List, My two cents' worth to what R.S. Broderick and Charles Colerich wrote:
The 1977 and 1978 Peugeot PX-10LE came equipped with Stronglight Model 99 cranks with 52/42 chainrings, as can be seen in the catalog scans at retropeugeot.com. I have one of these bikes which I bought new from the LBS, and it was equipped exactly as described in the catalog. It was also reviewed in Bicycling magazine in Dec 1977 by Gary Fisher.
At the time I bought my bike, I was really wanting the Model 93 cranks. I thought the 99 looked rather chunky. It seems odd that such a crank set, seemingly designed for touring triples, would appear on a racing bike. From the Peugeot catalog: "PX10LE Professional racing 10 speed, featuring Reynolds 531 butted frame and forks, competition tubular wheels with Maillard 700 hubs, and the Stronglight 99 crank set. In engineering and components-a truly fine racing machine". Evidently the Peugeot people thought it would serve racing as well as touring purposes.
I also notice that the next bike above the PX10LE, namely the PY10E, was equipped with Stronglight 105 cranks, so these models were available concurrently.
I have seen it reported (velobase.com) that the 99 changed in appearance in the 1980's, acquiring more of a rounded, Sugino-like appearance.
John Hurley, Austin, Texas USA
Mr. Broderick wrote: Model 99 / 99 bis - 86 mm BCD - spiritual successor to the 49D (...which continued to be offered concurrently throughout most of the model 99 production lifespan). Its smaller BCD allows for consequently smaller inner chain rings, hence its popularity with the touring crowd. The crank arms themselves were made available in 165, 170, 172.5, and 175 mm lengths. The model 99 used standard chain rings whereas the 99 bis featured factory "drilled" chain rings. Still, this was an economy model intended primarily for road / touring use with an effective chain ring capacity of 28 to 54 teeth. It can certainly be configured as a double, but more often than not it is seen built up as a triple crankset.
Mr. Colerich replied: In reference to the 99 cranks being "economy" modesl, I first encountered these on some better quality French bikes we received in the mid 70's. The early version model 99 cranks were every bit as well made and finished as the model 93s.
If I remember correctly they came on a few Bertins and maybe a Stella or two. The bikes were spec'd with model 93 cranks When we first saw the 99s we were dismayed because the 86mm BCD and narrower upper crankarms didn't look like they would be very flexible. I guess that never became an issue.
Perhaps the model 99 cranks were substituted by the bike makers because of delivery problems in the period between the end of production of the model 93 cranks and the release of the model 105 cranks.
My two cents: