Friday, April 12, 2019

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - A loved bicycle with a lot of cool changes over the years!

This is Joel's Gitane Tour De France, a fantastic bike.  There is actually more to the story than just Joel's Gitane because after the Restoration the Gitane made it back to the original owner Robert Janke.

What I love about the Gitane is how Robert built it up.  Robert road the bike everywhere, so much so that major components would actually wear out.  He would go into the bike shop and say give me the best possible replacement component.  This made for an awesomely eclectic collection of components.  The Gitane still has its original tubular rims with Campagnolo Record hubs.  The brake calipers where replaced with Dura Ace first generation calipers.  The Original Stronglite crank is in place.  Dura Ace brake elvers, a Suntour Cyclone rear derailleur.  Just an awesome collection and that is what I love.

The frame is the Gitane Tour De France, a pretty famous frame with Reynolds 531 tubing.  Hard to beat the light blue and chrome!

This is the stuff I really love and couldn't wait to test ride it!

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - After Restoration
Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Joel presenting the
Gitane to Robert!

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Handlebars

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Dura Ace Brake Caliper

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Fork Crown

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Campagnolo Record Wheel Hub

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Wheel Rim

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Stem

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Shift Levers

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Top Tube

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Down Tube

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Saddle

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Reynolds 531 Decal

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Stronglite Crank

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Campagnolo Front Derailleur

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Seat Lug

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Dura Ace Brake Caliper

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Sun Tour Cyclone Derailleur

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Hub

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Seat Tube

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Seat Lug

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Drop Outs

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Fork

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Fork Crown

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Fork Blades

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Fork Blades

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Before
Fork Blades

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Head Tube



Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Seat Lug

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Chrome Stays

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Fork

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Fork Blades

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Headset
& Bottom Bracket Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Handlebars Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Brake Levers

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Stem Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Handlebars & Stem
Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Handlebars Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Stem Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Stem Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Dura Ace Brakes
Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Brakes Exploded

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Stronglite Crank Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Crank Exploded

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Campagnolo Derailleur

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Derailleur Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Derailleur Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Derailleur Exploded

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Suntour Cyclone
Derailluer

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Cyclone Derailleur
Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Exploded

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Brackets & Stops Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Seat Post & Saddle
Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Seat Post & Saddle
Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Seat Post & Saddle Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Seat Post
Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Brake Levers Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Headset Cups Pressed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bearings Packed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Headset
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Headset
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Headset Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Stem & Handebars
Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Handlebars Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Stem Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Brake Levers
Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Cockpit Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Cock Pit Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Stem
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Dura Ace Brake Calipers
Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Dura Ace Brake Calipers
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Dura Ace
Caliper Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Dura Ace
Brake Caliper Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Brake Calipers
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Stronglite Crank Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Crank Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Crank
Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Crank Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Derailleur Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Deraileur
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Derailleur Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Suntour Cyclone
Derailleur Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Suntour Cyclone
Derailleur Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Derailleurs Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Brackets
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
 Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
 Before Hub

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
 Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
 Before Rim

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
 Before

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
 Before Hub

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
 Before Hub

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
 Before Rim

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
Old Grease

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
Old Grease

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
 Polished Hub

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
Hub Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
  Rim Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
 Hub Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
  Hub Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
  Rim Polished

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
  Bearings Packed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
 Bearings Packed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - New Tubular Tires

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Front Wheel
 Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Rear Wheel
 Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Wheels Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Campagnolo
Derailleur Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Derailleur Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Freewheel
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Freewheel
Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Drive Train Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Saddle
Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Saddle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - New Tape & Hoods

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Tape Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Brake Lever Installed

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Tape Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Handlebar Tape Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - New Cables
& Housing

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Robert the original owner saw the Gitane after restoration and fell in love with the bicycle all over again so Joel passed the bicycle back to Robert where it belongs.  Out of all the good history of the Gitane that might be the best part!

I love how the Gitane turned out!  Such a classic look and such nice components.  Just perfect!  Test riding the Gitane it went like the wind.  So nimble, so quick, like a cloud!  I love it!

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Handlebar Tape

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Stem

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Dura Ace Brake Caliper

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Campagnolo Record Front Hub

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Front Rim

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Stem

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Suntour Shift Levers

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
New Pin Stripping

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Drive Train

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Stronglite Crank

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Suntour Cyclone Derailleur

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Dura Ace Rear Caliper

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Campagnolo Record Rear WHeel Hub

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete

Joel's Gitane Tour De France - Bicycle Complete
Waiting for the snow to stop!!


Thank you!
John Z.

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