New build: Le Porteur de Viande Mystère
 

Yep, I went ahead and decided to get mixed up in a French bike. Mon dieu.

With my luck with French machines, I should have named this thread Le Porteur de Merde, but those of you who follow WGB may remember this thing was part of his "Mystery Meat" threads. Thus, Viande Mystère it shall remain.

This is a placeholder for tomorrow's arrival from BikeFlights, provided UPS didn't run over it, so here are some pictures I stole from WGB's thread and a few that bertinjim sent me. I'm getting the frame and BB only.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ae68c0a753.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...59422d411f.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bb67f942ce.jpg

It's a PX10 of questionable vintage, with dropouts that indicate a post-'73 build (from what I've read) and a threaded bottom bracket port that suggests a 1960's bike. And a BB with a serial that makes no sense - 69962.

Thankfully, I don't care. The plan for the build is to see how well it converts into a relatively fast porteur build from curiously suitable spares kicking around. If I like it, I'll have it re-sprayed in the old 1960's blue and yellow, a-la PLX10 - but with porteur bars and fenders.

Think this (pic: Bikeville thoughts: Cool Shop Bike: late 1950's Peugeot PX-10):
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...85662cff23.jpg

Mixed with this:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21e002a848.jpg

But the goal is to get it into a ridable pile of merde first. Once again, I plan on making copious use of the parts that came off the plastic-lugged abomination that is this Union-badged Polycarbonex. It turned out to be a treasure trove of bits, with Weinmann 700C rims (gotta clean 'em!) and the 25.0 steel porteur bar that was in the 25.4 SR stem.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d03f5b49f3.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ecedd6a220.jpg

I also plan on trying out the Altenburger dual-pivots that came on it. Part of the plan is an attempt to drill them for tighter Oillite bushings to stiffen them up on the pivot studs. Don't know if it'll work or not, and I'm not that concerned if I screw 'em up.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...83e81a54fd.jpg


A pair of Cane Creek 200TT levers came on some bars I ordered for my '80 Raleigh Sports, so those will be used as-is for now, and polished later.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...61e8e7e4d2.jpg

-Kurt

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...19684ddd43.jpg
Poor mans version.

Looks like the frame pumps must be kin.

-Kurt

it works for me but drives some folks crazy. Cant wait to see your progress. That frameset color looks great.

The orange or the blue?

-Kurt

I saw the photo and thought "hey it looks just like my basement!!"

PS love the quote "Thankfully, I don't care". Best attitude to start a project, 100%

the orange paint seems to be in good shape and looks great
I would just paint the headlugs and seatstay caps black and add decals

Ah, vis zis becauze ofz aur supverior vasemehnt dvuzplication mazcheen!

True, this is going to be a pure Roadkill Garage build. Throw it together, let it fall apart, make it better later :P

That's an excellent idea, really - but:

A. The blue and yellow is pretty much the only reason I like the idea of this build.
B. This third hole in the headtube probably won't be obscured by the headbadge. If I have it filled with silver, it'll ruin the orange.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b431032e69.jpg


Nevertheless, it's going to get built as-is initially. Plan might change.

It's out for delivery now. :speedy:

-Kurt

1. Attach parts
2. Ride
3. Goto 1

the orange.

The Viande Mystère has arrived.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...548e1399e9.jpg

#1: My hopes for reycling a stem won't work - it's too short. Unless this was supposed to be a 1940's English club build, it doesn't "work." Not to mention that the TA Pro 3 Vis really does look like a Williams cottered crank from a distance. I already have an Italian bike trying to be French, I don't need a French bike trying to be British. Plus, the cockpit looks quite cramped.

#2: Only the front Altenburger fits. I'm not convinced it looks right, but without fenders, nothing looks right.

#3: I'll take that a step further. Upright bars make a lugged frame look weird unless there are fenders. Unless it's a flat bar, in which case, it raises the look to "abomination" status. But I've gone so far off track now that I'm not even talking about this PX10 anymore...

#4: Anyone have some hammered 700C fenders? I have a set of Velo-Orange stays here, and would only need to rustle up some mounting hardware.

#5: The Weinmanns have Mallard hubs laced in. Quite appropriate. For whatever reason, the front spokes are 14g, but the rear spokes are 12g (!). Also, these are nutted axles so the spare Q/R axles sent to me for the Raleigh Pro Mk.IV won't go to waste. Or I could be really cute about it and put on wingnuts. I like that idea, come to think of it.

#6: I don't have a French headset.

#7: Damn Simplex hanger.

#8: Yes, it's a Phil BB, and I finally got to confirm that my presumed-Phil-BB-tool-not-marked-as-a-Phil-BB-tool really is a Phil BB tool.

#9: In the original Mystery Meat thread, WGB said the seatpost hole was 26.0mm. T-Mar pointed out that this was the only detail that contradicted it from being a PX10. I put a bore gauge down the seattube just past the binder slot to check. I took a couple of measurements and kept coming up with 26.5mm in all directions, right up to the top. Except if the gauge was pointed towards the left ear. The tubing appeared to be kinked inwards there. I pried it out slightly, then ran my reamer (set to 26.3mm) down the tube. It removed a bit of material from the left ear and cleaned up the rest of the tube. Now a 26.4mm post fits in there smooth as butter - as it was supposed to.

#10: I rather like the look of the Pro 3 Vis on this. In fact, it's the only part that looks nice on it so far.

#11: The third hole in the headtube just might be the one in the middle, so an original badge may hide the third hole after all.

#12: There are a couple of small surface rust bubbles in the paint, but this is an exceptionally nice paint job. It's not my idea of a color, but it may have to be - I don't think I can bring myself to change it. Decals alone may suffice.

#13: This thread is worthless without PXtures.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f9ce1adb82.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...82d68e0334.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a54e42f49f.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8dd5c0cf84.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f592379a4.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fd72a4fc65.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...215fb60d01.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1221081507.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...361bf1deb3.jpg


-Kurt

Just threw this [crappy] Photoshop together. Makes me feel a lot better.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c9d88f443c.png


-Kurt

No pictures, but a few updates:

• LBS owner is scrounging for the fenders I have in mind for this thing. If all goes well, he gets a rough modern 3-speed (built out of spares from the Spin project, but with a different frame), and I get the fenders. Darn things are missing their hardware though, so more spares from the Polycarbonex will be put to use.
• I dug up a pair of ancient aluminum axle wingnuts I've had kicking about. No idea what they were for, and they were just under M8 in size. Well, not anymore. They work perfectly on the Mallard front hub.
• Anyone have a 46t or 48t TA Pro 3 Vis chainring?

-Kurt

What a difference a stem makes. Almost looks good without fenders!

Also, BFisher offered me some interesting no-name French brake levers for a Sturmey hub, so I said "why not?" Turns out they might even be a better overall fit for the look than the reverse Cane Creeks.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...788ea8bba8.jpg

Distinct and classy.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9471551636.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...338708d917.jpg

The aforementioned wingnuts. Seems like the whole theme of this build is "parts that could impale you in a crash."

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8c81f23d8e.jpg

-Kurt

:thumb: The stem, wingnuts, and those levers form a pretty cohesive look.

Yep, it's an orgy of roughly-cast, French aluminum parts :lol:

-Kurt

Nothing a bit of spit and polish doesn't fix. :P

OMG, but what about the purity? The paTEA-nah? The originalishmishness?

:lol:

-Kurt

cudak888-

Those are CLB brake levers, I believe. This is looking really interesting.

Thanks - they sure have the same triangulated appearance of the reverse levers.

I know I'm going skinwall, but I've been considering increasing the tire size to 28C. The LBS is still looking for those fenders, but I've identified them as the Handsome Cycles Mud Butlers.

I'm almost tempted to skip the LBS fenders for a set of the Velo-Orange hammered fenders in black. Not sure if black anodized fenders were a thing on 1950's French bikes though - might look too retro-modern.

-Kurt

cudak888-

Cheap and available has its points but hammered fenders would be totally period correct as would larger section tires.

I know 28C's 32C's (thanks, nlerner) are about as far as I can push it given the chainstay clearance. Both the LBS fenders and the alternatives are all hammered.

I think the wingnuts, stem, brake, and crankset all indicate that silver/polished aluminum is the secondary color of this bike. Black, hammered fenders would be over the top.

-Kurt

"Black, hammered fenders would be over the top." But would silver hammered fenders?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e8baefa999.jpg

That dropout is a 60s one, unless Velobase is in error:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ba62a7a7.jpeg
VeloBase.com - View Single Frame Part
Nice frame! I wouldn't call it mystery meat -- methinks your palate is not sufficiently adapted to the joys of french bicyclette cuisine. Might be a case for ASPCFB rescue.

That's what it's going to be. And if the LBS doesn't follow through on that trade, I'm selling the flipper bike and putting the proceeds directly to a pair of hammered fenders.

Given the opportunity though, I think I'd prefer a set of hammered Honjos than the VOs. Much better looking pattern.

In the original thread, T-Mar indicated that these represent a second variation of that dropout:Now, there's nothing I have a bigger gap on than French bits like these, and I really haven't researched it. I'll have to do some digging. But backing up your point is this picture of a 1967 PX10 with what appears to be an identical tabbed dropout: https://www.flickr.com/photos/28267220@N05/4675436497/

Another point is that the finish on this bike - while not perfect, is miles ahead of most bike-boom PX10s. In fact, if it weren't for a glob of brass left on one of the stay caps, and some brass that wasn't filed off one of the peaks on the lower Nervex lug, I'd say it's not far from some second-gen Schwinn Paramounts!

WGB applied the Mystery Meat moniker. I think it's a fairly amusing name for it in French. Or at least until a better name presents itself.

-Kurt