Hi,
A couple of friends and I have acquired ($50) a Gitane tandem bike. We have no idea exactly what age it is, and we really don't intend to 'restore' it. We would like to lighten the darn thing up though, and in contemplating that we have idly thought about what it must have been as original. I'll tell you what I can, and then ask if anyone has any info.
The frame is green, of a darker variety, but I don't know if that has changed with age. The frame uses the 'mixte' style tubing for the stoker. It still has the rear fender with a rack integrated into it. By that I mean that the rack supports the fender and the fender stays attach to the rack mounts, ... It has what I take to be the original cottered cranks.
What I don't think are original are the stem mounted Sun Tour ratchet shifters, the upright handle bars for both captain and stoker, and the suntour rear der. The seats are these horribly unconfortable vinyl covered things with black springs.
We think that the upright bars are not original due to the right brake lever which is for drop bars, and has two cables, one for the mafac cantilever rear, and one for the rear drum brake. The left lever for the front brake is some crappy plastic levered thing. It has pivo stems, with the rear one being the kind that clamps on the seat tube for the captain. Are these pivo stems going to cause trouble with finding bars that fit them? I haven't yet taken anything apart to check them out.
If anyone can supply any info, it would be appreciated.