Specification:
- Serial No: V 12085 stamped under bottom bracket
- Frame: Lugged steel; unknown tubing; Seat Tube: 60 cm ctt, Top Tube: 56.5 cm ctc
- Crankset: Durax Special Courses cranks; Simplex chainrings 52/47t
- Pedals: Lyotard
- Gears: Simplex Tour de France rear derailleur, 5-speed; Simplex Competition rod operated front derailleur.
- Wheels: later – to be changed.
- Brakes: Beborex callipers; Lefol levers
- Handlebars and Stem: tbd
- Saddle and Seatpost: Sylvia leather saddle on aluminium alloy seat post
Comments:
This bicycle is clearly a top tier racing bicycle from Gitane, believed to date from the early to mid 1950s. The company making Gitane bicycles registered as “Cycles Gitane” in 1952, so the head badge with Cycles Gitane on it probably dates this bicycle as 1952 or later. The chrome and much of the paint appears to be original and still retains some white pin-striping (see photos). There is no trace of the original decals – Please contact me if you have any images of original decals that might assist in developing reproductions
More Photos: (click on image to enlarge)
