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Gitane Restomod

1980s Gitane – Reynolds 531c

Picked up this frame from a seller that a former roommate left behind. I was looking for a new project and was drawn by the Reynolds 531c construction and Campagnolo components. Looking into Gitane history, I found out that their bikes were supplied to the Renault Elf and Systeme U racing teams from the mid 1980s and decided to build the bike up as a homage to those teams and their leading rider, Laurent Fignon.

So, on with the build! I stripped the frame, treated the surface rust, applied protectant, and touched up the chipped paint. I kept the components that came with it: Centaur 10-speed brifters, carbon crankset, Record Titanium rear derailleur, and Chorus front derailleur. I sourced the Centaur brakes from eBay. Keeping the component build Continental, I added Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheels—generously donated by my sister along with the new cassette and chain—Selle Italia Boost saddle, and 3T stem. I do concede that the yellow accents on the wheels might be too matchy-matchy, and I normally don't go for bling like the gold chain. But I do like how it turned out.

One hitch: I can't confirm the model or year of the frame. I started a discussion on bikeforums.net to mine that community’s deep knowledge in hopes of getting specific details. No luck yet, but I’m certain of one thing: that it’s a Gitane.

As far as the ride, I'd say that it's on the quick side of neutral, predictable but lively. I was a little surprised by how buzzy the ride felt, getting a fair amount of road feedback. I might chalk that up to the really stiff wheels and the 25mm tires inflated to 90psi (although I have similarly stiff wheels and 25s on my Lemond, which feels noticeably smoother). Plus, I have no experience with 531c, so this might be typical.