Classic & Vintage - Peugeot Competition 600 - anyone know this bike?

Up for sale near me (on eBay) is this rather sad-looking Pug road bike.

Inspired by the posts on this forum I'm thinking about taking this on to fix up as a winter bike.

I wanted to ask on here first if anyone knows about this model, as the item description is so vague. I fear if it's a goodie, others may get interested in what the seller replies to my question. I've had a good search through the forum but nothing about the Comp 600 came up.

Having spent a fair portion of my youth tearing around on Peugeot road bikes I do have a soft spot for them, so am watching this auction with interest. Plus the guy has marked the auction 'pick-up only' which always cuts down on prospective bidders.

The bike is police-registered and the certificates are with the bike, so AFAIK it has not been stolen.

Thanks in advance for any information - particularly model year, components, project suitability - you get the picture.
Barchettaman
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/83/2095783/1680_6535336432396462.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/83/2095783/1680_3135326364626430.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/83/2095783/1680_6139393039346333.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/83/2095783/1680_3264306462623134.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/83/2095783/1680_3662616336313561.jpg

The pictures have come out WAY sharper than on eBay. The RSX groupset was mid-'90s, am I right? Looks like a 7-speed cassette.
I'm getting excited now I've seen better pictures....
Calm. Down.

looks like a beauty if it is the right size and the right price... why not go for it... perhaps the seller has a buy it now option so you won't have to wait out all the bidding.

No BIN option. No bidders either. He has sensibly started at €1.
The size (58) is about right, although I prefer a 60. Nothing a threadless headseat and a bit of butchery won't sort out.
Looking closer at the frame, it might be a Competition 500, not 600. Difficult to see.

Looks like a good bike that does need some heavy duty cleaning. As long as you are willing to do the work yourself, I would go for it!!

Cleaning I can do.
The other stuff, well, I'm learning as I go along. But we've all got to start somewhere.

I have never seen a Peugeot with Italian-labeled CrMo tubing, although Columus tre tubi would be equivalent to the Reynolds 531 "3 tubes renforces" used on the ca. 1980 PKN-10 Competitions and their PR-10 predecessors. Is this a Canadian Peugeot, perhaps?

For 1 Euro, it's a bargain!

I doubt it'll stay at €1 :(

Still, it's going to be cheaper than any of the bikes I was looking at, in a moment of weakness, on the Canyon website the other day.

European models often differ from the US, but based on the components it is 1995-1999. Thron was basically the replacement for SL, so the main triangle is decent, though by this period would be nothing special.

During this period the North American model using RSX was the Success. However, it used True Temper tubing. For interest, the 1995 price was $600 US.

Go for it.. its my favorite color!

Thanks all for the info and advice.
I will keep a close eye on it, bid if it's looking a sensible price, and let you know how I get on.
The RSX groupset seems pretty well thought-of, and there's plenty of advice regarding resurrecting seized components on this site, so no worries there (famous last words).
That looks like original Peugeot bar tape, so I'm hoping this bike has seen little use and then just been gathering dust.

Looks like I might be investing in a proper cable cutter, some shift & brake cables, handlebar tape, threadless adaptor, Brass wool, Autosol chrome cleaner, and making Sheldon's site my homepage :-)

Cheers all
Barchettaman

If you get this bike...

1. the brake calipers will suck
2. the shifters will not work

But if you spray the shifters with a light weight oil... WD40... and then bang them around on the workbench for a day or two, they will likely start to shift again. (just make sure you ride the bike!)

These RSX calipers have the weakest return spring I've ever come across, and I'd suggest that you will probably hate them.

RSX was the lowest road "group" that shimano made during this era.

1995 Competition 500, Made in France.

1995 still falls within Peugeots reign as one of the worlds leading race bike companies. They won their last Tour de France team title in '96 with the Festina team.

'Competition' series bikes have identicle geometires to Peugeots 'Professional' series bikes of the same period. 73'30" headtube with a 73' seatube, 405mm chainstays and ~950mm wheelbase. You can bet your last dollar that its one fast nimble bike.

The Competition 500 is 7th in line out of 13 for 1995.

10.9 kgs which is respectible for a mid level steel bike.

Jim

going over to ebay now. I want it.

Jim and Infinityeye, many thanks for the information. I will bear the brake/shifter advice in mind.

I´ll let you know how I get on.

Barchettaman

Well, I got it, for €78.

Here it is after a quick clean
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj158/simon_milan/IMG_2331-1.jpg

Pedals are siezed on (bad), wheels are true (good), can´t work the brifters out at all (Shimano RSX), oh and I broke the chain tool trying to get the chain off (bad, obviously).

Be prepared for an avalanche of questions on the BM forum as I attempt to bring it back to life.
Next job - new gear and brake cables/housings, new 23mm clinchers, and work the bloody shifters out.

I doused them with WD40 but still no luck at moving the derailleur down to the high gears.

Goodness knows how I am going to get the chain off.

how does that price translate to american $

Live rates at 2008.11.08 17:12:42 UTC

78.00 EUR = 99.8438 USD

Euro:
1 EUR = 1.28005 USD

United States Dollars:
1 USD = 0.781220 EUR

-Kurt

Goodness knows how I am going to get the chain off.

Maybe I am way wrong here. Could you just cut the chain with some bolt cutters, maybe there is a reason why you should'nt? A new chain can't cost that much?

Bolt cutters it is then.
I thought getting the chain off would be a breeze, the only easy thing about it was destroying the chain tool.
Ah well, it´s all experience I s´pose.

Really diggin the color! Only thing its missing is lugs!

what kinda chain tool was it? if it was a cheap department store job I can understand it breaking on ya, ive broken a few of them. Since ive picked up a real nice one, which every bicycle owner/mechanic should do!

Glad you like the colour! A bit metrosexual, but for $100 equiv. I can´t complain.

The chain tool was part of a bike tool box set, made by Con Tec.
Everytime time I open up the plastic case tools leap out at me. I´m pretty underwhelmed that the chain tool broke first time out. I had hoped to salvage the chain using the tricks on this forum, but going at it with bolt cutters will rule that out... I suspect.

I think the seat tube may have siezed in the frame too.

Anyone got any thoughts on a tyre colour choice? I was thinking black/yellow for that full mid-´90s effect. Will look suitably garish against the lilac frame.

Stem shouldn't be too bad - it looks like its almost all the way out already! And as far as the RD goes, why not remove the cable, take it off the frame and soak it in kerosene overnight, then try working it with your hands until it unseizes?

Lovely bike, especially for the price (even if I think the brifters look goofy!)...Wish there were $100 bikes like that near me....

Thanks for the advice Mark. I´ll try that.

If you think the brifters look goofy, wait til you see me trying to climb a hill on a bike. That really is goofy.

Oh happy day! The gods of WD40 have smiled, and overnight the RD has unseized! Clicks up and down the cassette beautifully! I think I maight get away with keeping the old cables on too! Front and rear brakes are both working with a smooth and strong action.
No joy on the FD alas - it´s still not playing ball and might need a kerosene bath.
I´m getting into this restoration thing. This is my first attempt and it´s going pretty well.

I think the seat tube may have siezed in the frame too.

Take out the top water bottle cage bolt. Turn bike over. Inject some metal penetrating oil. Allow bike to sit for a day or two. Turn bike back over. Loosen seat bolt. Pray and then start seat post removal.

Will do - many, many thanks for the tip.

Bumpety bump.

Everything is proceeding smoothly - apart from the seat tube remaining seized, but as it´s at my height anyway, what the heck!!

Quick question(s). The front derailleur is completely and utterly rusted through and is shot beyond salvage. Will any replacement Shimano FD work with the (recently revived) RSX shifters? As long as the clamp to the seat tube is the right diameter (28 ish mm AFAICS), will it be OK? Should I be looking for a specific road bike front derailleur, or just any old working one?

Something like this? They are saying it has a 28.6 mm diameter on the clamp.

http://pl20292.macbay.de/_pics/Velo/105_Umw/.thumbnails/m__05.jpg

http://pl20292.macbay.de/_pics/Velo/105_Umw/.thumbnails/m__03.jpg

http://pl20292.macbay.de/_pics/Velo/105_Umw/.thumbnails/m__04.jpg

I have two cogs on the front, and a 7 speed cassette on the back.

Thanks - as always - for any advice, apologies for the newbie question, and best wishes all.
Barchettaman