This bike is worth the sum of its parts, less a discount for removal, dismantling, cleaning and throwing away any bits that are no good. Unless it is free, it is too expensive for restoration to its original state. $100 seems generous to me considering that I didn't pay a whole lot more for a tatty but original example.
Although this is one of the less prepossessing bikes in my stable, it is one of the nicest riding with its 531 French size butted tubes and 73/71 head/seat angles (I think). The frame quality is, nevertheless, cr*p with an unfilled gap between the downtube and bottom bracket and a generally poor standard of finish. The Stronglight crankset is nice and I quite like the other original parts on mine -- Mafac Competition brakes and plastic Simplex derailleurs which work silently and well.
BTW, I have several bikes with Mafac brakes and am plagued by tizzling levers. Has anyone devised a good fix for this (or am I the only one suffering)?
Hugh Thornton Staffs, UK
>From: David Falkowski <dfalk57@yahoo.com>
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Gitane Tour de France
>Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 17:54:06 -0800 (PST)
>
>Hello fellow list members,
>
>I could use some help placing a value on an early 70's
>Gitane Tour de France. This bike belongs to a friend,
>so I want to be very fair about my offer. The original
>simplex and mafac parts are gone. I will try to
>describe the bike as well as possible. Here goes:
>
>- Frame: all original, light blue color, some rust,
>chrome fork ends, chrome simplex dropouts. reynolds
>sticker unreadable.dcals missing. needs a good clean
>up.
>- original stronglight super competition headset
>- original stronglight crank
>- ttt record stem
>- ttt record bars
>- dia-compe levers w/ gum hoods
>- dia-compe gran compe brakes
>- original campy hi flange hubs
>- mafac montlery tubular rims
>- dry rotted schwinn sew ups
>- 5 speed freewheel (?)
>- campy clamp on dt shifters w/ big gnurled lockrings
>- shimano crane rear der.
>- suntour v-compe fr der.
>- campy seatpost w/ 3 position clamp
>- non working zefal competition pump
>- plastic avocet touring saddle
>
> I mostly want the frame for an inexpensive fixie
>project. Could use the components elsewhere.
>Thanks in advance for any advice.
>Gilbert, if your reading this, I'm bringing it in to
>North Road on Tuesday for some free advice.
>
>david falkowski
>Raleigh,NC
>
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