on this forum.

[verktyg]

Hi Papik,
Thanks for this super post! I have just bought an as-new condition 1977 TdF that was stored for the last 39 years. I am going to service the bike and put some photos on this forum.

Read my post at the top: "Not a Tour de France"

"I think that it's more of a 1975 Interclub or Tourde L'Avenir rather than a Tour de France."

The Tour de France model was not advertised in the US market after 1976.

It's not in the 1977 US Gitane catalog.

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1977_pg3.jpg

Gitane Pacific the US importer went out of business in mid 1977.


The 1978 French catalog doesn't show the Tour de France model either.

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1978_pg3.jpg
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1978_pg4.jpg

Post some pictures showing the right drive side of the bike with closeups of the head tube, cranks, derailleurs and rear dropouts.

I can probably tell you the year and model.