[CR]Late '70s/Early '80s Gitane

(Example: Framebuilders:Pino Morroni)

From: <IKersey@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 13:23:20 EST
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Late '70s/Early '80s Gitane

I need help identifying a recently acquired Gitane from the late '70s/early '80s. It is obviously not a Super Corsa or TdF, but I'm intrigued by the (French) Reynolds 531 decal on down tube. Also:

Lugs have heart-shaped cutouts Fork is half chromed and has chromed fork crown Painted rear stays with strange geometric dropouts Rear brake-bridge has the same diamond shaped reinforcements on seat stays mentioned last week on this list Low-end Simplex black plastic and metal shifters (identical to ones on 70's Peugeot UO-8s) Simplex Prestige front derailleur and unidentified Simplex silver metal rear derailleur Shimano Maxy crankset MAFAC Racer brakeset with three Dura-ace top tube cable clips Guid drop bars with Pivo stem Nondescript headset Lyotard quill pedals Cheap plastic padded saddle Mavic tubular rims on Normandy Sport hubs

Any ideas on the model? Is this bike the equivalent of the Peugeot P10/PA10E/PR10L series? Am curious why they would mate low-end components with a Reynolds 531 frame (fork is also not seamed).

Ian "only 2 months 'til the Cirque!" Kersey Williamsburg, VA