In a message dated 7/26/05 8:27:48 AM, Peter writes:
> Why was the PX-10 lighter than most (any?) comparable machines of its day?
> The catalog spec weight (c. 1970) was 21 lbs. This is an American market
> leaflet actually which has the most complete list of specs and components
> for the machine, far more than the French Peugeot catalogues. Spec weight is
> always "your mileage may vary" but previous CR List discussion on this
> indicates a typical Italian machine of the same era might weigh about 23
> lbs. I should invest in a scale and weigh my PX-10 and Cinelli, both same
> frame size, but there is no doubt that the Peugeot feels lighter. I would
> estimate it's more like a 1 lb. difference.
>
> The main weight savings appears to be Delrin. I am not sure of the exact
> spec weight of a Simplex delrin derailleur but it was lighter than a
> Campagnolo Nouvo Record and possibly lighter than Super Record. I think
> Mafac Racer brakes were also lighter than their competition; even the brake
> shoe holders were alloy. Oddly, the Simplex seatpost, however, was steel.
>
> Does the PX-10 ride "lighter". Again that's up to the rider to determine.
> Compared to my Cinelli SC, I would say without question: YES.
>
I'm sure Delrin definitely had something to do with it, but after I put LJ Super derailleurs on mine, it was still pretty darned light. I think one needs to look at the other parts as well, and possibly the frame itself. Peugeot definitely made some interesting and remarkable choices in balancing cost, weight and performance. I don't think there was another bike like it at the time (well, hang on, I do seem to recall a Mercier that had the same all-531DB frame and nearly identical component group)
The Stronglight crank was a real lightweight (though I never put it on a scale to compare it with a Campy crank) and the Lyotard pedals were definitely lighter than Campy. The stem and bars were quite light also, perhaps dangerously so (didn't take long for my bars to develop a noticeable droop and I only weighed 130 lb at the time. And I think enough's been said about the stem...). I don't know how the Mafac Racers compared with Campy weightwise, but I do know that the levers always felt very light. The only heavyweight was that saddle... replacing the 550 gram Brooks Pro with a Unicanitor probably would have gotten the weight down to what it said in the catalog. But after all the time I put into breaking in that saddle, there was no way I was gonna replace it...
I wonder if someone out there can confirm that the tubing gauge was one of Reynolds' lighter sets? When I repainted the bike in 1976 I took note of the the tubing stamps... when I looked the numbers up, they were definitely thinner than Reynolds' "standard" set. Unfortunately, having been nearly 30 years, my mind seems to have reformatted the sectors of my brain on which that information was stored so I can't remember exactly what those numbers were. Does anyone know if Peugeot was in the habit of using lighter tubing? My frame was a 22.5" if that makes a difference.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA