Peugeot rebuild complete!

[Percy]

Thought I'd stick a couple of pics up of a project that's been on the go for a year or so - and finally completed today! I bought an old Peugeot frame for £20 that I planned to use as the base for a modern-specced road bike. I didn't initally plan on re-spraying it but there were a few belmishes/rust spots in the paintwork that I rubbed down and sprayed over... then it just looked stupid so I ended up doing the whole thing. It's a nice blue but the finish isn't great - if I love it after riding it for six months or so I'll get it properly re-sprayed.

I hand painted a couple of flag decals, just for fun really, that you can see in the pics. Red and white crosses on the rear seat stays (cos I'm English, innit) and a French flag on the top tube - because it's a French-made bike, I love France, and cycling in France, and one of my main aims for this bike is to ride all of the major cols of the pyrenees and Alps on it, so it's a little homage, if you like.

Kit is basically a SRAM Rival groupset, Look pedals, Mavic Aksium wheels. I wasn't aiming for the lighest bike I could make (obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have used a steel frame!) but wanted some quality components and a nice ride. I took it out for ten minutes earlier and (thankfully, as I'd not ridden the frame before) it rides beautifully. I have some tuning issues with the gears/brakes to sort out before I start hitting the big hills, but otherwise it's done!

OK, I'll shut up now. Oh, and yes, I know it's in the wrong gear

 

[gaz]

That blue is really nice

 

[brockers]

Peugeot. The provider of project bikes for practical people like Percy.

As you can see, I am wasted by not having a job in advertising.

That's a really nice build! It's great how you start thinking, 'Oh, I'll knock together something cheap, that I can use as a beater-bike', and then you end up lavishing more care and attention (and money) on it, than your posh, modern and expensive bike.

 

[david1701]

looks v sexy

 

[uphillstruggler]

that is a fantastic looking bike - congratulations on a job very well done

 

[zigzag]

I have some tuning issues with the gears/brakes to sort out before I start hitting the big hills, but otherwise it's done!

nicely built bike. i wonder i the brake pads are not sitting too high and rubbing the tyre? maybe you need deep-drop (57mm) calipers instead of standard sram.

 

[Percy]

nicely built bike. i wonder i the brake pads are not sitting too high and rubbing the tyre? maybe you need deep-drop (57mm) calipers instead of standard sram.

Thanks zigzag. And you are correct - the rear pads are *just* skimming the tyres and I'm not sure I can correct it fully. I wasn't even aware you could get deep drop calipers - will look into it. Seems strange as the front brake fits perfectly.

Edit - do SRAM make deep drop calipers? A quick Google hasn't produced anything solid.

 

[Pottsy]

I like that. Good choice of kit and nice looking bike.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Another member of the Pug club

This is my recent Pug project. All done for under £100 including the bike. Cheap hack really, had the saddle, tyres, tubes and pedals already. Added new cabling, bar tape, wheel bearings and a bloody good clean, lube adjust. Touched up a few rust spots and scratches. Weighs 10.25 kg without pedals, not bad for a basic Columbus frame.

 

[Manonabike]

Thanks zigzag. And you are correct - the rear pads are *just* skimming the tyres and I'm not sure I can correct it fully. I wasn't even aware you could get deep drop calipers - will look into it. Seems strange as the front brake fits perfectly.

Edit - do SRAM make deep drop calipers? A quick Google hasn't produced anything solid.

Lovely bike....

These black brakes are great value for money.

 

[Percy]

Thought I'd do a quick update.

I got some of those Tektra long drop brakes and fitted them yesterday - they fit perfectly. I'm slightly disappointed not to be using the full SRAM groupset but there's not much I can do about that - except use a different frame I guess, which sort of isn't the point. Incidentally, the Tektra brakes are so much easier to install/setup. They have an adjustment screw that I believe Shimano also use, to allow fine tuning of the caliper left/right to get optimum central position down to the milimeter (or less) that SRAM don't have . With the SRAM it's all done using the caliper bolt - not easy to get right!

So it really is now complete and brought me to work today. I think my ride position needs a little adjustment but otherwise it rides beautifully.

Thanks for all the comments!

 

[Alembicbassman]

If the brakes can only be centred with the caliper bolt try slackening the bolt, apply the brake, tighten bolt while brake applied. Hey presto caliper should be pretty much centred perfect.

Now converted to light touer with the addition of a Carradice seatpack

 

[thehairycycler]

Stupid Question coming but what do you mean by the wrong gear? is there a prefered gear for a bike when coming to a stop?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Stupid Question coming but what do you mean by the wrong gear? is there a prefered gear for a bike when coming to a stop?

One that makes it easy to start off from. If you are in top gear when you come to a top you will have the devils own job getting moving again. Think of it in terms of a car, changing down through the gears as you come to a standstill.

 

[Percy]

I was really more referring to (tongue in cheek) comments on other threads that imply that any picture posted of a bike should fulfil certain criteria - washing up done in background for example - and having it in the biggest chain ring on the front, to make it look like you cycle hard, I guess (as well as possibly for aesthetic reasons). Bit of an obscure in-joke I guess

Nothing to do with practical issues! Although, obviously, having it in the right gear to move off does tend to help, but I'm guessing most cyclists sort that out naturally, when approaching a stop/finishing a ride.

Another serioius answer is that there are two 'wrong gears' on a bike - big front, big back and small front, small back. You shouldn't need to use these when riding anyway, as ratios crossover, but it's really not a good idea due to twisting/over tensioning of the chain, and on some set ups small-small can aggrivate the rear derailleur. But then you all probably know all that anyway.