Jerry, you're absolutely right. The Varsity did not have a lugged frame, and it had the crude-looking oversized bottom bracket that went along with its Ashtabula cranks. The UO-8 frame was not only lugged, but the head tube lugs were actually a bit fancy, with the stairstep margins. As I recall, the Varsity's pedals were not as nice as the UO-8's Lyotard rat traps, with their fully serviceable ball bearings. The Peugeot had MAFAC Racer center-pull brakes, compared to the Schwinn's low-grade side-pulls, and it came with a solid leather saddle, plus a frame pump and the cool MAFAC tool kit.
Under such conditions, humble though they were, it was hard not to feel a bit smug, not to taste the heady savor of bike-snobbery. It's good to enjoy excellence; it is conceit that spoils it. Hopefully I could appreciate the UO-8 just as much if it belonged to someone else, and I was riding the Varsity.
I would add that the Raleigh Grand Prix also had that touch of class back then, although it cost a little more.
John Hurley Austin, Texas, USA
-----Original Message----- From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos [mailto:jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 10:18 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org; John Hurley 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