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Comment by Moc Artsy on July 7, 2010 at 11:24am

Hello Sarah,
You should join the French bike group, because most of your maintenance issues will be more French bike specific than road bike specific: http://www.thechainlink.org/group/frenchbikes
If it is a 40 year-old bike, we are likely talking cottered cranks and other fun bicycle challenges, in which case you will want to hunt down an equally vintage repair manual. I found a copy of Basic Bicycle Repair by the editors of Bicycling Magazine (1980), which covers things like cottered cranks, center-pull Mafac brakes, and tubular tires--all things that might be relevant for a 40 year-old Gitane. Also, be sure to see the French bicycle page on the Sheldon Brown website: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/velos.html
There are other resources on the Chainlink French Bike group main page.

Comment by Sarah Holmes on July 6, 2010 at 9:40am

I just bought a vintage Gitane off a women who said she has had it in her possession for about 40 years. I am totally new to this road bike business. Could anyone help with resources on maintenance info ie: books, online sites, shops, etc. Obviously, the best way to learn is to just start playing around buuuut, I am open to any advice...

Comment by Hector on June 29, 2010 at 6:49am

Hello fellow cyclist.
I figure this would be a good place as any to post this.
Robert's Cycles in Rogers Park is looking for a female mechanic.
Need not be an expert but she needs to know how to handle tools and do basic maintenance.
Robert's Cycles is located at
7054 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60626
Ask for Richard

Comment by Michael A on June 2, 2010 at 4:06pm

I just found a gem off of craigslist, Guy wanted $250 talked him down from there to a bargain price. It is a teal colored RRB steel lugged frame with shimano components, Cinelli bar and stem, wolber rims, I added the white fizik saddle because that is what is on all my other bikes. I think I am going to change the pedals to the shimano collegiate spd/cage pedal. It is a 52cm

Comment by Julia on June 1, 2010 at 5:41pm

hells to the yeah,

Comment by Keith Lewis on May 26, 2010 at 1:43pm

@Michael A: The Colnago indicators are decals on two parts of the frame. Otherwise, it's all about Marcel Calborn. It says "CELO" on pretty much every piece. There are some more pics of the bike at http://www.pocketrebel.com/bike

Also, here's a link I found to the original catalog for this bike: http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/celo_europa

My understanding is that Marcel Calborn made these bikes for Colnago in the early to mid-80s.

I've had to change a couple parts out... the seat, but i kept the original seat. Pedals are changed out. Brake hoods. Brake pads, though I kept the originals for that too. One wheel seems to be original; the other is replaced. I'd actually like to change them out to something else, but they're ok. Handlebar tape... I actually changed to black tape now, and I regret it. I miss the yellow, even though a friend said it made it look like Ronald McDonald's bike. ;)

Some people say to maintain it in its classic condition, but this is my only road bike...

Comment by Bob on May 26, 2010 at 1:33am

Beauty! So, when are we going to have a vintage ride? I can bring my 74ish Rauler, which is an early sub-contract/collaboration bike by Colnago and Raul Gozzi. It has the Rauler pantos on frame and fork crown, but Colnago panto on the fork tangs.

Comment by Michael A on May 26, 2010 at 1:07am

Keith, Is the frame marked Colnago anywhere? Do any of the lugs have the Colnago logo cut into them, and is the rear brake stay a dice? Celo Europa was a distributor and had Colnago private label a frameset for them for sale in the US. A beautiful example.....It looks like your bike has campy record so replacement and maintenance parts should be available.

Here is my '84 master piu, with campy's c record, delta brakes, 8 speed cassette (thier first cassette) I do not ride it as mnuch as I used to, $120 tubular tires and ciity streets do not mix well. Every so often I do take her for a ride and she is still my favorite....

Comment by Bob on May 25, 2010 at 11:50pm

Nice! I agree, don't change a thing. Keep it original. Good maintenance is the best way to "upgrade."

Comment by jen on May 25, 2010 at 6:38pm

Keith your bike ROCKS! I am so Jealous!

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