Oh the old endless debate... a few of us love French bikes and components. Most don't. I personally think French 1970s-80s components at the top end of the Simplex, Spidel, Stronglight, Mavic, Mafac range knock anything Italian made into a cocked hat. Just do. Always will. But why convince others? This stuff costs a LOT more on eBay than Italian components of the same era. If more of the Japanese liked Suntour and Campy more than French stuff, I'd be delighted.
Anyway you'd not going to get me to argue... I just returned from a absolutely delightful 28-mile ride hosted by Dan Artley through the lovely MD/PA farm country around his house. Bastille Day. Watching the last bit of today's TdF stage when we got back. And I rode my '69 PX-10.
Oh... Richard Robinson: your 68 PX-10 is lovely. I sure wouldn't swap out that original Peugeot bar tape.. love to get my hands on a few rolls of it for mine! One nit-pick: I think it's traditional to mount the bell on the handlebar stem on machines with dropped 'bars. Love the rare blue Simplex Criterium derailleur, too...
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA