GITANE Tour d'Avenir 1975

Thank you Fumingator! There is something in me who always avoids mixing Japanese and European parts altough I really like Dura Ace, Suntour & co. The healthy mix - I dig this expression ! - is a result of budget and availability... but by chance I will clean it up someday. Beside that I heard that Gitane sometimes used to "built up theyr bikes with whatever they just had arround" - so this is about what I did... :)

It was a great oportunity to buy the frame in France and one of the main reasons (as far as there are any serious reasons buying another bike... ;-)) was the colour! You're so right about lugged steel frames - a modern bike can never be as beautiful as these old rides...

I used a NOS vintage pump clamb for the housing stop - I don't know yet if it's strong enough but no problems on the first testrides.

That housing stop is pretty ingenious but why not just get the correct cable guide and then you won't need the housing or the housing stop?

you're right but I didn't had something better at home. but will look out for a Campagnolo cable guide - anyone??

hey thanks for your comment! let's start with the tires -they're 22" and still in good shape so no need to replace them. There will be some Giro tires in 23 on the bike later anyway. The new wheelset will be almoust the same as the one on the picture. Gitane used to mix groups for all I heard.
I'm tall enough to reach the point of view OVER the cables and I don't like it when they are too short - you can always go shorter! For a first set up I let them always quite long and they did it this way back in the days also.
This Brooks saddle model first came out in 1936 - pre WW2 if you prefere -and was used by professionals for many years. Beside that I took what I had to complete the bike and for my opinion it fits fantastic. I also don't know too much about the original set up of the bike but if you know the saddle model they used, let me know.

...is a Ti Brooks Swift. It's comfort is pretty legendary, and it's probably the only relatively new component on the bike.

but with the rest you're so right -thanks!

I was looking at my Swift as i was typing that. But yeah, Swallows are awesome, and Ti ones are relatively light even.