[CR]Early 80's Gitane

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

From: <JohnBirkin@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 19:31:08 EDT
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Early 80's Gitane

Thanks to all those who provided information on how to remove the seized seat post from my early 80's Gitane. I haven't had an opportunity to do it yet, but I shall be going to the store to get some ammonia -- the consensus is that's the way to go.

I am told this bike is a 1982 model and I plan to return it to its original state -- removing non-standard braze-ons and putting it back to its original colour. Does anyone have some photos that will help this process or know where I could find them on the internet? Particular questions relate to the chrome front forks which have Campag ends and might not be original (the 20-year memory of the original owner is that they are, but the person who bought it from him and sold it to me says that the original owner changed them) - the threading is English. The frame tubing is reputedly Columbus SL. Did these bikes have gear lever braze-ons? The first owner was a time-triallist and added an "aero" lever braze-on on top of the down tube, but I don't know if it had bosses on the side of the downtube to start with. The equipment is Super Record with 26.4 mm seatpost. The rear dropouts are a bit like Campag except that they have an integral derailleur cable stop -- does anyone know what they are and whether they are still available (the RH one is a bit mangled and the adjusters have been drilled out oversize)? Would new Campag ends be out of place? I haven't had the bottom bracket out yet (it is a FAG cartridge unit, well stuck in) but I suspect that it is French threaded.

Any help will be much appreciated -- it seems like a bike worth saving with a very sound and straight frame except for those rear dropouts.

John Birkin
Sussex, UK