Conference noted::bicycle

>    	I recently picked up a rather aged Peugeot for $30.00.  I realize
>    that by today's standards they'yre pretty unimpressive, but compared to

As a former Peugeot (& others) dealer, I'd say you probably done good. 
There were quite a number of models thru the years, depending on the 
equipment, frame, etc. About the only way to date it without calling the 
P-factory in France (they might not know or want to bother, anyway...) 
would be to take a stab by looking at the decals, components, etc. on 
the bike, presuming they're original. Especially in recent years, most 
bike manufacturers have decided that bikes need to have ugly decals; if 
your bike has tasteful ones, it's probably more than 10 years old :-).

                                           ken

    THANKS - Let's see, it's green, not many decals or much chrome.  It's
    got a Simplex rear derailer and a Simplex front derailer.  Brakes are
    center-pull by Mafac.  The seat is leather.  I can't quite make out
    the markings, but it might be Alga 28A.  The decal that might have had
    some model info was worn off by the water bottle clamp, and all that
    remains is "RECOR...".  Higher on the tube is another decal that says
    "TUBE SPECIAL ALLEGE PEUGEOT".   If anyone can provide any info I'd be
    real interested in hearing about it.  

hey, you sound like me!  i started riding a couple years back 14 miles 
round trip to work, on an 18 year old peugeot.

it was bought in 1972 and has number 07114028 stamped on the left rear 
dropout.  this would make it newer than yours, yes?

it is blue.  steel.  seat tube has the tube special allege peugeot decal 
plus a 6" peugeot decal in the middle.  down tube has a long peugeot decal.
top tube has some decorative decal. the saddle is ideal, leather.  brakes 
are mafac "racer".  simplex shifters and derailuers.  pedals are lyotard. 
steering stem is ava.  front hub is normandy.  rear hub is ? (made in 
france).

this cost $200 in '72.  it was a respectable bike.  it is very long, 42" 
axle to axle.  it is heavy, 31 lbs.  it never breaks.

i would repair yours as needed to keep it running well.  i put a new 
derailuer on the front.  a new wheel on the back, steel of course, same old
freewheel.  high psi tires (90).  one pedal is wired together.  to
reiterate, it runs great and shifts great. 

i wondered whether to upgrade it or buy new this year and bought new.  it 
isn't worth trying to make a good bike out of a frame and components that
old.  but i still ride the peugeot when it looks like rain for the commute. 
and it makes a great guest bike, even if i ride it.  i put around 2000 
miles on it in a couple of years; it sounds like a lot but it adds up.

so i guess my advice is, fix it and ride it.  you have to get to know a 
sport so you'll know what you want when you want better....then you buy a
composite.  :^) 

craig

Thanks for the details - your bike (and the one in .3) sound fairly 
typical of the ones sold in the early 70's, when I was in the biz. Now, 
from memory, the models (gasp...) and early 70's prices, best I can 
recall.

U-08 - probably the most popular model. Cottered cranks (pin&nut hold 
the crank arm to the bottom bracket axle), QR wheels, steel wheels, 
Simplex deraill., French cranks, hubs, pedals. About 135-140$.

A-08 - cost reduced U-08, only front wheel QR, cheaper pedals (?), etc. 
110-120$.

PR-10 - cost INCREASED version of the U-08 - I think this might've had 
alloy wheels and a low-end cotterless crank. About 190$. Possibly had a 
non-butted 531 frame. Saw very few of these.

PX-10 - Entry level racing bike. Good stuff. Had the better Simplex 
stuff, sew-up wheels, NICE Stronglight cranks, DB 531 frame, alloy bars, 
better pedals, etc. Around 250-275$. STILL wish I had one. Comparable to 
the Gitane Tour de France of the same era.

Anyway, probably have been other models since then, possibly some never 
made it our way. Hope this helps...
                                         ken

    Thanks for all the info.  I didn't realize it was quite that old, but
    considering the age, I guess it's in pretty good shape.  The rear
    derailer shifts very nicely & with the exception of the front derailer,
    which regularly throws the chain, and a sticky pedal, everything seems 
    to be in really good working order.  This weekend I'm going to replace
    the pedals & fix that front derailer, and . . . oh yes, get a helmet
    ;-).  All in all, it seems like $30. well spent.  I'm on my second day
    commuting to work & loving it!
    						joe

    I'm still riding a PX-10 that I bought in 1975.  I've gone to Time
    pedals, and recently installed a Mavic crank and BB (heavier than the
    stronglight!!), newer derailers.  But its still going strong, and I
    gasp everytime I look at how much it would cost to replace with a new
    machine.
    
    Barry

    I was just re-reading my base note & can't believe that I've only been
    riding for 6 weeks today!  It seems like I've been doing it forever!
    Just as an update, after riding for a week or so, I was pretty much
    convinced that this was for me, and also relized that the Peugeot,
    whcih turned out to be a 62cm, was a tad large.  I went out and sold my
    motorcycle, which I seldome used anyhow, and bought A properly sized
    road bike for myself, one for my wife, and a mountain bike for the
    rough-road commute to work and bad weather riding.  I managed to sell
    the peugeot for what I paid for it to a fellow with longer legs than I.
    It was a nice bike, but I like my Shogun A LOT better 8^)