Originally Posted by
ramzilla
IMHO...I would be cautious about early 70's French bikes. Sometimes it can be very difficult to get new threaded replacement parts. A bent axle or a worn out freewheel can become a big problem. Bicycle parts became much more standardized approaching the mid 1980's . Most bikes made after 1986 or so have easy to find brand new replacement parts. If you're new to cycling and want something dependable I would recommend getting something a little newer.
Common sense, well reasoned advice. That post has wise advice. With older French bikes, threaded items will be French thread. Which makes freewheel replacement a challenge, and the axles equally so. And the French bikes of the day, usually had Simplex or Huret derailleurs, and the rear derailleur dropouts for those, if present will require alteration to handle better, more reliable Japanese equipment like a SunTour GT or vGT. On a daily commuter, you need easy to find mechanical wear parts. Bear these considerations in mind.