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Gitane bike

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01 / Original postGitane bikeShaw News · 6 Sep 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–9Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #9Shaw News · 10 Sep 2003

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Original section
Road Cycling
Published
6 September 2003
Last activity
10 September 2003
Original author
Shaw News
Posts
9
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  1. Original post
    Shaw News
    Archived post
    #1

    Hi all,

    does anyone know anything about a Gitane Champion Road bike. Made in mid 80's (1985), light blue
    Vitus Frame. all components are made in france or belgium. 12 speed. I am trying to restore it. is
    it worth the effort?

    thanks -C

    Report
  2. Nick Burns
    Archived post
    #2

    "Shaw News" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi all,

    does anyone know anything about a Gitane Champion Road bike. Made in mid 80's (1985), light blue
    Vitus Frame. all components are made in france


    or

    Quoted message said:

    belgium. 12 speed. I am trying to restore it. is it worth the effort?

    thanks -C

    Vitus frame or tubeset?

    Report
  3. Tom Kunich
    Archived post
    #3

    "Nick Burns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Shaw News" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi all,

    does anyone know anything about a Gitane Champion Road bike. Made


    in mid

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    80's (1985), light blue Vitus Frame. all components are made in


    france

    Quoted message said:

    or

    Quoted message said:

    belgium. 12 speed. I am trying to restore it. is it worth the


    effort?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:


    thanks

    Vitus frame or tubeset?

    Vitus was a steel tubing manufacturer at that time. It seemed a little strange that they were also
    making glued aluminum bikes.

    The Gitane in Vitus tubing is a mid-level bike. Don't put a lot of effort or expense into
    restoration but bikes at that time DID feel very nice to ride. Often better than modern bikes.

    Report
  4. Shaw News
    Archived post
    #4

    I think it is Vitus Tubing.(not frame) I am trying to figure out what needs to be replaced. It has
    steel wheels (awful heavy) plus the fact that they are 27" size.... Also noticed that being a french
    bike, a lot of things are not standard size.

    it has some nice features, but not nearly as nice as my girlfriends Rossin Record (full campy, circa
    '83) It is such a light bike.

    "Tom Kunich" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Nick Burns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Shaw News" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi all,

    does anyone know anything about a Gitane Champion Road bike. Made


    in mid

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    80's (1985), light blue Vitus Frame. all components are made in


    france

    Quoted message said:

    or

    Quoted message said:

    belgium. 12 speed. I am trying to restore it. is it worth the


    effort?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:


    thanks

    Vitus frame or tubeset?

    Vitus was a steel tubing manufacturer at that time. It seemed a little strange that they were also
    making glued aluminum bikes.

    The Gitane in Vitus tubing is a mid-level bike. Don't put a lot of effort or expense into
    restoration but bikes at that time DID feel very nice to ride. Often better than modern bikes.

    Report
  5. Art Harris
    Archived post
    #5
    Shaw News said:

    I think it is Vitus Tubing.(not frame) I am trying to figure out what needs to be replaced. It has
    steel wheels (awful heavy) plus the fact that they are 27" size.... Also noticed that being a
    french bike, a lot of things are not standard size.

    I can't believe it has steel wheels. Are you sure they're not polished aluminum?

    Art Harris

    Report
  6. Richard Adams
    Archived post
    #6
    Art Harris said:
    Shaw News said:

    I think it is Vitus Tubing.(not frame) I am trying to figure out what needs to be replaced. It has
    steel wheels (awful heavy) plus the fact that they are 27" size.... Also noticed that being a
    french bike, a lot of things are not standard size.

    I can't believe it has steel wheels. Are you sure they're not polished aluminum?

    Art Harris

    Probably taken from one of those beastly old Scwhinn Varsities.

    Report
  7. Shaw News
    Archived post
    #7

    Yup... i am almost certain that it is steel wheels. the front has a serrated brake surface. it makes
    an awful sound when breaking...

    "Art Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Shaw News said:

    I think it is Vitus Tubing.(not frame) I am trying to figure out what


    needs

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    to be replaced. It has steel wheels (awful heavy) plus the fact that


    they

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    are 27" size.... Also noticed that being a french bike, a lot of


    things

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    are not standard size.

    I can't believe it has steel wheels. Are you sure they're not polished


    aluminum?

    Quoted message said:


    Art Harris

    Report
  8. Tom Kunich
    Archived post
    #8

    Throw the wheels out post haste. Even with the serrations they brake about as well as if they were
    sprayed with automatic transmission fluid if they get even a ghost of moisture on them.

    "Shaw News" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Yup... i am almost certain that it is steel wheels. the front has a serrated brake surface. it
    makes an awful sound when breaking...

    "Art Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Shaw News said:

    I think it is Vitus Tubing.(not frame) I am trying to figure


    out what

    Quoted message said:

    needs

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    to be replaced. It has steel wheels (awful heavy) plus the fact


    that

    Quoted message said:

    they

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    are 27" size.... Also noticed that being a french bike, a lot


    of

    Quoted message said:

    things

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    are not standard size.

    I can't believe it has steel wheels. Are you sure they're not


    polished

    Quoted message said:

    aluminum?

    Quoted message said:


    Art Harris

    Report
  9. Shaw News
    Archived post
    #9

    that is what I was thinking. i wonder if I will be able to find 27" wheels anymore....

    "Tom Kunich" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Throw the wheels out post haste. Even with the serrations they brake about as well as if they were
    sprayed with automatic transmission fluid if they get even a ghost of moisture on them.

    "Shaw News" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Yup... i am almost certain that it is steel wheels. the front has a serrated brake surface. it
    makes an awful sound when breaking...

    "Art Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Shaw News" wrote:

    > I think it is Vitus Tubing.(not frame) I am trying to figure


    out what

    Quoted message said:

    needs

    Quoted message said:

    > to be replaced. It has steel wheels (awful heavy) plus the fact


    that

    Quoted message said:

    they

    Quoted message said:

    > are 27" size.... Also noticed that being a french bike, a lot


    of

    Quoted message said:

    things

    Quoted message said:

    > are not standard size.

    I can't believe it has steel wheels. Are you sure they're not


    polished

    Quoted message said:

    aluminum?

    Quoted message said:


    Art Harris



    Report

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