Old frame inquiry

[SamIAm]

A friend of mine wants to give this bike to me. I don't want it, but I was wondering if its the kind of thing that might be worth restoring and selling. I don't know much about it other than this picture. Its a Gitane Tour de France, 531 tubing, Belleri bars and stem, Mafac competition brakes, Sugino crank, Campy hubs and some kind of Simplex shifting.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2vn2gdj.jpg

[christian]

On the world's best day, you could get $225 for that. Which totally doesn't mean it's not worth doing. Nice coffee shop bike, good commuter, whatever. But it's not going to be worth a mint when done. (BTW, I wish you were local. I'd totally offer you some cash for that as a station bike...)

[christian]

Should add that if you ever wanted a fendered fixed-gear bicycle, there would not be a better starting point than that.

[fiamme red]

I'd say $400 to $500. The Gitane Tour de France, like a Peugeot PX-10, is top of the line and one of the lightest production bikes of its era. It looks to be in good shape, and is definitely collectible.

Edited to add: Judging by the components, I'd say that the bike is from 1975 or so. It wasn't actually top of the line then; the top models were the Olympic Record and Super Olympic.

You might try looking for information at the Gitane USA website or asking on their forum:

http://www.gitaneusa.com/

http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/

[SamIAm]

Anybody care to take a swag on size?

[donevwil]

Anybody care to take a swag on size?

Wondering that myself. Long headtube, medium'ish TT and one hell of a steep HT angle. I'd guess 60-62 cm with 57-58cm TT & 76° HT angle ?

[Louis]

I guess 58

[Climb01742]

Any guesses on why the HTA is so steep?

[likebikes]

you don't want it.
donate it to a local bike co-op or international shipping outfit.

[thwart]

At least your friend's got the right T-shirt on...

... but no shoes?

[Louis]

you don't want it.
donate it to a local bike co-op or international shipping outfit.

I tend to agree with this.

[Kirk Pacenti]

The guys at "Classic Rendezvous" would give you more information than you'd ever need or want on this bike.

As for donations, my favorite bike related charity is Workshop Houston.
http://www.workshophouston.org/

Cheers,
KP

[oliver1850]

I'd rather see a bike like that go to someone who appreciates it for what it is than go to a coop. Take the proceeds from the sale, buy some yard sale bikes, and donate them to the coop.

[avalonracing]

I'd rather see a bike like that go to someone who appreciates it for what it is than go to a coop. Take the proceeds from the sale, buy some yard sale bikes, and donate them to the coop.

It beats some dude working at the co-op horking it for himself or putting on blue tires and selling it on Craigs to some trust-fund hipster for $500.

[bigreen505]

Make up a great story on the bike's history and sell it to a hipster for $900.

[Kirk Pacenti]

Make up a great story on the bike's provenance and sell it to a hipster for $1800.

Fixed it for you.

[SamIAm]

At least your friend's got the right T-shirt on...

... but no shoes?

Who needs shoes when you are rocking socks like that?

[Louis]

http://u1.ipernity.com/9/57/49/3195749.7181452a.640.jpg

[charliedid]

Give it to the tallest kid you can find who wants it...

[cnighbor1]

and give to a latino worker

[zennmotion]

If cleaned up, new bar tape, better saddle it would get some bids on Ebay. On the plus side is the 531 steel and it's lugged. On the minus side is the size (not the most popular 54-57cm sizes), the lack of graphics and decals, and a big minus is the French threading standards- the components are not top line for the age, and to upgrade would be time consuming and expensive. It would make a nice commuter or fixie though- but a headache for anybody not already familiar with dealing with some oddball obsolete threading :help:.

[zennmotion]

and give to a latino worker

Funny, I work near the Organization for American States and often park my beat up commuter Schwinn outside their building, and it's usually the only bike there. I wonder if you maybe meant to say something a little different or not at all.

[SamIAm]

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen.

I have decided to take possession of this and fix it up in some way that makes it useful and then give it away.

[Ahneida Ride]

you don't want it.
donate it to a local bike co-op or international shipping outfit.

A friend has a horse stable filled with old 10 speeds from the 70s and 80s.

They came and removed about 30 bikes.

[Lanterne Rouge]

I'd never turn down a free bike. I do so love a project. I see gravel in the future of that bike.

[redir]

Some people really like those old Moto's. It would fetch a couple hundred and more on a good day.

[likebikes]

A friend has a horse stable filled with old 10 speeds from the 70s and 80s.

They came and removed about 30 bikes.

they?

[charliedid]

thanks for the feedback gentlemen.

I have decided to take possession of this and fix it up in some way that makes it useful and then give it away.

+100

[rustychisel]

Funny, I work near the Organization for American States and often park my beat up commuter Schwinn outside their building, and it's usually the only bike there. I wonder if you maybe meant to say something a little different or not at all.


beautiful, chapeau! in fact.

one of the most elegant put-downs I've read.