There are a number of stories about who built Merckx's bikes - Ugo Derosa, Faliero Masi, Enersto Colnago, even Mario Confente - choose whichever story strikes your fancy. It is fairly well agreed that Colnago built the bike for Merckx's World Hour Record, however.
As to the retrofrictions, I stood three feet from Thevenet's bike at the 1974 Worlds and it most definitely had retrofrictions- the original non-cutout ones with the Simplex sunburst logo. These were the first retrofrictions I had seen in person, so it's possible they were a "team issue only" prototype at the time. The PY-10 was avalable both as a stock complete bike and as a custom order frameset.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
<kohl57@starpower.net>; <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 4:33 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Peugeot Ponderings
> It seems to me that retrofriction shifters were later than the "Montreal
Worlds",and I also seem to recall that Eddy's custom PX-10 was a Masi.Also I
think PY-10's were all custom to order.Maybe/Probably CS knows?It is
probably in the list archives.Harris Spracher,WaynesboroVa.
>
> jerrymoos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net> wrote:I believe that the Peugeot team
actually rode PX-10s and later PY-10s.
> Supposedly King Eddy was the exception, having his frames made by Ugo
Derosa
> during his short stay at Peugeot - at least that is the popular story. At
> the 1974 World Championships in Monteal, spectators were allowed to mingle
> with the mechanics and machines in the pits before the race. I was close
> enough to Thevenet's PY-10 to have touched it, and it sure looked like a
> stock PY-10 to me.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Houston, TX
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "P.C. Kohler"
> To:
> Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 3:48 PM
> Subject: [CR]Peugeot Ponderings
>
>
> > Having spent the weekend "bonding" with my new Peugeot PX-10E, a
question
> > for you Peugeotistes...
> >
> > Did the Peugeot Team during the glory years of the 1960s-70s actually
ride
> > "stock" PX-10s? The photos I've seen sure indicate they did. Or were
they
> > custom made by some famous frame builder? As one who puts far greater
> stock
> > in excellence achieved en masse, I am hoping the answer is the former.
> >
> > Two days on my PX-10 and I must defer to all of you who swear by tubular
> > tyres... just a wonderful ride. And I am using the sort of cheap ones
you
> > sneer at: Clements bought 3 for $50 at YellowJersey.com When I get my
> first
> > flat, the bloom will be soon gone, but these are sweet!
> >
> > And compared to my Raleigh Comp GS, the PX-10 is lighter and faster but
> > very comfortable. Amazing pick up. The Raleigh has the edge for handling
> (74
> > vs 72 frame angles make beaucoup difference) and sheer joy to ride. A
> better
> > hill climber too. Simplex vs. Campagnolo Gran Sport: no contest here,
the
> > Simplex shifts much easier, silent and much smoother. I had forgotten
how
> > 'orrible Mafac Racer brakes really are however.. eeeccch. But I wouldn't
> > change them for the world... what would a French bike be without
squeeling
> > brakes? Sounds like a Caravelle landing with full reverse thrust.
> >
> > So like two proper classics, one is not better than the other, just
> > different. Hence the absolute necessity to have an apartment crammed
with
> > all sorts of different bikes. As long as the ratio is 9:1 Britsh vs.
> French.
> > Maybe there's room for one Italian....
> >
> > Peter Kohler
> > Washington DC USA
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
>
>
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