Dear Ty "newbie", Welcome..... Your newly purchased Gitane has Simplex rear drop-outs if I'm not mistaken.... I did an archive search by typing in: Gitane and Simplex and came up with 303 hits..... You will have to filter through the articles.......but one member says there was a problem with the Simplex drop outs breaking. The chromed Simplex drop outs sure look pretty. Some of the older Gitanes had Campagnolo drop outs which is found on only the top models of old Gitanes. French threading can be a bit of a challenge. Some folks recommend brazing up the bottom bracket and retapping for English threads....... At least you didn't have to pay to terribly much for the frame. Good luck with your project. If nothing else it will make a great piece to hang on the shop wall! I own two old Gitanes.....One list member Stephan A. also has a website dedicated just to Gitanes (go to CR,go to France,go to GITANE). I will try to post the link from the CR website Fantastic web site devoted to Gitane by Stephan Andranian http://www.gitaneusa.com Yours truly,
Martin O. Walsh in Vienna,Va.