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A Fine 23" Gitane "Professional Tour Du France" Frameset w/Extras - $220 (Pittsburgh)
N.Millvale Ave. near Dearborn St.
part type:
frameset (frame and fork)
condition:
excellent
make / manufacturer:
Gitane
model name / number:
Professional Tour Du France
size / dimensions:
23"
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...here it is: one of Gitane's finest steel framesets, an historic "Professional Tour Du France" offered here with beaucoup extras, toute, tres fine.
CONDITION:
is totally excellent. There is some slight cosmetic deficiency, but it it easily overridden by the total impression. The finish has received much touch up, but with a pricey enamel so special, its spread-ability left little or no trace of brushwork. The restorer just pretended he was Picasso and did not look back. The chromed fork ends and stays have only a few isolated blemishes; the decals, the same. The frame sports Campagnolo rear dropouts (with freely turning, perfectly straight adjusting screws(!) and Simplex fronts. It's headset is a Stronglight Model P3 and a rare thing of beauty. There are no structural issues of any kind. It's absolutely road ready and ready to complete.
THE EXTRAS:
-Fine Sakae Road Champion alloy drop handlebar and SR quill stem.
-Set of three matched Huret top tube brake cable housing clips.
-A NOS Huret downtube shifter cable housing stop. For thumb shifters or modern shifting brake levers, or replace with your favorite downtube shifter set.
-A NOS Suntour bottom bracket derailleur cable guide. Shown without nut and bolt. What an insult! Don't worry: it will be provided.
-A Campagnolo chainstay derailleur cable housing stop. A tiny thing, does a big job.
-A Campagnolo Valentino rear derailleur. Campy's humblest rear derailleur: it's been fitted with some CNC-machined alloy cartridge bearing pulleys in red to give it some street creds.
-A 175mm Campagnolo Mirage triple crankest. Very good looking overall. It's biggest ring, shows some effects of minor surface corrosion though its teeth are still fine. Smallest ring is S-R, not Campy. Middle ring is Campy and excellent.
-A Maillard Atom CXC cast alloy pedal set. French aero pedals from the 80's.
-A very good condition bottom bracket set (read its story below).
-A very good STRONG micro-adjust alloy seatpost.
-A Selle San Marco "Island" racing saddle, now unique with the newly-created, permanent cover shown. Cover, made from a very special, durable yet elegant material: not your average spandex! See final images for Before & After images. (Saddle cover service available: $20.00 per saddle. Feel welcome to inquire).
NOTES:
-IN TERMS OF BUILD COMPLETION: the hard work's been done. You would not have wanted to go there:
-The bottom bracket is French threaded. It's been completely overhauled and some poor condition original cups, replaced with good ones and a fine, more modern crank spindle added. The driveside cup was given a bit of locktite to overcome any tendency to precession.
-The Stronglight headset had the thickest, old, tar-like, aged grease from your worst overhaul nightmare. Yes, in a loose-ball headset, sacre bleu! Now all the bad is washed away and 50 tiny ball bearing have fresh grease and perfect adjustment. Did it take an hour? Two? Can't remember. Need to forget....
NOTICE: The frameset is equipped with housing stops for centerpull calipers, and that rear stop is held on a brazed-on frame bridge. Look closely and you'll see a special ferrule for the rear, held on with a twist tie: it's essential. Gonna switch to sidepulls? Save that precious ferrule and use its holder to carry a red rose to your true love.....
CONFESSIONAL: the new BB spindle might be just a few mm too long to achieve complete chain angle perfection in all gear combinations. Underline "might". You will want to stay with a 7- or fewer-speed cluster in back for best results.
>>ARE WE DONE YET? NO! PLEASE REMAIN SEATED.<<
INCLUDED, NOT SHOWN: though the perfect, period-correct build will be screaming for MAFAC Racer centerpulls, this seller is including the next best thing: a pair of Swiss Weinmann 610 Vainqueur 999 centerpull calipers, pretty cool in their own right.
AND....SPECIAL GOOD NEWS: this frameset (126mm rear spacing BTW) has room for much fatter tires that the norm: guessing 32c at least and very possibly 38. Imagine the possibilities...
INTERESTED BUYERS: ask about a budget wheelset for sale.
ALORS....Voilà l'histoire. Hope you enjoyed the ride.
Thanks for viewing. Your questions are welcome. Offers? Not so much unless they're offering more than the asking price.
For the love of Paris in the Springtime. Bon Velo!