Tag Bernard Hinault

Bicycle Makers, Gitane

Gitane History: A Timeline of Key Racing and Corporate Events

Gitane took its name from founder Marcel Bruneliere's own nickname, given to him by his wife for his constant continent-spanning dealmaking, and applied it to bicycles beginning in 1930. This timeline traces the marque's Tour de France triumphs under Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond through its eventual reduction to a licensed name on generic bicycles.

Eric Anschutz
July 4, 2026

Component Makers, Mavic

Mavic History: A Timeline of Key Events and Innovations

Key Events from the Company To capture the essence of Mavic is to look beyond individual patents and witness a century-plus cadence of innovation that has pulsed through the heart of Lyon since 1889. While our broader retrospective explores the…

Eric Anschutz
January 26, 2026

Component Makers, Mavic

Mavic History: The Ultimate Guide from Lyon to LeMond

The Golden Age of the Yellow Diamond: A Mavic Retrospective To the enthusiast of classic lightweight and vintage bicycles, few component makers evoke as much prestige and technological reverence as Mavic. Familiarity, too. Established in Lyon, France, in 1889, the…

Eric Anschutz
January 26, 2026

Bicycle Makers, Gitane

Gitane: The Dark-Eyed Wanderer

Gitane Bicycle Color Choices 1978 Catalog Page

“Gitane” is an unutterably lovely word if you speak French, both in sound and meaning. It is pronounced “zhee-TAHNN” and represents the more romantic of the French words for “gypsy.” There could not be a more evocative or euphonious name…

Richard Risemberg
February 7, 2018
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