>Gitane made Royal Asport and a few other brands of bikes but is anyone
>aware of an Aquila or Flying Dutchman connection to Gitane?
The Big Wheel also carried Pogliaghi... But mostly Aquila, Flying Dutchman, and Libertas.
I remember one conversation with Jack talking about the quality of American made frames being inferior to their European counter-parts. This would have been about 1991 or so. Of course, he was pushing his house brand and about that same time I think Pat Clark and Dean Kent started Clark-Kent bicycles.
IIRC there were some definite issues with over heating on some of those and he cited that line specifically:) Maybe a little dig and the Denver Spoke?
Anyway, those frames were pretty rough...
Mike Wilkinson
Castle Rock, CO