Re: [CR]CR- Explaination-Durifort Vrs Reynolds/ Gitane Interclub

(Example: Production Builders:Tonard)

From: "reelfishin" <reelfishin@netzero.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <102.43f78749.2dc48112@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]CR- Explaination-Durifort Vrs Reynolds/ Gitane Interclub
Date: Sat, 1 May 2004 05:20:47 -0400


There is an early 70's Gitane catalog posted at http://www.bikepics.s5.com/photo.html The Interclub does indeed list Durifort Tubing in the ad text on the Interclub page. It is discribed only as seemless lightweight steel on the spec page.Only the Tour de France, Super Corsa, and Gran Tourisme are listed with Reynolds 531 tubing.

Joe McKishen
Vineland, NJ


----- Original Message -----
From: CYCLESTORE@aol.com
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 12:26 AM
Subject: [CR]CR- Explaination-Durifort Vrs Reynolds


Hello Fred Rednor and CR Folks,

Looking over some old Email before it is deleted and found the Text Below.

Some clarification before some Durifort/Reynolds assassins shank me at the Cirque.

Fred I must have mis communicated some text below to you. The Bike in question had a Reynolds Decal but features Durifort Tubing on the downtube. The thread talked about this earlier. The bike I spoke of was misrepresented by accident or design and is sort of a little counterfeit IMHO.

Reynolds 531 is English and Durifort is French, they are not related and I did not mean to imply that. While Reynolds 531 is much higher regarded and more expensive (especially in France) they have somewhat similar weights and performance I suspect in some grades and gauges that they share.

Gitane Interclub reference was a little joke. This model was often advertised in the early 1970's as being built with Durifort Main tubes as I recall. I know of no Gitane Interclub built with Reynolds tubing but they may exist. Have seen lots of interclubs and never saw any Reynolds tubing on any.

I hope this is a clarification.

Enjoy the cirque.

Gilbert Anderson Raleigh NC

Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 22:18:48 -0700 (PDT)

From: Fred Rafael Rednor <fred_rednor@yahoo.com>

To: reelfishin <reelfishin@netzero.net>,

classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Subject: Re: [CR]Re: CR Reynolds tubing?

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I think Joe's message and the other recent ones that relate to

identifying Reynolds 753, etc. hint at the reasons why builders

of quality frames have frequently left off decals and insignias

for the tubing used in the frames' manufacture. If a frame is

light, strong and properly aligned, does it really matter

what's on the decal? Consider, too, that there are frequently

legitimate reasons for using different types/grades of tubing

in the same frameset.

There are lots of misconceptions on this subject. Remember

e-Richard Sach's constant reminders that 531 is a meterial

specification rather than a tubeset? By the way, one of the

messages in this thread - Gilbert's I believe - mentioned that

Durifort is a special grade of Reynolds 531. My recollection

is that Durifort was made by the same manufacturer as Vitus,

perhaps before the company was called their tubes Vitus. I

think it's akin to Columbus Cromor or perhaps even Reynolds

501. But whatever the tubing used in those Gitane frames, it

didn't prevent him from enjoying those bicycles and I'm sure

that once the frames were built into complete bikes, the

weights were essentially the same regardless of which brand of

tubing was used. Of course this assumes that equivalent

wheels, cranks and derailleurs were mounted on the frames.

Best regards,

Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia


--- reelfishin wrote:


> Were all Gitane Interclubs Reynolds tubing? I have
> an early 70's model that has no tubing decal. I am
> guessing it to be somewhere from '68 to '73 by the
> decals and components. One thing that stands out on
> this frame is the oversized seat stays, about 15mm
> in diameter. It seams pretty light, but it
> has no sign of any tubing decals.
>
> Joe McKishen
> Vineland, NJ

<<we filed off a downtube cable stop near the bottom bracket.
> The Reynolds
> sticker was low on the seat tube. After sanding a bit it
> seemed the braze
> had
> flowed in the letters and they stood out beautifully in a
> golden hue and
> the
> letters spelled out D-U-R-I-F-O-R-T. This is an extra
> special, ultra
> lightweight
> model of Reynolds 531 used in many Gitane Interclubs as I
> recall.
>
> Very nice tubing indeed.
>
> Yours in Cycling,
>
> Gilbert Anderson

Yours in Cycling,

Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Company
519 W. North St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
USA
Toll Free Ph: 800\u2022321\u20225511
Local Ph: 919\u2022828\u20228999
E-mail: cyclestore@aol.com