---- ===== Cycles Gitane ===== In 1925, Marcel Bruneliere, a blacksmith, started making farming machinery and bicycle parts in Machecoul, France. By the next year, Bruneliere was producing two to three complete bicycles per day for the existing Marbru brand. In 1928, Marcel started assembling his own branded Gitane((Gitane, pronounced "zhee-TAHNN", is the feminine version of Marcel's //le Gitan// nickname, meaning "gypsy")) bicycles, started frame building in 1940 and added motorcycles in 1950. Gitane bicycles have won at least ten grand Tours ((According to [[https://www.ebykr.com/gitane-dark-eyed-wanderer/|one source]] 11 victors of the Tour de France were riding on a Gitane, and many Giros d'Italia and Vueltas a España, plus over 1,000 other race victories.)) Despite their focus on road racing and occasional touring bicycles, Gitane started making their own mountain bikes in house using French Camus tubing in 1984 and did not import Asian frames for at least the next ten years. Early Gitane MTBs seem to be very rare, perhaps because the French populace was slow to adopt VTT's ((Vélo Tout-Terrain is French for MTB.)). \\ In 1976 Gitane was purchased by Renault and was soon producing 350,000 Gitanes per year. Gitane later merged with Peugeot and BH in 1992 to form [[https://www.cycleurope.com/|CycleEurope]], which itself was bought by Sweden's [[https://www.cycleurope.com/our-brands/monark|Monark]] in 2000, who assigned all race bike manufacturing to its [[https://www.cycleurope.com/our-brands/bianchi|Bianchi]] subsidiary. The Gitane brand continues [[https://www.cycles-gitane.fr/|today]], selling VTT's, touring and e-bikes in France and Taiwanese Gitane's in Australia. The former Gitane factory continues to assemble 400,000 bicycles per year, with all of the frames being imported by Asia. \\ \\ Info from: * [[http://www.gitaneusa.com/history.asp]] * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gitane]] * [[https://www-ouest--france-fr.translate.goog/pays-de-la-loire/nantes-44000/loire-atlantique-quand-l-usine-gitane-faisait-la-fierte-de-machecoul-86ec1268-e2bc-11e9-8f77-87ed688a14aa?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp|ouest archive]] * [[http://labibleduvelocataloguesgitane.blogspot.com/p/gitane-1984.html]] * [[http://www.gitaneusa.com/catalogues.asp]]

{{marcel.jpg?440|Marcel Brunelière, ca. 1960}} \\ Marcel Brunelière, ca. 1960 [[https://www.leparisien.fr/economie/sur-la-route-du-made-in-france-dans-l-aube-gitane-se-refait-une-jeunesse-22-08-2020-8371497.php|leparisien]]

---- ===== 1983 Verdun ===== "Fabrication Française", internally brazed frame, Sachs Huret Eco derailleurs, two front chainrings (32/48), Maillard Helicomatic 5 speed freewheel (14-30), Weinmann 900 center pull brakes, BMX style forks, bullmoose bars. Components date to 1983

{{1983.jpg?300|1983 Verdun }} \\ 1983 Verdun [[http://www.melivelo.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=22911&sid=bf36f4d8309f20c31f730c8037299868|melivelo]]

---- ===== 1984 Cyril Guimard ===== The name is a misspelling of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrille_Guimard|Cyrille Guimard]] who rode with Gitane and later became their [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directeur_sportif|directeur sportif]]((And whose riders won seven Tours de France under his direction.)). SR slingshot stem (1983), Sachs Huret Eco derailleurs, two front chainrings (32/48), Maillard Helicomatic 5 speed freewheel (14-30), Weinmann 900 center pull brakes, BMX style forks, Ambrosio rims and internally brazed frame. Components date to 1983. Nearly identical to the 1983, with an updated stem. Serial number: "Y2662 1 E035329."

{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Cyril Guimard }} \\ 1984 Cyril Guimard [[https://mountainbikemuseum.nl/en/mountainbikes/gitane-1748-cyril-guimard-807|mountainbikemuseum.nl]]

---- ===== 1985 Verdun ===== Almost the same spec as the 1984 with new colors. It's possible the years are off by one. "Fabrication Française", internally brazed frame, Sachs Huret Eco derailleurs, two front chainrings (32/48), Maillard Helicomatic 5 speed freewheel (14-30) Weinmann 900 center pull brakes, BMX style forks, bullmoose bars.

{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Verdun }} \\ 1985 Verdun [[ https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/interesting-gitane-with-bullmoose.439075/|retrobike]]

---- ===== 1986 Spécial ===== French Camus tubing, internally brazed, biplane fork, 3x5 gears.

{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Spécial }} \\ 1986 Spécial. Pic from 1986 catalog: [[ http://labibleduvelocataloguesgitane.blogspot.com/p/gitane-1986.html|labibleduvelocataloguesgitane]]

---- ===== 1988 Savane ===== Sachs Huret Classic 2000 (1989-1990?). This derailleur has also been found on other 1988 bicycles, so perhaps velobase is incorrect. Only found in the 1988 Gitane catalog, but was likely offered in 1987 as well. The green fade paint job was deliberate and predates [[klein:start#s1992|Klein]].

{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Savane }} \\ 1988 Savane [[https://www.velovintageagogo.com/t4820-gitane-savane|velovintageagogo]]

---- ===== 1990 Niagara ===== Columbus lugged frame sporting a [[lotus:start#steel|steel shoulder strap]], full Shimano Deore XT M735.

{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Niagara }} \\ 1990 Niagara. 1990 catalog: [[http://labibleduvelocataloguesgitane.blogspot.com/p/gitane-1989.html|labibleduvelocataloguesgitane]]

---- ===== 1991 Kenya ===== SunTour XCE 4050 (1990 only). It's possible that this is an Aussie/Kiwi only Taiwanese Gitane. Not found in any catalogs.

{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Kenya }} \\ 1991 Kenya [[https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/vintage-bikes/456746/gitane-gmt-kenya-mtb#fullscreen|bikehub.co.za]]

---- ===== 1992 Marathon ===== Shimano Tourney (1989-1995), Maillard hubs, "Fabrication Française"

{{1992.jpg?300|1992 Marathon }} \\ 1992 Marathon [[https://www-velovintageagogo-com.translate.goog/t22384-vtt-gitane-marathon-1991-92?highlight=gitane&_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp|velovintageagogo]]