Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration

I found this Gitane in a barn in Wisconsin last winter in a snow storm, I found a few other bicycles in the barn but this Gitane really caught my eye.  The Gitane Tourist is in really rough shape but it has very cool character.  I really like the handlebars, the curved brake levers, the unusual looking brake calipers and of course the original fenders.  These are things you just don't see often and thats what I like.

The Gitane is very rough as I said, it took a lot of work to break the bike down and some of the parts are not usable.  A complete restoration is in order with all new cables and cable housings, new tires and tubes, new bearings, new rear derailleur, new shift levers, new saddle and I am sure a few other new things I am forgetting.  I am still debating on building new wheels or restoring the original wheels.

I original tried to save the original paint and I did a pretty good job bringing the paint back but all the paint chips really bugged me so I put the frame on a hook for months while I thought it over.

With the new powder coating equipment I have I thought this would be the perfect frame to start test runs with.

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before - Handlebars

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before - Stem

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Brake

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Wheel Rim

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Post Decal

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crank

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before - Pedal

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before - Chain Guard

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Brake

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Fender

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Derailleur

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Wheel

The Gitane was incredibly difficult to break down, many parts where frozen and stuck, I eventually got everything broken down.

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before - Head Tube

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Tube

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before
Drop Outs

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

 I did a heck of a lot of polishing and considering where the frame started it turned out fantastic but I was not happy with the frame paint.  The paint had way to many chips and scratched that they stood out against the color of the frame.

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Polished

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Polished

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration
Frame Polished - Rear

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration
Frame Polished - Chain Stays

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Polished
Polished Piant

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration
Frame Polished - Fork

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration
Frame Polished - Fork
Example of Chipped Paint

After sitting on a hook for months I decided it would be the first frame for the test run of my new powder coating equipment.  I had the powder left over from the Bianchi job I hired out.  I learned a heck of a lot with this frame but I probably should have not chosen a mixte frame with all the small tight areas.  Another challenge thing is under the paint frame there was a heavy texture to the metal, it looks like it was dipped in strong etcher before priming. I eventually got it down though and it looks good..

I stripped the paint and then had the frame quickly sand blasted at a friends.  Before I started the powder coating I cleaned the frame about four separate times with Acetone to clean it very well.  Any contaminates would mess up the application of the powder and the hardening.

I applied the powder and baked it I then applied another coat to help with the heavy texture,  Overall I am very happy with the results being the first test run, there are two spots i am not 100% happy with but in reality its not bad I am just really hard on myself.

The outdoor photos do not do justice to the powder coating and color, poor photos in poor light.

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Ready for Powder Coating

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Powder Coated

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Powder Coated

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Powder Coated
Head Tube

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Powder Coated
Seat Tube

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Frame Powder Coated
Bottom Bracket

With the frame powder coated I started work on polishing some components.  I really like the character and shape of the headset and stem.  I think the stem is one of the more beautiful stems I have seen,

Both the stem and headset polished beautifully and with new grease and bearings the headset spins wonderfully.  I love the look of the polished pieces against the bluish color.

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Headset - Bottom Bracket
Stem & Handlebars - Before

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Headset - Bottom Bracket
Stem & Handlebars - Polished

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Headset Cups
Pressed

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Headset - Complete

 The stem Polished so nice, I love the character and shape of this stem.

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Stem - Polished

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Stem
Installed

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Stem - Installed

 I love the shape of the handlebars, an unusual shape however with a ton of work and polishing they do not meet my standards, there is just to much pitting.  If re-chrome wasn't so expensive I would have them chromed but its not worth the price.  I replaced the handlebars with very nice Velo-Orange Porter handlebars, also a great look just different from original.

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Original Handlebars
Polished - To Much Rust Pitting

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Handlebar Comparison

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Velo-Orange
Handlebars - Installed

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Velo-Orange
Handlebars - Installed

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Velo-Orange
Handlebars - Installed

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Bicycle to This Point

I have a few decisions to make yet on the Gitane and progress will go a little slow as I work on customer bicycles but please check back to watch the progress.  I think its going to be a beautiful bicycle!!


I installed the freshly powder coated chain guard today.  the chain guard looks fantastic installed.  The new hardware also makes a huge difference.

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Chain Guard - Installed

Gitane Tourist Mixte Restoration - Chain Guard Installed
New Hardware