A post mother's day special ...
For Sale: Gitane Professionnal Tour De France - Service Course, 49cm seat tube and 52cm top tube, both taken center to center, dark green, made with Reynolds 531 tubing. Takes 700c wheels. This is the version with Simplex gears and unmarked but perhaps Simplex forged dropouts. An unnamed CR member, Gitane fan, and information documentation specialist, noted that this bike could be from the very late 1960s or very early 1970s (early in the Gitane TdF era), because of some features that I have now forgotten the specificity of! One I remember is the brake calipers with the older Dural Forge markings? Ask me to ask him again, if you want to know what those features are! I did note however, a stamp on the inboard side of the Simplex rear derailleur pulley cage: S 72. Does this mean 1972?
The bike came to me with Campy wheels and cranks that were obviously not correct, so they have been plundered ... hence, NO cranks or wheels included.
Frameset does include: Stronglight French threaded headset and bottom bracket (118.5mm spindle), Mafac Dural Forge center pull brakes and levers with white half-hoods, Nitor 26.2mm seatpost with red glider pieces in the clamp assembly, Pivo faux lugged aluminum 90mm stem with unmarked but likely Pivo aluminum 37mm bars (o-o), Simplex derailleurs, shifters and clamp-on guides, Huret top tube brake cable clips, and an unmarked but Simplex looking binder bolt. I suspect the cables, casings and bar wrap are all original, and in restorable condition.
The decals on this bike are in outstanding condition, compared to what you might expect of a bike that saw little use, but some exposure. There is rust on some of the more poorly chromed Simplex bits, while some other chromed bits still look excellent. The jockey wheels on the rear changer are shot ... broken from age or exposure, I think. The paint has a few marks, but it isn't horrible, and I'd image that the solid color scheme would make a touch-up less complicated. I've wiped it down, but not cleaned it with water or any cleaner, in any way. I expect deep cleaning will make it look even better than its already impressive condition. No pictures yet, but will gladly take some quick shots if asked (even if you are not looking to buy the bike). Again, let me note ... there is rust visible on the Simplex fixtures.
Asking $150, plus actual FedEx delivery, which should likely fall somewhere between $25 and $45 for different destinations in the continental US. International or overseas shipping will also be, the exact USPS cost only.
I can find a set of Campagnolo Gran Sport wheels that need servicing, to throw in for an additional $50, should the buyer be interested. Thanks for reading...
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI USA
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