[CR]My favorite Aero Bike

(Example: Framebuilders:Norman Taylor)

Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:12:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Stephan Andranian" <sandranian@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <BAY102-F62A7C2CDDED058F126678D6ED0@phx.gbl>
Subject: [CR]My favorite Aero Bike

Yep...a Gitane. In particular, the bizarre TT bike that they created in 1984 (actually, the frame was done a bit earlier, but in 1984 they added the "hammerhead" bars). Most "funny bikes" of the time had sloping top tubes with 650c front wheels. Gitane tackled the problem differently. They used a 650c front wheel, but the top tube was straight. The strange handlebar design (wing like, with the cow horns at the ends) was attached to the steerer through a cut out in the head tube. They used the same bike...same design with different stickers and color schemes all the way through 1988 (the end of Gitane's Systeme U sponsorship). Perhaps Fignon would have saved 8 seconds with that bike in 1989, instead of riding a round-tubed Raleigh?

The tubing was all oval, with internally routed cables. Early versions (prior to 1984) often mounted the front brake behind the fork crown. Hinault used bikes with "backwards" brakes to TT with.

Very cool...I have only seen one on French ebay in 5+ years of looking. I still want this bike...if anyone knows anyone with one, please let me know!

Pictures of it can be seen on the Gitane club page in the pictures folder at: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/cyclesgitaneclub/

PS: What did I ride this morning? My 198(5) Gitane, 531p w/full campy super record...and kept up just fine with the group of alumin-carbo-fibre wunderbikes.

Stephan Andranian
Costa Mesa, CA