verktyg 

The Moment Of Truth! 1st Ride.

I picked up a 55cm 1983 Peugeot PSV-10 frame with cranks, brakes, headset and FD back in 2010. Every few years I spent a little time on it.



This spring (2018) I pushed it to the front of the line and finished it this afternoon except for bar tape. I tape my bars after I make sure the levers are in the right position.




Conclusion after a few laps around the block: Disappointment!

I have a 1988 Peugeot Biarritz (actually 2 of them) and they are the Goldilocks bikes that I'd searched for since 1975!. They handle perfectly and ride like a cloud.

They're 56cm square, made of same Super Vitus 980 tubing as the PSV-10 with just about the same geometry except he PSV-10 is 55cm square.



55cm square is a slightly better fit for me so I was expecting perfection!.

For now, I'm thinking the ride difference is due to the new 700c x 25cm Pasela TGs.

After ~50+ miles they should break in and smooth out.

I'll post more details on the build later.

verktyg

Chombi1 

What exactly don't you like about the ride??

juvela

-----

Great job finding that cable casing to match the transfers!

Cannot help but wonder why the world's foremost authority on the Roma of Nantes would be working with the produce of the lion rampante?!?!

​​​​​​​-----

Giacomo 1 

Its to bad you waited so long to build her up just to be disappointed. You did a great job on the build though, so worse comes to worse, you can always sell it for a decent piece of change.

verktyg 

So Chas.... I see you've been dancing with the devil's spawn....



verktyg

John E

Over the years I have owned three Peugeots, none as nice as yours, and I greatly enjoyed riding each of them. I am awaiting your full report after the tires either break in or get replaced.

(55cm C-T is my perfect size, as well. Fortunately, both Capos and the Bianchi fit (so to speak) the bill.

Colnago Mixte

I think you (possibly) need a longer stem on that bike. I ride about your size frame, and any bike is uncomfortable for me with a stem that short. Of course YMMV.

I don't think you'll have any problems selling a bike that pretty, that thing is GORGEOUS. Ah, First World problems . . .

thinktubes 

Giuanin

The saddle, the position of the saddle, the stem ?

Colnago Mixte

I would MAKE a bike like that one work. Much like fancy shoes that hurt your feet but look really good. Just keep smiling and nobody will know of, your or even suspect your horrible unbearable pain.

Johno59

Your red bike has the seat nose slightly pointed up, your new bike has the seat angled slightly down. The downward slope causes your body weight to push forward and down. This imbalance will put more pressure on your wrists and the added pressure will make road shock considerably worse up thru your palms, wrists and elbows.
As you stiffen up the ride will progressively get tougher and less comfortable.
As we get older our joints like this less and less.

canyoneagle

Gorgeous frame. I always loved those pearl/orange Peugeots. I'd go with a black saddle on that one, myself.
To my eye, the hoods look way too high on the bar, which I would think means TT/stem combo is too long. Just a thought. Have you done any fit calcs to help determine saddle setback and saddle-bar distance?

As I age, I'm finding I am increasingly sensitive to these measurements.

anyway, beautiful bike. Here's hoping you find the sweet spot on the ride.

jimmuller 

Chas, I'm looking at those pics and I think I see a problem. You wrapped all the bar tape around the same place at the end of the right handlebar. You are supposed to run it on an angle so that it progresses along the whole length of the bar, and on both sides. All wrapped in one place like that means it creates an unbalanced wind drag so you end up fighting the bike's tendency to pull to the right.

jyl

Lascauxcaveman 

Don't be absurd, Jimmy. Any dang fool - and Lord knows I qualify - can see the real problem is his brake cables are a couple inches too long. That as sure as shootin' will ruin any ride.

Wildwood 

White bikes are finicky.

RobbieTunes

I am your white disappointing 55cm disposal facility.

Wileyone 

You might try a set of "modern" Tires on it.

sdn40

It's not the bike. It's the brake cables slapping you in the face. Seen it a thousand times

verktyg 

Hi all, thanks for the great suggestions and comments....
@jimmuller I finally figured out the tape thing... It made a world of difference! Ha, Ha, Ha!






As I first mentioned, my disappointment was that the 55cm PSV-10 is a slightly better fit than my 56cm 1988 Peugeot Biarritz so I was expecting almost the same super smooth ride since the geometry and dimensions are almost identical and they're both made with Super Vitus 980 tubing.

@John E @Wileyone
I started off with a new set of 700c x 25 Pasela Tourguards. I have TG tires on a bunch of my bikes and I've always liked their smooth ride. I always run them at 90 psi. Panaracer discontinued the original Pasela Tourguards and replaced them with the Pasela PT (ProTite) which they say has a different belt under the tread that is 24% stronger than the older ones.

They also stiffened up the side walls "for better cornering"! I suspect that the Tourguards that I bought have the same "improvements" as the ProTite tires.

After 50 miles of riding the new Tourguards, they smoothed out a little plus they rolled a little better than the older ones but the overall ride is not the same.

I had a pair of 700c x 25 Continental Grand Prix Classic tires that I bought a few years ago. I was waiting for the right bike to try them on. I mounted them on the PSV-10 and it was a world of difference in the ride. I started of at the recommended 120 psi. Even at that pressure they were smoother riding than the new Paselas. I run the Conti's at 90 psi. They ride and handle so well that I bought another set. It looks like they've been discontinued.



I have about 60 miles on the Continentals now and I'm really happy with the PSV-10's ride and handling. Not as smooth as the Biarritz but it feels crisp and handles as well or better than all of my Italian bikes except one. I'd compare it to my 1985 Raleigh 753 Team Pro.

@Johno59 "Your red bike has the seat nose slightly pointed up, your new bike has the seat angled slightly down." Combination of camera distortion and manufacturing variances in those WTB Silverado saddles, The black one is angled down 10° in the rear while the white one is at 5°.

@Giuanin @Colnago Mixte I measure the heights, positions and angles of the saddles, bars, stems and brake levers on all the bikes that I put together. I make adjustments before during and after each ride until I get the perfect feel and weight distribution between my butt, legs and hands. The bikes not there when everything is right!

Almost 55 years of riding derailleur bikes. I have short legs and neck with a long torso plus I like to look through my glasses not over them so I prefer a more upright riding position.

@jyl There is only 10mm (3/8") difference between the frame sizes and stem lengths. The only significant difference in the frame geometry is the red 1988 bike has a 10 5/8" high BB and the 1983 PSV-10 is 10 7/8" (10mm difference).

@sdn40 @Lascauxcaveman I get better reception with the cables that way...

I found an early Peugeot badged Simplex SX410 RD and modified the upper pulley so it has some side to side float like on indexing derailleurs. Coupled with a 6 speed Shimano 600 13-28T twist tooth FW, SRAM PC-870 chain and overhauled Simplex Retrofriction levers it shifts as good any indexing rig. I like the SX-410, SX-610 and SX-630 derailleurs better than the lighter SLJs. The clunkers have a more solid feel when shifting.



On Saturday I was on a 20 mile ride with some small rolling hills. It felt amazing running at 20-25 mph. Climbs great with no flex across the BB. The handling is very stable but responsive. Not for hand's off riding but no sign of twitchieness.

So, in summation, it's a keeper!

verktyg

Classtime 

bikemig 

I worked in a Peugeot shop throughout the 80s and sold a fair number of these bikes. I really liked them. They are righteously light. That said, they are true racing bikes and the handling is a bit on the harsh side. This is not a forgiving frame.

scozim 

Great looking bike Chas. Glad to know it's a keeper - the Super Vitus framed bikes are my favorites.

Slightspeed

My Super Course.


First ride with Gatorskin 28s.


New Pasela 28s.

I recently acquired a '78 PR10 (I think). Great bike. It came with Schwalbe Marathon 25s, but one had a big split in the tread from dry rot, so I swapped another wheel set with Gatorskin 28s, and did a few rides until I could get new tires. It rode OK on the Gators, but after I switched to Pasela PT 28s it transformed the ride. The Mavic vintage rims are a little narrow for the 28s, but it really rides great. With the gold paint, I actually prefer the look of the Gatorskins over the Paselas, but the ride quality won me over. I should have waited longer before re-taping the bars, too. I need to tilt the bars forward more to level the drops, but it puts the brake levers too far forward. I'll probably switch to Suntour bar cons, not a fan of downtube shifters, these seem to slip too much, especially the front, then I will re-position the brake levers and re-tape the bars. Mine came with wrong brake levers, so I swapped to some Campy aeros that I had. I like the clean look, but you did a great job matching the cable housing colors with yours. Great looking bike, hope you get comfortable with it soon. I also have a Raleigh, a '73 Super Course, also with 531 frame triangle. The ride quality is fun to compare between the two (both on Pasela 28s, Mavic rims). The Raleigh is comfy but responsive, where the Pug is also responsive, feels racier, but still reasonably comfy. The Pug is a 60cm, and the Raleigh about 57. The Raleigh feels better in the drops, so far.

noglider 

I recently started riding a pair of those nice racy Continental tires. Mine are the GP4000S-II tires. Yeah, they're terrific. Sometimes they feel underinflated because of the way they smooth out bumps. I don't need flat protection, so I'd rather not have it, on the assumption that it affects the ride.

Last I knew, @jyl commutes on a PSV-10.