Gitane Olympic Reynolds 531 road bike, 56cm - 1980
Gitane Olympic Reynolds 531 road bike, 56cm - 1980
Own a piece of cycling history with this 1980 Gitane Olympic, a pinnacle of French cycling heritage. This build is inspired by the one ridden by the legendary Bernard Hinault, also known as "The Badger," during his victorious run in the 1979 Tour de France. The Gitane Olympic was the production model of the renowned Renault-Gitane team bike from 1979 to 1980 and the Renault-Elf-Gitane team from 1981 to 1982, notably ridden by the young Greg LeMond, who would later redefine the sport.
This top-tier model reflects Cyrille Guimard and the Gitane cycling team's commitment to performance during the 80s. It features a 56cm frameset of lightweight Reynolds 531 steel tubing with Campagnolo dropouts. Weighing 21.56 lbs, the Olympic balances rigidity and flexibility, making it perfect for vintage collectors and performance-driven riders alike.
Key features:
- Frame & fork: Reynolds 531 steel, Campagnolo dropouts, 56cm, Gitane blue finish with patina
- Wheels: Campagnolo Record hubs, Mavic MA40 700c clincher rims, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
- Brakes: Campagnolo Nuovo Record caliper brakes and levers
- Cockpit: 3ttt bars and stem, Selle San Marco Concor Laser saddle, Benotto tape
- Drivetrain: Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleurs, crankset, and shifters
- Pedals: Sold separately
Mechanic's notes:
- The bike is pre-owned and is considered to be in good condition.
- The bike has been fully overhauled with new grease, bearings, and components torqued to manufacturer specifications.
- New chain, bar tape, Campagnolo brake hoods, Kool Stop brake pads, Jagwire cables and housing, tires, and Schwalbe lightweight tubes have been installed.
- Both the front and rear wheels are trued and tensioned.
- The 3ttt Record drop bars are polished and show signs of previously mounted handlebar accessories.
- Minor surface corrosion was noted in various places, including brake cable guides.
- The previous owner had lightly drilled into the backside of the crankset to remove the Campagnolo date codes.
- The chrome and paint finish on the frameset reflect the quality of Gitane's production and its age.
- The inside of the frame tubes has been coated with a frame saver (e.g., LPS 3 rust inhibitor).