Re: [CR] PXN10E?? (& English threadings)

(Example: Framebuilding:Technology)

Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 08:17:45 -0700
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, John Hurley <JHurley@jdabrams.com>
In-Reply-To: <249DDD9704676C49AE6169AE3D2D9F4ECDB8B3@Exchange-SVR>
Subject: Re: [CR] PXN10E?? (& English threadings)


My first lightweight bike was a Peugeot UO-8 bought new in 1972. Like many Americans at the time, the most sophisticated bike I had previously owned was a 3-speed "English Racer". And probably the most sophisticated bike I was familiar with was a Schwinn Varsity.

So, compared to these, the UO-8 was much more stylish, lighter, and performed better. Remember, it had a lightweight steel frame, at least lightweight compared to the Varsity, a half chromed fork, alloy hubs with QR on both wheels, and derailleurs that while not great, were as good as the Huret Alvit on the Varsity. And the graphics were the height of cool, European sophistication at its best. Right down th the little Michelin Man molded into the OE Michelin clincher tire. Even more than the other French marques, Peugeot graphaics, for Americans epitomized European, and especially French sophistication.

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA


--- On Thu, 10/8/09, John Hurley wrote:


> From: John Hurley <JHurley@jdabrams.com>

\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR] PXN10E?? (& English threadings)

\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

\r?\n> Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009, 9:02 AM

\r?\n> David Snyder wrote: "My cheaper

\r?\n> Peugeots garner compliments worthy of a

\r?\n> pro model, but perhaps all of these local, non-vintage

\r?\n> complimenteurs

\r?\n> don't remember too well what the differences were." 

\r?\n> "Peugeot, it seems,

\r?\n> seemed to have the cheap-bike style thing down pat."

\r?\n>

\r?\n> I heartily agree with these observations, up until the

\r?\n> 1980's.  My 1973

\r?\n> emerald green UO-8, even with plastic derailleurs, was

\r?\n> better equipped,

\r?\n> lighter in weight, lower in cost, AND better looking than

\r?\n> many other

\r?\n> comparable bikes of the day.  Just this morning as I

\r?\n> lay awake in the

\r?\n> wee hours, I was stricken out of nowhere by pangs of

\r?\n> remorse about the

\r?\n> sad end of this beautiful bike.  I gave it to someone

\r?\n> who left it

\r?\n> outside in all sorts of weather until it deteriorated and

\r?\n> was thrown

\r?\n> away. 

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Starting in about 1979 or 1980, Peugeot departed from the

\r?\n> conservative,

\r?\n> classic look, in favor of more "modern" graphics,

\r?\n> culminating in the

\r?\n> horrible yellow and orange diagonal stripes.  Even

\r?\n> their best models

\r?\n> looked cheap in that garb.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> John Hurley

\r?\n> Austin, Texas, USA