Well...the topic last week inspired me to take out my 1985 Gitane and race it, which I did last night.
Worked great - had a blast. My lead outs for our sprinter were evidence that the bike is only as fast as the engine! I have attached a picture as evidence...granted it was during a lull in the storm (I am on the left side of the picture, of course).
The bike is mostly super record, with C-record hubs and brake levers and Simplex shifters. Note the pretty but deadly Benotto bar tape - very disco, yes???
Stephan Andranian
Costa Mesa, CA