Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Gitane!

Now here's a name you don't see or hear much of anymore. Gitane bikes were ridden to Tour Wins and/or World Championships by greats like Anquetil, Stablinski, Van Impe, Hinault, LeMond and Fignon. I found one (either a Grand Sport Deluxe or Tour de France model) at a flea market in Scranton, PA back as a kid and convinced my dad to buy it for $15. He rode it for quite awhile and I think it still sits somewhere back home in a shed, garage or barn. Amazing how a name like that can fall off the map into obscurity after such success. A quick run to GitaneUSA reminded me of that old bike. I guess they still exist as a company, barely.

2 comments:

Buzz de Cafe said...

Speaking of old school . . .

Bianchi is bringing back steel:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7560362@N05/sets/72157607475671149/with/2885989814/
http://bianchiusa.com/09_road_steel.html

John P. said...

Wooohooooo! That is sweet! They'll probably charge a bomb for it. I saw Schwinn is making a special anniversary Paramount in Steel also. That's another bike I wouldn't mind having.

Gotta love bianchi's celeste green color.