Help Identifying a 70's? Gitane

[visrealm]

I picked this up from my Dad's shed. No history (unfortunately, he's not around to ask).
It looks very 70's to me, but there isn't much in the way of identifying marks.



What I know:
It's pretty rough, but is rideable.
It was sold by Standish Cycles West Lakes SA (still has that sticker)
60cm C-T. (it's my size)
10 speed.
Huret Front, Read Derailleurs and friction DT shifters. All working well - but need new cables.
175mm Sugino Maxy crankset?
Mafac Brake levers.
Cinelli stem.
San Marco saddle.
27" Mavic rims fitted to Normandy QR hubs - They actually spin really well.
Frame has brackets on top tube for a pump.
Nothing helpful on the bottom bracket.
95526 A stamped on what I assume is a stand bracket behind the bottom bracket:

Numbers on the rear dropout:



Other random shots:






My feeling is it's not worth spending much on, but given it is rideable at the moment (would probably need new cables, brake pads and tyres to make it safer. Tyres look fairly unused, but they are aged)

Any ideas?

Thanks
Troy

[P!N20]

You could trawl through the Gitane catalogues: http://velobase.com/Resource_Tools/CatalogScans.aspx

Just select Gitane in the brand field and press filter.

Looks in pretty good condition really. I reckon with a bit of elbow grease it would come up looking pretty nice.

[uart]

My feeling is it's not worth spending much on, but given it is rideable at the moment (would probably need new cables, brake pads and tyres to make it safer. Tyres look fairly unused, but they are aged)

Yeah it would come up pretty nicely with just a basic clean up.

BTW. That is one long stem!

[uart]

BTW Visrealm, do you know what is the length of that stem. Have you measured it?

[10speedsemiracer]

Has a very late 70s/very early 80s feel to it. Not a high-end bike as indicated by axle-mount derailleur/crank/clamp-on shifters, but would probably resurrect very well and ride nicely.

Don't really know why but I'm feeling 1979/1980 for this. It may be one of the intermediate models like a Gypsy or something along those lines. Don't think that stem is OE however.

[visrealm]

Thanks all,

I think I will get it riding again. Just won't spend much on it.

BTW Visrealm, do you know what is the length of that stem. Have you measured it?

140mm centre to centre

Cheers
Troy

[uart]

Thanks all,
I think I will get it riding again. Just won't spend much on it.

For a really quick and nasty clean up I just treat the rusty parts with a phosphoric acid based rust converter (I usually use the "SCA" home brand stuff), and then just shin it up with some WD40. The rust converter blackens all the red/brown rust and pacifies it. The WD40 helps pacify and seal it. Plus re-grease all the bearings.

[visrealm]

Has a very late 70s/very early 80s feel to it. Not a high-end bike as indicated by axle-mount derailleur/crank/clamp-on shifters, but would probably resurrect very well and ride nicely.

Don't really know why but I'm feeling 1979/1980 for this. It may be one of the intermediate models like a Gypsy or something along those lines. Don't think that stem is OE however.

I think you're pretty close, 10speed. Started servicing the components and both derailleurs are stamped xx78.

Cheers
Troy

[visrealm]

Have ordered new tyres, tubes, brake and shifter cables, bar tape, and koolstops.

I've serviced the headset, bottom bracket, derailleurs, shifters and callipers.

Will post an update once I have it all together again.

[visrealm]

The big reveal







Very happy with the result for a total spend of ~$110

Just need to ride it

[10speedsemiracer]

That came up really well. Think you'll enjoy riding that.

[rkelsen]

Well that came up better than expected.

Good job!

[Hagar]

Sweet!!!

[visrealm]

Thanks all.

Did a little 10km with the kids today. Rides great.

Though, having never used DT shifters before, they'll take some getting used to. Also, the bars are super-narrow. My #1 has 44cm bars, these are 37cm. The bike feels like it fits well otherwise though.

Pretty happy overall.

[531db]

That 140mm reach handlebar stem and the narrow handlebars are not original, they look as if they came of a 1980's track bike based on the shape of them. Some wider bars would not be out of place if you felt inclined to fit them.

Also those brake shoe bolts are way to long in there protrusion outside the caliper arms, I'd be worried at the damage they might cause.

But good job, it's come up well.

[visrealm]

Thanks. I've since cut the brake pad threads down. Had the same thought.

Here's a pic from the weekend.



I'll probably just leave it. The reach is ok for me. I'll get used to the narrow bars.

Cheers
Troy

[Beddy]

Hey visrealm, did you get to the bottom of the id? She is pretty much the same as mine,1977 interclub specs. A couple of differences, no brake lever extensions or mafac callipers. Mine has huret friction levers on the head stem.