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I bought an 1972 Gitane Tour de France frame, fork and headset several years ago. It had been rattle canned black, so I stripped it and had it pwoder coated red. I rode it for 4 or 5 years as a single speed, lately as a Gentleman Cruiser. It just didn't seem right.
I found that Cyclomondo on Ebay has reproduction decals, so I set out to restore the bike. Searching for proper French parts, I quickly became impatient and turned to my parts box. I was surprised that I could build up a nice period correct bike and only needed to purchase a few cable stops and clamps. I threaded and re-shaped the Simplex deraileur hanger to work with a Suntour Cyclone GT rear derailleur that I had. I learned that 68 mm bottom bracket axles work in French bottom brackets, so I installed a Shimano 600 Arabesqe Crankset. I had a set of Weinmann Vanquier Centerpulls that I rescued from bike in the trash.
Hubs are Campy Nuovo Tipo's I bought several years ago. Ebay vendor failed to say they were French threads and I failed to ask. They came with a nearly new but completely gummed up Cyclo 14-28 5 cog freewheel. Spokes and Mavic MA3 rims from the old single speed wheelset worked with the new hubs, but I had to use 4 cross lacing. I even had the brown handlebar tape from when I put Brooks Leather on one of my other bikes.
It was 73 degrees and sunny in St Louis, so I skipped out of work and went for the first ride on my rebuilt Gitane TdF. I love it. For a while my legs were back in the 70's.
Below are the pictures with the ubiquitous steel garage door.
I found that Cyclomondo on Ebay has reproduction decals, so I set out to restore the bike. Searching for proper French parts, I quickly became impatient and turned to my parts box. I was surprised that I could build up a nice period correct bike and only needed to purchase a few cable stops and clamps. I threaded and re-shaped the Simplex deraileur hanger to work with a Suntour Cyclone GT rear derailleur that I had. I learned that 68 mm bottom bracket axles work in French bottom brackets, so I installed a Shimano 600 Arabesqe Crankset. I had a set of Weinmann Vanquier Centerpulls that I rescued from bike in the trash.
Hubs are Campy Nuovo Tipo's I bought several years ago. Ebay vendor failed to say they were French threads and I failed to ask. They came with a nearly new but completely gummed up Cyclo 14-28 5 cog freewheel. Spokes and Mavic MA3 rims from the old single speed wheelset worked with the new hubs, but I had to use 4 cross lacing. I even had the brown handlebar tape from when I put Brooks Leather on one of my other bikes.
It was 73 degrees and sunny in St Louis, so I skipped out of work and went for the first ride on my rebuilt Gitane TdF. I love it. For a while my legs were back in the 70's.
Below are the pictures with the ubiquitous steel garage door.
