60s Gitane 650B Convert Complete

[Scott D]

Well the bike is complete...for now, anyway.   I'll probably change the gearing and add a front light.

Before/After  pix here:

http://sexyracebicycles.blogspot.com/search?q=gitane

I bought the VO spring thingie, but the 4 mm bolt diameter was too small for the hole in the Gitane chain stay stiffener.  I picked up a 5 mm bolt at the hardware store and a heavier spring at a surplus store.  I also added one of those Mafac/Weinmann style countoured brake bridge washers for more support.  It's rock-solid and evened out the fender line and the fender springs out of the way when doing a wheel change. 

I also added the Viva bag clips to the bottom of the Ostrich bag.  It makes for an extremely solid bag attachment.

Scott Davis Mpls. MN

[rcnute]

Cool!  What's the bb height?  That's the problem I ran into on my PX-10.

Ryan

[Scott D]

I didn't think about the BB height until now.  Outfitted with Grand Bois 650B x 38 tires,   it measures about 26.5 cm or approximate 10-1/2."

Scott Davis, Mpls, MN

[Brad]

I will have to take some nice pictures of my two Gitane conversions.   The Nervex lugs on a Gitane are rare.

They just fit my body.  Shared genes from the west of France I think despite an intervening  350 plus years.

[Mark in Beacon]

Love that acidy chartreuse green with the Nervex. Nice conversion. Have you had that water bottle thing long? Wonder how it will hold up. Looks a bit goofy though. I glue some old inner tube to the back of those basic strap clamps, works good, looks good. And the pump?

On Monday, July 30, 2018 at 6:01:06 PM UTC-4, Scott D wrote:

[Scott D]

Yes, that bottle cage will probably be changed.  Scott

[mitch....@gmail.com]

On Monday, July 30, 2018 at 8:41:50 PM UTC-6, Mark in Beacon wrote:

Love that acidy chartreuse green with the Nervex...

That's the original color of my Gitane, bought new in the mid 70s, and it's great to see it again. I wonder how to match it if I had mine repainted? I didn't appreciate the chartreuse back then as a dumb teen-ager and had it painted red. After more than 40 years regular use I've had it re-painted twice more.

First time I've seen Nervex on a Gitane--very cool. 

Also nice to see the Stronglight crank--mine developed a crack a few decades ago so it got this Nervar replacement that allows some low gears. Also nice to see Nervex on a Gitane. I've considered a 650B conversion since Raids would reach I think, compared to the MAFAC Racers it has, and it has room for BSP between chainstays. 

--Mitch

in Utah

[Mark in Beacon]

It's a pretty tough color I think. I tried to have my L'avecaise done in a sort of Legnano (maybe a bit more yellow than the Gitane) but it went in another direction, more flat. I think you need a base coat color and a top and then a clear, at least. Anyway, would certainly be worth a shot next time you take it in for a repaint, Mitch. Then you just need another 20 years of wear and patina and you're good to go!

[Ray Varella]

I’m not certain but those old paints may have been lacquer. It was common to use a base coat of gold or silver and then shoot the lacquer color coat and it would give the paint depth and interesting hues. 

Rivendell recently did a nice green with some depth and there is a Jeep color green that has a similar depth to the riv color. 

Might start with that paint number and add a bit of yellow or gold to it. 

Ray

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Ray Varella

IAABC Parrot Division

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[Chris Cullum]

On Tue, Aug 7, 2018, 19:51 Mark in Beacon, <absolut...@gmail.com> wrote:

It's a pretty tough color I think. I tried to have my L'avecaise done in a sort of Legnano (maybe a bit more yellow than the Gitane) but it went in another direction, more flat.

Now we need a photo of your L'avecaise. I'm sure it looks pretty nice too.

I think you need a base coat color and a top and then a clear, at least. Anyway, would certainly be worth a shot next time you take it in for a repaint, Mitch. Then you just need another 20 years of wear and patina and you're good to go!

On Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 4:56:25 PM UTC-4, mitch....@gmail.com wrote:

That's the original color of my Gitane, bought new in the mid 70s, and it's great to see it again. I wonder how to match it if I had mine repainted? 

--

[Mark in Beacon]

It came out more of a "bamboo green" which was fine. Unfortunately, there was an issue with the paint curing, and it had to be redone. I did it in a "Cinelli Silver." But I sold it when I ran into a bit of a money jam. Here it is in green: 

As with most objects where the final color was achieved with multiple coats of more than one color, it had a good case of metamerism, and between daylight and incandescent, it was two different colors.

[Vinny Boombatz]

I have a very similar Gitane that Im collecting 650b pieces for. May I ask what kind of clearance you're left with on 38mm's? Also what size fenders are you using? Finally, anything you would do differently if you had to do it over? Cheers, Vinny

On Monday, July 30, 2018 at 6:01:06 PM UTC-4, Scott D wrote:

[Dave Feldman]

Only prettier Gitane I've seen is my D500--nice job!

David Feldman

Vancouver, WA

On Monday, July 30, 2018 at 3:01:06 PM UTC-7, Scott D wrote:

[Mark Bulgier]

Dave Feldman wrote:

> Only prettier Gitane I've seen is my D500

Huh, all I see is grandiose claims with no proof -- POIDH!

Give us bike porn!!

Yr humble servant,

Mark Bulgier

[Sukho Goff]

That is a sweet bike. Love the Kiley light on the post idea. One of the best riding frames I've ever had was a too small for me 1970 Tour de France. I converted it of course and it swallowed up Hetres nicely. Reynolds 531 and pencil thin seat stays. That bike taught me what planing was (as I understand it anyway). I don't seem to have the option to post pictures from my phone, or else I would.

Sukho in PDX

[Tim Potter]

We would love to have photos of this conversion on our 650B Facebook group:
https://facebook.com/groups/176464743064553

Tim Potter
Okemos, MI. USA

[Matt Jacobs]

Scott, could you speak a little more to the Vaya clips that hold your Ostrich bag to your rack? I like those bags but have heard that they aren't super stable, and it sounds like this could be a good solution.

[Scott D]

Dream Bike of Japan Easy Bag QR Clips

First,  I was mistaken in naming the company   They were  not made by Viva, as I thought.The  Japanese  maker is Vélo du Rêve.    It's French for "Dream Bike." The clip model is EB, which is the English abbreviation of "Easy Bag."

Second, you're absolutely right, Matt.   The Ostrich bag was quite unstable without clips and  using the included rack strap just added an annoying rattle

So far, the Easy Bag QR clips are holding the Ostrich bag rock-solid on my  Gran Compe Mini-rack.

Just an FYI,  the diameter of the EB clip opening is about 8.5 mm.   The GC rack tube diameter is about 5 mm.   I thought this would be problematic and that I'd need to shim the rack tubes with duct tape, but it holds the bag tightly without it. 

Regarding mounting, it is recommended to mount it with the rack off of the bike.   However, I mounted it with the rack still on the bike. The rack is bolted to the fender and brake.  It took me too long to find that sweet spot for fender-rack and tire clearance!  

VR  has a very good installation explanation with photos.  I drilled through the plastic Ostrich bag bottom stiffener and added washers to each side of the cotton duck fabric.

Here is a translated link to the VR EB installation instructions:

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fvelodereve.web.fc2.com%2Feb%2Feb.html&edit-text=&act=url

If anyone is interested in the VR EB clips, I still have a few sets.   

*Set of 2 QR clips is $33 shipped in the USA

Ostrich 104 Bag in Khaki green is $100 shipped in the USA.

Contact me at 

francopedia at gee male dot com   Thanks

Scott Davis, Minneapolis, MN USA

[Eric Nichols]

Re: Velo de Reve bag clips, also available through I’s Bikes where they are sold as Grand Bois rack clips.

I have them on several bags and really, really like them. They add significant stability and make mounting and dismounting the bag very easy.

On tall handlebar bags, they supplement the decaleur. On short rack-top bags, they take the place of Velcro straps. On virtually every bag I have that had Velcro straps for the rack, I've cut off the straps and replaced with these clips.

The clips work best on bags that have an internal stiffener, to provide the clips with a secure foundation.

For racks with smaller diameter tubing, I wrap some silicone tape around the tubing at the clip attachment point to prevent rattles.

Eric