1980s Spidel equipped Reynolds 531 Peugeot
10-14-20, 12:50 PM
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1980s Spidel equipped Reynolds 531 Peugeot
For anyone who isn’t tired of answering “Which model Peugeot do I have?” I’d really appreciate your input. PX? PY? PFWZQRS? I don’t know. For all of my Peugeot research I still can’t manage to make myself an expert. I can tell it’s quite nice! The frame has no decal to reveal a model name like the catalog photos do and I can’t seem to find a perfect match. A few near misses but nothing definite. The frame shows quite a bit of paint wear and some badly done touch-ups but I think it’ll clean up well enough. By the way it comes complete with a Helicomatic rear hub; I’m ordering the lock ring tool but some posters have me a little worried about weather I should keep it or not. I have a lot of experience with servicing hubs but have not tried my hand at Helicomatic. What should I watch out for?
As found a few months ago. I haven’t done anything to it yet. I did small test ride when purchasing it and that’s all I’ve ridden it.
Spidel headset
Spidel Simplex
6 speed Helicomatic
A couple of incorrect chairing bolts.
Some paint problems.
Some more paint issues in the bottom bracket area but really no rust.
Does this mean 1982?
My brother and I (both in our forties) are the same size and have such similar dimensions, and over the last several years we have together, assembled a small fleet bicycles that we share the cost of and rotate them between our homes. It wasn’t terribly expensive but it sure is nice to share the burden. After we service it, it’ll join that fleet.
This group has been great at answering my questions many times in the past. I’m grateful for any help you can give.
As found a few months ago. I haven’t done anything to it yet. I did small test ride when purchasing it and that’s all I’ve ridden it.
Spidel headset
Spidel Simplex
6 speed Helicomatic
A couple of incorrect chairing bolts.
Some paint problems.
Some more paint issues in the bottom bracket area but really no rust.
Does this mean 1982?
My brother and I (both in our forties) are the same size and have such similar dimensions, and over the last several years we have together, assembled a small fleet bicycles that we share the cost of and rotate them between our homes. It wasn’t terribly expensive but it sure is nice to share the burden. After we service it, it’ll join that fleet.
This group has been great at answering my questions many times in the past. I’m grateful for any help you can give.
Last edited by Pcampeau; 10-29-20 at 12:22 AM.
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10-14-20, 12:53 PM
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This is a nicer, more expensive bike than a stock PXN 10 as it has chrome rear socks and 531SL tubing. This is a PY10; nice bike for sure.
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10-14-20, 01:01 PM
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After looking at velobase.com it appears the cranset is a Campy copy that was produced by Stronglight. The FD and RD were made by Simplex. The brakes are made by Mafac. So what is the story behind Spidel? Did they actually manufacture anything?
Nice bike, BTW!
Edit: I found the following answer: From forum member CV-6
Spidel did not take over anyone. It was a top end component group formed by French manufacturers in response to Shimano, Suntour and Campagnolo who were producing complete groupsets. Mafac, Maillard, Stronglight, and Simplex were the main members. Later Modolo provided brakes for the groupset upon the demise of Mafac. Super Champion may have also been involved to a small extent, but I cannot say I have ever seen a Spidel rim. I have a NOS crankset with the arms marked Spidel and the rings still marked Stronglight. Obviously the venture did not fare too well.
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Nice bike, BTW!
Edit: I found the following answer: From forum member CV-6
Spidel did not take over anyone. It was a top end component group formed by French manufacturers in response to Shimano, Suntour and Campagnolo who were producing complete groupsets. Mafac, Maillard, Stronglight, and Simplex were the main members. Later Modolo provided brakes for the groupset upon the demise of Mafac. Super Champion may have also been involved to a small extent, but I cannot say I have ever seen a Spidel rim. I have a NOS crankset with the arms marked Spidel and the rings still marked Stronglight. Obviously the venture did not fare too well.
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)
10-14-20, 01:37 PM
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10-14-20, 01:38 PM
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10-14-20, 02:11 PM
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10-14-20, 02:30 PM
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Well now you’ve got a facilitator here in Minneapolis if you ever do find a need to go broke.
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10-14-20, 03:01 PM
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She's a beauty.
10-14-20, 04:37 PM
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After looking at velobase.com it appears the cranset is a Campy copy that was produced by Stronglight. The FD and RD were made by Simplex. The brakes are made by Mafac. So what is the story behind Spidel? Did they actually manufacture anything?
Nice bike, BTW!
Edit: I found the following answer: From forum member CV-6
Spidel did not take over anyone. It was a top end component group formed by French manufacturers in response to Shimano, Suntour and Campagnolo who were producing complete groupsets. Mafac, Maillard, Stronglight, and Simplex were the main members. Later Modolo provided brakes for the groupset upon the demise of Mafac. Super Champion may have also been involved to a small extent, but I cannot say I have ever seen a Spidel rim. I have a NOS crankset with the arms marked Spidel and the rings still marked Stronglight. Obviously the venture did not fare too well.
__________________
Please do not "like" my posts. This isn't Facebook.
Lynn Travers
Nice bike, BTW!
Edit: I found the following answer: From forum member CV-6
Spidel did not take over anyone. It was a top end component group formed by French manufacturers in response to Shimano, Suntour and Campagnolo who were producing complete groupsets. Mafac, Maillard, Stronglight, and Simplex were the main members. Later Modolo provided brakes for the groupset upon the demise of Mafac. Super Champion may have also been involved to a small extent, but I cannot say I have ever seen a Spidel rim. I have a NOS crankset with the arms marked Spidel and the rings still marked Stronglight. Obviously the venture did not fare too well.
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Please do not "like" my posts. This isn't Facebook.
Lynn Travers
The Spidel component consortium was formed to highlight the best of French made components to compete with the rest if the world at that time (Thus, the tricolor map of France on the Spidel logo.), so using Modolo brakesets in their groups would have been considered blasphemy to the all French members of that consortium.
Mavic did use Modolo brakesets for their groups in the 80's, but Mavic was not a member of the Spidel consortium, that's why I think they did not hesitate re-branding Modolo brakesets for their 80's groups.
I'm a big fan of the Spidel component groups and have used them on my "Tout French" bike builds. Spidel groups were always my go-to groups for such...... like this "Tout French" re-hash of my 1984 Gitane TDF, that I found weird that Gitane decided to equip with the Ofmega Mistral Gruppo from the factory. The TDF bikes ridden by Fignon, LeMond and Hinault from the year before were equipped with full Spidel groups.
BTW, the modern Look clipless pedals seen in the pic on the bike had since been replaced by more period and brand correct Maillard/Spidel 700 series CXC aero clipped pedals.
Last edited by Chombi1; 10-14-20 at 09:30 PM.
10-14-20, 05:12 PM
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This is a somewhat rare bike, I don't know about these frame's geometry but I suspect this has a really good race frame.
Trek and Peugeot seemed to go all-in with Helicomatic inventory. A fly on the wall might tell us just how the Helicomatic came and went, how it reached it's peak of perceived value and how it soon thereafter became inventory that needed to be cleared out really fast when Maillard failed to meet the needs of indexed drivetrains. All speculation on my part!
Perhaps Peugeot offered the Helicomatic wheelsets as a most affordable option for the PY, also perhaps indexing was not yet on the visible horizon when this bike was put together.
I used my indexed 7s Command shifters and an Edge derailer with a 6s Helicomatic freewheel.
All Helicomatic freewheels had narrow spacing to work with the narrow Sedisport chain, so it did actually index (though with frequent episodes of chain "skating" i.e. slippage).
Congrat's on your find!
Trek and Peugeot seemed to go all-in with Helicomatic inventory. A fly on the wall might tell us just how the Helicomatic came and went, how it reached it's peak of perceived value and how it soon thereafter became inventory that needed to be cleared out really fast when Maillard failed to meet the needs of indexed drivetrains. All speculation on my part!
Perhaps Peugeot offered the Helicomatic wheelsets as a most affordable option for the PY, also perhaps indexing was not yet on the visible horizon when this bike was put together.
I used my indexed 7s Command shifters and an Edge derailer with a 6s Helicomatic freewheel.
All Helicomatic freewheels had narrow spacing to work with the narrow Sedisport chain, so it did actually index (though with frequent episodes of chain "skating" i.e. slippage).
Congrat's on your find!
Last edited by dddd; 10-14-20 at 05:16 PM.
10-14-20, 05:19 PM
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This is a somewhat rare bike, I don't know about these frame's geometry but I suspect this has a really good race frame.
Trek and Peugeot seemed to go all-in with Helicomatic inventory. A fly on the wall might tell us just how the Helicomatic came and went, how it reached it's peak of perceived value and how it soon thereafter became inventory that needed to be cleared out really fast when Maillard failed to meet the needs of indexed drivetrains. All speculation on my part!
Perhaps Peugeot offered the Helicomatic wheelsets as a most affordable option for the PY, also perhaps indexing was not yet a thing when this bike was put together.
I used my indexed 7s Command shifters and an Edge derailer with a 6s Helicomatic freewheel.
All Helicomatic freewheels had narrow spacing to work with the narrow Sedisport chain, so it did actually index (though with frequent episodes of chain "skating" i.e. slippage).
Congrat's on your find!
Trek and Peugeot seemed to go all-in with Helicomatic inventory. A fly on the wall might tell us just how the Helicomatic came and went, how it reached it's peak of perceived value and how it soon thereafter became inventory that needed to be cleared out really fast when Maillard failed to meet the needs of indexed drivetrains. All speculation on my part!
Perhaps Peugeot offered the Helicomatic wheelsets as a most affordable option for the PY, also perhaps indexing was not yet a thing when this bike was put together.
I used my indexed 7s Command shifters and an Edge derailer with a 6s Helicomatic freewheel.
All Helicomatic freewheels had narrow spacing to work with the narrow Sedisport chain, so it did actually index (though with frequent episodes of chain "skating" i.e. slippage).
Congrat's on your find!
I think the main improvement was better bearing and race protection on the 700 Helis and maybe better bearing quality and race machining and prep, like their other 700 series hubs had.
I would think that Peugeot would have use these "improved" Helis on this top line bike of theirs.
10-14-20, 05:41 PM
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IIRC, Maillard did issue better quality, 700 series Helicomatic hubs, before the hub type went out of production.
I think the main improvement was better bearing and race protection on the 700 Helis and maybe better bearing quality and race machining and prep, like their other 700 series hubs had.
I would think that Peugeot would have use these "improved" Helis on this top line bike of theirs.
I think the main improvement was better bearing and race protection on the 700 Helis and maybe better bearing quality and race machining and prep, like their other 700 series hubs had.
I would think that Peugeot would have use these "improved" Helis on this top line bike of theirs.
Can’t wait for my new Helicomatic beer opener/lock ring tool to arrive so I can hopefully crack this hub open with it....I know I’ll get a beer open with it!
10-14-20, 06:11 PM
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IIRC, Maillard did issue better quality, 700 series Helicomatic hubs, before the hub type went out of production.
I think the main improvement was better bearing and race protection on the 700 Helis and maybe better bearing quality and race machining and prep, like their other 700 series hubs had.
I would think that Peugeot would have use these "improved" Helis on this top line bike of theirs.
I think the main improvement was better bearing and race protection on the 700 Helis and maybe better bearing quality and race machining and prep, like their other 700 series hubs had.
I would think that Peugeot would have use these "improved" Helis on this top line bike of theirs.
10-14-20, 08:22 PM
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Riding/driving in Minneapolis/St Paul is like Madison- your head is always turning left and right looking at cool bikes, trying not to hit anything or anyone...
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
10-14-20, 08:36 PM
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By the way it comes complete with a Helicomatic rear hub; I’m ordering the lock ring tool but some posters have me a little worried about weather I should keep it or not. I have a lot of experience with servicing hubs but have not tried my hand at Helicomatic. What should I watch out for?
IIRC, Maillard did issue better quality, 700 series Helicomatic hubs, before the hub type went out of production.
I think the main improvement was better bearing and race protection on the 700 Helis and maybe better bearing quality and race machining and prep, like their other 700 series hubs had.
I would think that Peugeot would have use these "improved" Helis on this top line bike of theirs.
I think the main improvement was better bearing and race protection on the 700 Helis and maybe better bearing quality and race machining and prep, like their other 700 series hubs had.
I would think that Peugeot would have use these "improved" Helis on this top line bike of theirs.
Yes, the top-end Helicomatic was essentially a Maillard 700 professional hub adopted to Helicomatic. The front hub was a 700, the rear was helicomatic with the problematic 5/32" balls, but the shell was better finished than the garden-variety Helicomatic, and it had nicely ground and polished cones and races and chromed locknuts and spacers.
One of these days I'll have to get a comparison between the 700 series hub and the one that came on my 84 Trek 420.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-muo9q8v-bN...l+polished.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OB1dlW3sA_...eel+packed.jpg
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
10-18-20, 01:26 AM
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For anyone who isn’t tired of answering “Which model Peugeot do I have?” I’d really appreciate your input. PX? PY? PFWZQRS? I don’t know. For all of my Peugeot research I still can’t manage to make myself an expert. I can tell it’s quite nice! The frame has no decal to reveal a model name like the catalog photos do and I can’t seem to find a perfect match. A few near misses but nothing definite. The frame shows quite a bit of paint wear and some badly done touch-ups but I think it’ll clean up well enough. By the way it comes complete with a Helicomatic rear hub; I’m ordering the lock ring tool but some posters have me a little worried about weather I should keep it or not. I have a lot of experience with servicing hubs but have not tried my hand at Helicomatic. What should I watch out for?
As found a few months ago. I haven’t done anything to it yet. I did small test ride when purchasing it and that’s all I’ve ridden it.
Spidel headset
Spidel Simplex
6 speed Helicomatic
A couple of incorrect chairing bolts.
Some paint problems.
Some more paint issues in the bottom bracket area but really no rust.
Does this mean 1982?
My brother and I (both in our forties) are the same size and have such similar dimensions, and over the last several years we have together, assembled a small fleet bicycles that we share the cost of and rotate them between our homes. It wasn’t terribly expensive but it sure is nice to share the burden. After we service it, it’ll join that fleet.
This group has been great at answering my questions many times in the past. I’m grateful for help you can give.
As found a few months ago. I haven’t done anything to it yet. I did small test ride when purchasing it and that’s all I’ve ridden it.
Spidel headset
Spidel Simplex
6 speed Helicomatic
A couple of incorrect chairing bolts.
Some paint problems.
Some more paint issues in the bottom bracket area but really no rust.
Does this mean 1982?
My brother and I (both in our forties) are the same size and have such similar dimensions, and over the last several years we have together, assembled a small fleet bicycles that we share the cost of and rotate them between our homes. It wasn’t terribly expensive but it sure is nice to share the burden. After we service it, it’ll join that fleet.
This group has been great at answering my questions many times in the past. I’m grateful for help you can give.
1984 changed to chevron top and down tube .
Nice machine !
Will be a good ride I am sure .
03-22-21, 12:28 AM
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03-22-21, 08:29 AM
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No real progress to report yet. I put it away for the winter but it’s probably time to pull it back out and start on it.
