Re: [CR]Newbee Fork Question, also talk about old bikes, Now: Dropouts

Here is a link to a photo of my Gitane with those dropouts. http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2006/cc090-mitchharris0306.html It's a 1976 model called Racing Team that was introduced when they dropped the Trour de France model for a time (to the chagrin of US Gitane dealers who did well by that model). My Gitane is 531 DB throughout and came french-equipped--Jubilee/Stronglight--as you can read in the text. The unusual dropouts are labeled Huret on my bike, and I haven't ever seen thes e labeled Simplex. The same dropouts came on the 1976 Gitane Interclub model as you can see in the catalogs posted on the http://www.gitaneusa.com website. Note, however, that the 1970 catalog was considered current throughout the 70s and the 1976 catalog available on the site is a supplement issue and doesn't show all the models they were selling in the USA. My Gitane had no braze ons originally and you'll need to find a cable stop for the chainstay among other things. The eyelets were not threaded on my Gitane either, and have larger than ususal eyelet openings.

You should be able to find a french headset, or just French threaded upper cup and lock nut to mate with the remainder non-french headset parts. Frenc h BB should not be difficult to find--look for BB cups labeled 35x1. Or use a non-threaded BB as suggested by another poster. Dropout der hanger is threaded on my Gitane, although I believe the threads have a different pitc h than other hangers which I gather from the way a Campy N.R. will begin to thread into the hanger and then get difficult to thread further. I didn't try and stuck with the Huret Jubilee. Get the fork first though and find a chromed one so that you paint it to be half chrome like the stays.

Mitch Harris Little Rock Canyon, UT

On 4/26/06, Daniel Artley <dartley@co.ba.md.us> wrote:
>
> Welcome to the list Ty. Its a good thing you joined. I'm not sure that' s
> a Gitane you've bought. All this talk of non threaded Simplex dropouts
> don't match the link shown. It's supposed to be a Gitane, and I know I'v e
> seen those dropouts once before, but they aren't the Simplex dropouts
> we're all used to seeing on Gitanes and Peugeots. They're notched like a
> Campy and have a number of lightening cutouts in them and vertical. Can' t
> tell from the pics, but the hanger might be threaded. Can the cognoscent i
> have a look at this? It may not even be a French frame for all I can
> tell, lugs don't look like any Gitane's I've worked on, and its a repaint ,
> no decals.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dan Artley
>
> Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=classicrend ez
> vous.10604.1458.eml
> From: "Ty Rilleau" <kayakboy32(AT)adelphia.net>
> Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:27:30 -0400
> Subject: [CR]Newbee Fork Question, also talk about old bikes
>
> Hi everybody. My name is Ty Rilleau and I love the classics. I am a
> third generation leather worker and have a solid appreciation for
> function and form, not necessarily in that order. I saw this Gitane
> frame on The Ebay and had to snatch it up. Primarily for the rear
> dropouts. My primary question is how I would find a suitable fork (60
> cm frame). I don't care about anything but function, as price is
> starting to factor in. My second question is have I gotten over my
> head
> in terms of compatibility. Does anybody have any info on how to get a
> good bb, or the headset threading, or the (fill in the blank). I would
> love any info on the frame too. You help is greatly appreciated.
> Thanks, Ty
>
>
> Link---
>
> http://ebay.com/<blah>
> pagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1