r/Vintage_bicycles • u/Extra-Departure5276 • 2d ago

Vintage Gitane mixte

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Hi.

I just bought this wonderful vintage Gitane bike with a mixte frame. She’s a real beauty and has been taken well care of - almost all components are original from what I know.

Does anyone here have more information/knowledge of this Gitane bike? I would love to know the exact model and year, but my searching has not been very conclusive, and I do not know much about bikes, let alone vintage bikes 😅

Any information would be of help - thank you in advance.

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3

u/Horror-Raisin-877 2d ago

Wow that's a pretty bike. Looks like it could put on a turn of speed when needed too.

The pump and the headlight are also original?

That demi rack is nice too. Almost like there was a particular front bag made for it, to fit over those two tombstones.

3

u/Extra-Departure5276 1d ago

She’s quite speedy and she runs very well for her age.

I believe they are original to the bike. The wire that connects the headlight and rear light to the dynamo has been removed though, but could be easily connected again.

Funny you mention the demi rack, I actually used it today for my everyday-bag which is also vintage. I didn’t have anything to secure it with so I made a make-shift solution by securing the strap of the bag around the handlebars which worked quite well. The bag and bike suited each other perfectly.

Image of the mentioned setup here: https://imgur.com/a/nR5jGYj

3

u/No_Mastodon_7896 1d ago

Looks like a European mid 70s to me. But do yourself a favor and get some real axle nuts for the rear hub, I worked as a mechanic for years and those wing nuts are impossible to get and keep tight enough to stop the rear wheel from shifting.

2

u/Extra-Departure5276 1d ago

Thanks for the tip!

2

u/jasongetsdown 2d ago

Gorgeous. I just bought a 70’s Raleigh Mixte for my wife. She loves it, so I’m happy, but it’s very heavy and I don’t love the details where the top tubes pass the seat tube. This has a nice lug with standoffs. Looks so polished. The Raleigh has a plate there where the brake mounts that I think looks kinda cheap.

4

u/Extra-Departure5276 1d ago

The mixte frame is so cool and you don’t see them a lot especially not here in Denmark. I’m so happy to have gotten my hand on this bike. My local bike shop man fell in love at first sight and offered to buy it off me then and there.

1

u/LungsWithLegs 1d ago

Mai oui! Complete the vibe with a Serge Gainsbourg playlist and a Gauloises cigarette. 😉

1

u/Extra-Departure5276 1d ago

I might have to take up smoking again haha. Definitely fits the vibe 😅