Clean-up to a milestone
#1
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,438
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Liked 658 Times
in
235 Posts
Clean-up to a milestone
Or maybe that should be clean-up to a kilometerstone. I spent part of the afternoon organizing my tools which were scattered across the chaotic wilderness of my garage, basement, several toolboxes and other containers. In the process I discovered I had seven, count 'em, seven, 6mm Allen wrenches. Every time I'd buy something which needed a 6mm it came with one in the box. Plus I have rescued a few lost on the road. Nobody loses any other size, just 6mm. I also discovered (as I already knew) I still had all three of those little Mafac wrenches which came with the Mafac Racer brakes on my Peugeot UO8.
Which brings me to the milestone. Looking at those brake wrenches I realized that as of this summer that faithful Peugeot is now 50 years old. It's the only bike I bought new. It has seen commuter service to four jobs, university summer courses, and grad school, been through heat, rain, and cold, made one camping tour truncated due to torrential rain, been ridden through five states, taken on pavement and dirt and come through victorious. It has seen upgrades, retrograde back to almost original condition, upgraded again, It wears the first wheel I ever built (and is still going strong). It has rolled the Park Loop Road and climbed Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. It wore a brace of generator-powered lights for part of its life, useful for commuting home at night. Now it is equipped as a ready-to-run sport road bike. I still ride that UO8 almost every day. For the last two years it has been my go-to bike on a trainer in the living room. Whatever "inoxydable" steel they used is remarkable. "Inoxydable" is probably misspelled; I would check it except that the bike's sticker is long gone. The rest of the paint is just fine, though with some scratches here and there.
I don't expect to be around fifty years from now, but it wouldn't surprise me if that bike is.
Which brings me to the milestone. Looking at those brake wrenches I realized that as of this summer that faithful Peugeot is now 50 years old. It's the only bike I bought new. It has seen commuter service to four jobs, university summer courses, and grad school, been through heat, rain, and cold, made one camping tour truncated due to torrential rain, been ridden through five states, taken on pavement and dirt and come through victorious. It has seen upgrades, retrograde back to almost original condition, upgraded again, It wears the first wheel I ever built (and is still going strong). It has rolled the Park Loop Road and climbed Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. It wore a brace of generator-powered lights for part of its life, useful for commuting home at night. Now it is equipped as a ready-to-run sport road bike. I still ride that UO8 almost every day. For the last two years it has been my go-to bike on a trainer in the living room. Whatever "inoxydable" steel they used is remarkable. "Inoxydable" is probably misspelled; I would check it except that the bike's sticker is long gone. The rest of the paint is just fine, though with some scratches here and there.
I don't expect to be around fifty years from now, but it wouldn't surprise me if that bike is.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Likes For jimmuller:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Germany
Posts: 1,090
Bikes: 80s Alan Super Record, 79' Somec Special, 90s Rossin(?) Columbus Ego Triathlon, previously: Bianchi SBX Reparto Corse (stolen) and so on...
Liked 813 Times
in
602 Posts
Dear Jim, the title pulled me in and I am happy that it has happened. While I am an ex-owner of 3 Peugeot bikes I am still an "Italian bike guy", but this is simply beautiful. I don't know how old you were when you got that Peugeot but I wish both of you a good health and plenty of more miles with load of fun!
Lattz
Lattz
#3
...
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Whitestone and Rensselaerville, New York
Posts: 1,593
Bikes: Bicycles? Yup.
Liked 1,724 Times
in
783 Posts
Congrats on on the Peugeot! One of the great iconic 10 speeds. I know they spun my hat around 50 years ago and still do.
I left the 6 mm on my truck bed-rail and drove off.
I left the 6 mm on my truck bed-rail and drove off.
Last edited by BTinNYC; 11-13-22 at 06:59 PM.
#4
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,438
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Liked 658 Times
in
235 Posts
Dear Jim, the title pulled me in and I am happy that it has happened. While I am an ex-owner of 3 Peugeot bikes I am still an "Italian bike guy", but this is simply beautiful. I don't know how old you were when you got that Peugeot but I wish both of you a good health and plenty of more miles with load of fun!
Lattz
Lattz
For the record, I was 22 when I bought that bike. (In two days I will gain yet another year.) I too am at least partly an Italian bike guy. but a French bike guy too, have three and love them all. Edit: No, make that four. I forgot about the tandem. When I bought that bike I could never in my wildest dreams have foreseen the future that came to be. Now I am starting to give bikes away. That UO8 will not be one of them.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Last edited by jimmuller; 11-13-22 at 06:55 PM. Reason: I forgot one.
#5
Freewheel Medic
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 12,938
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,259 Times
in
995 Posts
Jim, I believe the first time we met in person I also met your Peugeot. I need to look for a picture.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#6
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,438
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Liked 658 Times
in
235 Posts
How you doin' these days? We're fine but not riding outdoors much.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
#7
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,732
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Liked 6,654 Times
in
3,294 Posts
Jim,
poidh.
poidh.
#8
Standard Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Posts: 4,287
Bikes: 1948 P. Barnard & Son, 1962 Rudge Sports, 1963 Freddie Grubb Routier, 1980 Manufrance Hirondelle, 1983 F. Moser Sprint, 1989 Raleigh Technium Pre, 2001 Raleigh M80
Liked 968 Times
in
496 Posts
I love to hear stories of dedication to one's bike. How did you set up the UO-8 to get up Cadillac Mountain?
Any maintenance going-on for it, this winter?
Any maintenance going-on for it, this winter?
#9
Senior Member
#10
Senior Member
I have at least two bikes that turned 50 this year. I am not the original owner of either bike. In 1972 I was riding a Schwinn Varsity and it is long gone. My first decent bike was my Kabuki Diamond Formula which I bought new in 1976 and still own. Congratulations on you and your bike’s milestone .
Likes For Kabuki12:
#11
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,438
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Liked 658 Times
in
235 Posts
I was able to dig up some pics from the run up the Great North Rail Trail (I think it is called). Pastor Bob led Prowler and myself on a cool adventure.
In the bike's recent (circa. 2011) quasi-retrograde phase.
Since you asked... For the run up Cadillac it was more or less like you see in the "Boston 100" pic above and as it is now, a stripped road bike. Most of the mods are upgrades I made long ago. Sugino Maxy crank w/48-32 rings, Suntour FW, Suntour VGT-Lux derailleurs w/Simplex DT levers (which I installed in place of the original stem shifters about 1973), MKS pedals w/ clips&straps, SR alloy bar with the original headset and AVA stem, alloy Simplex seat post, WTB Speed V saddle, Shimano 600 hubs (the original version), 27" Sun M13-II rims w/32mm Panaracer Tourguard tires, the original Mafac brakes but with newer pads, and of course the bottle cage and pump.
No maintenance planned but it could use some cleaning!
In the bike's recent (circa. 2011) quasi-retrograde phase.
No maintenance planned but it could use some cleaning!
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Last edited by jimmuller; 11-14-22 at 11:11 AM. Reason: duh...
Likes For jimmuller:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,634
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Liked 2,260 Times
in
1,129 Posts
[MENTION=190941]jimmuller[/MENTION] - I envy you keeping your UO-8. I purchased mine in about 1968 and sold it in 1972. Rode the bearings off it. At the time, I didn't know I could have repaired it. Young and ignorant at the time. With all the traveing from the age of 13, I didn't really have a base to grow up with that would have taught me more about bikes. I regret selling it. Good on you!
Here is a picture from 1971, IIRC
PBPeugeot on Flickr
I had two sets of wheels for it, clincher and sewups. Bought it in Frankfurt, Germany and used it to commute to work. I spent a school year in Austria and rode it nearly every day with a couple of 50 milers in less than 3 hours. It last place with me was in eastern Washington while in college. Did a lot of riding there too in the wheat field countryside. Great memories!
Here is a picture from 1971, IIRC
PBPeugeot on Flickr
I had two sets of wheels for it, clincher and sewups. Bought it in Frankfurt, Germany and used it to commute to work. I spent a school year in Austria and rode it nearly every day with a couple of 50 milers in less than 3 hours. It last place with me was in eastern Washington while in college. Did a lot of riding there too in the wheat field countryside. Great memories!
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Last edited by SJX426; 11-14-22 at 07:09 AM.
Likes For SJX426:
#13
Freewheel Medic
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 12,938
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,259 Times
in
995 Posts
(Jim on the far left)
Thanks for posting the Rail Trail ride we did with Prowler. That was a great day! We are doing great and I'm riding more than ever. Retirement is a blast.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Likes For pastorbobnlnh:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,734
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Liked 620 Times
in
427 Posts
Jim, your memory is the correct spelling. I am sure as I re-built my 1972 UO-8 for my granddaughter who now rides it and I got the correct decals from Cyclomondo with the two INOXYDABLE bands, black with gold letters. Bought the bike in 1972 with my first GI Bill check to get to class, it was a lot then for me if I recall less than $100 out the door.
#16
Senior Member
Jim, my foggy senior memory must be slipping. I was remembering the UO8 from another ride. I did dig through pictures and remember this one from that first ride we took?
(Jim on the far left)
Thanks for posting the Rail Trail ride we did with Prowler. That was a great day! We are doing great and I'm riding more than ever. Retirement is a blast.
(Jim on the far left)
Thanks for posting the Rail Trail ride we did with Prowler. That was a great day! We are doing great and I'm riding more than ever. Retirement is a blast.
Likes For nlerner:
#17
Freewheel Medic
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 12,938
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Liked 2,259 Times
in
995 Posts
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#18
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,438
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Liked 658 Times
in
235 Posts
And I spy the blue Gran Sport at the far end.
That was fun ride. As I recall, we ran off and dropped nlerner without realizing it. (Sorry. We should have been paying more attention.) Fortunately he has a good enough sense of direction that he found his way back and happened to fall into our return route near the end.
I recall that junkyard, err, excuse me, that recycling center stop too.
I believe so. That gives me a low of about 31. If I went any slower I'd fall over. But at least I use'ta could climb most hills with it.
That was fun ride. As I recall, we ran off and dropped nlerner without realizing it. (Sorry. We should have been paying more attention.) Fortunately he has a good enough sense of direction that he found his way back and happened to fall into our return route near the end.
I recall that junkyard, err, excuse me, that recycling center stop too.
@1989Pre asks:
Did you have a 28T low cog on the free-wheel?
Did you have a 28T low cog on the free-wheel?
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
#19
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,438
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Liked 658 Times
in
235 Posts
I found some pics from the ride up Cadillac Mt. Here is one that my sweetie snapped after meeting me at the top. This was September 2016.
That dear old UO8 is still the same, even to the Eclipse bag which has had several seams come apart. It does need some maintenance now though. The FD has stiffened up. The big chainring is getting a bit long in the tooth, or rather, a bit shark-toothed in the tooth. Riding on a trainer doesn't require much shifting.
A few I took on the ride up:
That dear old UO8 is still the same, even to the Eclipse bag which has had several seams come apart. It does need some maintenance now though. The FD has stiffened up. The big chainring is getting a bit long in the tooth, or rather, a bit shark-toothed in the tooth. Riding on a trainer doesn't require much shifting.
A few I took on the ride up:
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Last edited by jimmuller; 11-20-22 at 04:14 PM.
Likes For jimmuller: