[CR]Gitane Hosteler & Gran Tourisme

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2003 15:35:45 -0400
From: "Martin O. Walsh" <mowalsh@erols.com>
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <1a6.12e35b5a.2bc5b8d4@aol.com>
Subject: [CR]Gitane Hosteler & Gran Tourisme

Dear Wes and CR list, It sounds like your "find" is a pair of reworked Gitane Hostelers. My old Gitane Hosteler is now retired to the "LARRY BLACK COLLECTION", in Maryland. According to my Gitane catalog from listmember James Narlesky, the two touring (randoneur) style Gitanes from the early 1970's DID NOT have canteliver brakes, rather they had "Mafac Racer Luxe" brakes. The Hosteler (31 lbs.) and the Gran Tourisme (25 lbs.) were the two touring bicycles in the Gitane lineup in the early '70's. The Hosteler frameset had seamless "lightweight steel", and the Gran Tourisme frameset featured Reynolds 531 double butted. The Hostelers were not very common and the the Gran Tourisme even less so. Both the Hosteler and the Gran Tourisme had fenders, front/rear racks, toe clips,straps,head/tail lights (generator),pump and kickstand. Hosteler Crankset: Durax 36/46/52 Gran Tourisme Crankset: CAMPAGNOLA 36/46/52 The Gitane Gran Sport was the entry level Gitane in the early 70's.Cost about the same as a Peugout UO-8 and the most common. The Hosteler cost about $130.00 in 1971 you had to place a deposit on your order and wait a few months for delivery,from Mel Pinto Imports shop called Sports and Cycles back during the BOOM (which doesn't seem that long ago). Yours truly, Martin Walsh in Vienna,Va. I still have my 1971 Gitane Interclub. I'm looking for ANY INFORMATION ON FOIL DECALS FOR GITANES FROM THE EARLY 70'S Wdgadd@aol.com wrote:
> Our town is having its twice yearly bulk trash collection day- always a
> good time to keep an eye peeled for interesting unwanted bicycles. I found a
> matched pair of old, maybe pre-1970 Gitane gaspipe "touring" bikes with the
> following:
> Brazed on dynamo bracket on seatstay, and brazed on wire guides
> A tubular chainstay bridge, not the horrible flat kickstand mount!
> A forged (maybe) flat top crown-lots nicer than the early 70's ones
> 3 pin Durax cottered cranks, with half step(46-50) type rings
> Lyotard 36 pedals, in really nice shape, even the dustcaps!
> Huret Svelto rear/Luxe front changers w/ long huret levers
> Mafac "Dural Forge" calipers (maybe these would to some extent date the
> bikes?)
> Normany large flange nutted hubs w/ steel 700c rims
> Ideale 39 saddles
> Nice steel fenders w/Lefol-esque mounting hardware +stays, in frame color
> Soubitez dynamo, front and rear lamps fender mounted
> neat little steel rear racks, in frame color
>
> I realize these are nothing of great value, but they're interesting, es
> pecially the steel 700c rims and Dural forge calipers. No hint of a model
> name, well preserved paint (flam. gold) and foil "decals". Could they be a
> Euro market bike? I don't think they're Hostellers- didn't they have cantis,
> a triple, QR hubs and a front rack?
>
> Best regards,
> Wes Gadd
> Unionville,CT