Classic & Vintage - New Peugeot A08/U08 Website

Greetings,
I recently inherited a 1972 Peugeot A08 which I am restoring for sentimental reasons. As I researched the bicycle (which I originally thought was a "Record Du Monde"), I realized that information on the A08 and its sibling U08 is rather scattered. I read with interest in a previous Bike Forums posting, Jasper Leunkstar's intention of establishing a Peugeot website, so I decided to embark on a simpler task of developing a website for the A08 and U08. I have just launched the website which can be found at http://mysite.verizon.net/vzerndgo/. I would like your comments, input and participation. Keep in mind that I am a novice to bike forums, bike restoration and vintage cyclery. Thanks for your interest and help.
Sincerely,
Tom Simmons

Excellent site.

If I may make one suggestion though - create smaller thumbnail photos to use on the site between the text, and link them to a second set of full-size photos. Makes page loading considerably faster then using the large photos resized smaller (you're essentially loading every single one of those large photos at once).

Take care,

-Kurt

Great idea. I don't know whether you want my UO-8 or not, since I bought it as a bare frame when I worked at Bikecology and built it up, originally for my wife, with my own eclectic collection of Japanese and European components.

Neat site Tom, I've been fixing up a 76 UO8 and have recently bought a new old stock set of mafac brake levers with white half hoods from bananabrain on ebay for $45 with shipping. Kind of steep, I saw he had some at auction that went for $16.50 during the last week, might be worth doing a saved search on ebay for them, the hoods themselves can be quite pricey. My UO8 also had green cloth bar tape which I believe was original when I found it in the garbage, with the new tape, brake levers, and NOS white mafac brake blade covers, it looks pretty sharp. I wish my paint was as nice as yours! Good luck on your restoration and website.
John

Nice site, think about also including the UE-8 Randoneur version of the UO-8

I have a white Touring version of the exact same bike and frame size you have on your resto site, It has Normandy high flange/simplex quick release hubs, half chrome fork, all simplix gearing, the leather seat, s/s fenders, rear rack, generator light w/front fender lt and rear fender reflector/lt. I am not sure of the year, the rigida rims have the swayed grooves and the hubs have a single digit followed by a dash then 74, the pedals are the loyatards, I found a color that crosses over and touched up the frame, it looks very nice, the decals have a few chips here and there, fully serviced and tuned this is a sweet road tourer of the good years, not too top end just enough to be good, and turns heads like you would not believe, I also have a Gitane of the same vintage,..and have some other pug parts....a female racer frame of the late 70's....a very clean set of normandy high flange/rigidas..mafac parts. I will probably sell both to support buying a vintage sleeping CIOCC I want, I am almost finished with the Gitane. If anyone is interested in them as I will probably post on Craigs list in the next few weeks.........Does anyone know how to determine the year of the Pug by the numbers, or a site to go to would be great, Thanks Jeff

Congrats, Tom, your website's a true labour of love. Keep up the good work!

Thanks much for starting a UO8 focused site. My first bike was an UO8 purchased new in 1973. I still have it and truly love the thing. It's a wonderful ride. I have mucho miles and some significant touring including a 900+ mile portion of the Bikecentenial in '76. Have modified it and repainted. It's time for another updating that I will be doing this spring. Will keep all French but with a Stronglight crank and some other items. Will send you photos when I complete the project.

Anybody know if such a site exists focusing on Motobecane, specifically Grand Jubilee/Record?

Thanks again.

Scott Peper
Gladstone, MO

Dear Kurt,
Excellent suggestion. I have converted all photos to thumbnail images. Much approved. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Tom Simmons


Excellent site.

If I may make one suggestion though - create smaller thumbnail photos to use on the site between the text, and link them to a second set of full-size photos. Makes page loading considerably faster then using the large photos resized smaller (you're essentially loading every single one of those large photos at once).

Take care,

-Kurt

Very good suggestion. I have added the Peugeot UE8 to the website. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Tom Simmons


Nice site, think about also including the UE-8 Randoneur version of the UO-8

Two other thoughts:
1) Show the evolution of the decals over the years.
2) See if anyone can submit a color-accurate picture of a champagne-colored UO-8. Very few were produced ca. 1973, but they were gorgeous! When I started at Bikecology in spring 1972, you could have a UO-8 in any color you wanted, provided that you wanted white, blue, or green. By the end of the year and into 1973, we began to see yellow, orange, purple, and red, as well, but white was always the biggest seller.

The ca. 1972 AO-8/UO-8 differences I noted were:
1) low flange hubs vs. high flange;
2) wingnuts vs. quick-release axles;
3) painted fork vs. half-chrome;
4) half-taped handlebars vs. full-taped;
5) coppertone paint option vs. white paint option.
The $120 UO-8 competed directly against the much heavier Schwinn Continental and just below the Raleigh Super Course and American Eagle Semi-Pro (Nishiki Competition), whereas the cheaper AO-8 competed against the Schwinn Varsity, the Raleigh Record, the Nishiki Custom Sport, and the Steyr Clubman.

Dear Jeff,
Your Peugeot sounds like a UE8 touring bike. I have expanded my website to cover this model, and have also added some more information on dating the AO8, UO8 and UE8.
Sincerely,
Tom Simmons

I'll send in some pictures of my UO-8.
It's mostly original, not sure what year but I'll find out.

Great site.

You ought to include the UO18 mixte also. I can send some pictures of that and my UO8.

Great site.

You ought to include the UO18 mixte also. I can send some pictures of that and my UO8.

The site should be expanded to cover all AO/UO/UE-based models, both mixte and diamond frame, IMO.

Might be a good idea to put together a general page outlining the exact detail changes from year to year (including colors available from year to year, and frame types), and in addition to detail photos, include a single side view of a UO from each said year.

Also would be good to put together seperate pages for each model, with a general description and photographs of it.

And, of course, if you haven't already - insert a page disclaiming that the UO-8 is not the PX-10, and back it up with photos...

Take care,

-Kurt

At the time I bought my '74 PX10, my girlfriend had a champagne UO-8. I recall that her bike felt heavy and dead, and the brakes were poor due to the steel rims. The more relaxed geometry made her bike much more comfortable, though.

Two other thoughts:
1) Show the evolution of the decals over the years.
2) See if anyone can submit a color-accurate picture of a champagne-colored UO-8. Very few were produced ca. 1973, but they were gorgeous! When I started at Bikecology in spring 1972, you could have a UO-8 in any color you wanted, provided that you wanted white, blue, or green. By the end of the year and into 1973, we began to see yellow, orange, purple, and red, as well, but white was always the biggest seller.

While this is not a xO-8, is this the color you seek?

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/165429-2/P4200700.JPG

While this is not a xO-8, is this the color you seek? ... It's hard to be sure on a computer monitor, but that looks very close. I didn't know the PX-10 ever came in that color.

At the time I bought my '74 PX10, my girlfriend had a champagne UO-8. I recall that her bike felt heavy and dead, and the brakes were poor due to the steel rims. The more relaxed geometry made her bike much more comfortable, though.

The geometry is great for smooth, comfortable cruising, although the long fork rake makes the steering sluggish. If you don't mind a bit of toe-to-tire overlap, a straighter fork is an improvement, at least in my opinion.

It's hard to be sure on a computer monitor, but that looks very close. I didn't know the PX-10 ever came in that color.

Not a PX-10. Few details difference, but I am pretty sure it is a PX-60 (http://home.wanadoo.nl/peugeotshow/PX60_1975.html)

I never cared for the champagne color, but I think that three years in the army gave me a permanent aversion to green.

Excellent. I look forward to receiving your photos and will post them in the website's photo gallery.


I'll send in some pictures of my UO-8.
It's mostly original, not sure what year but I'll find out.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will look into the UO18. Since I am just learning abouth these bikes, how is the UO18 related to the U08 and UE8? Thanks again.



Great site.

You ought to include the UO18 mixte also. I can send some pictures of that and my UO8.

Excellent suggestions. I see that my website has room to grow, even when just covering AO/UO/UE-based models. I will immediately address the PX10 contrast suggestion. Thanks for your input.



The site should be expanded to cover all AO/UO/UE-based models, both mixte and diamond frame, IMO.

Might be a good idea to put together a general page outlining the exact detail changes from year to year (including colors available from year to year, and frame types), and in addition to detail photos, include a single side view of a UO from each said year.

Also would be good to put together seperate pages for each model, with a general description and photographs of it.

And, of course, if you haven't already - insert a page disclaiming that the UO-8 is not the PX-10, and back it up with photos...

Take care,

-Kurt

My camera kind of sucks, so I'll have to get the right lighting and such.

Just bookmarked your site. I had 3 UE8s, sold one, commute with another and have one untouched new in box. I like them.

Thanks for the input. Based on a recommendation from Sheldon Brown, I just purchased the domain name "retropeugeot" for my Peugeot AO, UO & UE Website. The new URL is http://www.retropeugeot.com/, although my personal URL that you bookmarked will work as well.



Just bookmarked your site. I had 3 UE8s, sold one, commute with another and have one untouched new in box. I like them.

I'm gonna have some pictures of a sweet UO8 soon....

Not a PX-10. Few details difference, but I am pretty sure it is a PX-60
Cool! A Euro model I never knew existed. I like the Lyotard platform pedals and the 50T outer chainring. Is the geometry a bit more relaxed than that of the PX-10E?

Awesome website! I just posted a note on the mechanical sub-forum asking about replacing that pin in the crank. From you info, it sounds like it's gonna be a bit dicey!

Mine is a 1970, used as a trainer machine at the moment but I'm the original owner. Not in the best shape and I've had to replace various parts over the years with whatever was available.

I'll have to see how it looks in a pix to send along. I hate for it to be the worst one in there!

Sheldon

Cool! A Euro model I never knew existed. I like the Lyotard platform pedals and the 50T outer chainring. Is the geometry a bit more relaxed than that of the PX-10E?

I don't think it is a Euro model per se, just one that did not get imported too much into the US. But then I was told the bike was purchased in France. I would venture to say main difference between this model and a PX-10 would be the forks. Here's my PX-10 for a comparison.

http://209.190.31.210/gallery/d/156427-2/P5291839.JPG

Green UO8 #1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blondeamazon/363092790/in/pool-99278007@N00/)
Green UO8 #2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blondeamazon/363092793/in/pool-99278007@N00/)
Green UO8 #3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blondeamazon/363092791/in/pool-99278007@N00/)
Turns out somone already got pics of it.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/363092790_650787ee2a_o.jpg

Also, where is the serial number?

Cool! A Euro model I never knew existed. I like the Lyotard platform pedals and the 50T outer chainring. Is the geometry a bit more relaxed than that of the PX-10E?

It would have originally been equipped with Bluemel plastic fenders. The inner ring was a 40. The ones I've seen in pictures had a bell mounted on the stem and a T.A. brake mounted chrome front rack. Maybe nobody imported them because they didn't think they'd sell here. I wouldn't have bought one at the time, but I'd love to find one now.

Thanks for creating this site!! I just picked up what I now know to be a UO8 today and will send you some pics and info if you want as I restore mine. While these may have been "lower end" bikes back in the day, compared to what one can find today I still think these are beautiful bikes - where else can you find a headtube lug that looks like that?

Any idea how to determine the exact model year?

Thanks for creating this site!! I just picked up what I now know to be a UO8 today and will send you some pics and info if you want as I restore mine. While these may have been "lower end" bikes back in the day, compared to what one can find today I still think these are beautiful bikes - where else can you find a headtube lug that looks like that?

Any idea how to determine the exact model year?
The most accurate would be by the serial number, but you could also determine the approximate age by what components it has, and what paint job it has.

Thanks for the feedback. Mastershake's suggestions of serial number on underside of bottom bracket or on a rear dropout, components and color are the best way. Post a photo if you can. It is going to take a while, but my goal is to post as many English catalogs/brochures on the website as possible.