Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Peugeot conversion, Fork needs 80mm hub width? What?

I have a Peugeot frame from the early 80's I believe, it is 501. It has a chrome carbolite fork on it though. I tried to put a normally spaced 100mm width hub in it and no dice. I measured it and it is 80mm!! i can't find anything about this online...Anyone ran into this?

thanks

please do a search there have been many a thread over the years about the banes of converting an old french standard bike

or you could also visit sheldonbrown.com for comprehensive information about all thing french and cycling

I stay clear of the froggy bastards for that very reason

It's not supposed to be 80mm, it's supposed to be 100mm. At some point in its life it got squished. If it's not damaged too badly it can safely bent back into correct dimensions, but you'll need to learn how or take it to someone who knows what they're doing otherwise you can end up with a crooked fork. And that can't be good for handling.

actually there was a french 80mm fork on some peugeot, gitane and vitus bikes

If you can find some evidence of this I'll apologize and believe you, but by the 80s I think the front hub spacing was pretty standardized across the board. Sheldon makes no mention of 80mm spacing in his article on French bikes, and the 80mm dimension isn't listed in his entry on frame spacing either: http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_sp-ss.html#spacing I feel like it's something he probably would've mentioned.

I'm fairly certain the fork was bent in. Have you ever tried it? It's quite easy with a steel fork. You can bend (er... cold set) it a few millimeters with your hands no problem.

I was aware of that and inspected it, it did not look to be bent. then again I don't know what evidence of bending there would be...But why would one bend a fork to 80mm? To put some old wheel they had on it?

Also it says carbolite on it and they only made carbolite in the 80's right?

Carbolite was included in quite a few model years as a marketing term for their low-end tubing. Used in the 70s-80s.

Info here. (www.retropeugeot.com)

Older Peugeots have some quirks with French sizes, which became a little more standardized in the early 80s, but I've never run across an 80mm fork. 96mm, yes.

Cold set that beast, or use strong fingers.

Photos of issue, please.

I don't think you'd notice it being bent by looking at it. Rear triangles on steel frames can sometimes be bent to accommodate different hubs, which do come in many different spacings. I also doubt it was done for a good purpose. It was done by accident, or by someone trying to wreck the fork by stepping on it. Like I said, bending the blades without a wheel installed is pretty easy.

On the plus side, you can find a replacement CrMO fork on Amazon for like 20 bucks. I'd do it even if you didn't need a new fork, as that French headset is probably shot and replacements are getting hard to find.

Yeah I was thinking of the replacement fork idea. Here is a photo of the fork and two of the bike it came from. Anyone have any idea what peugeot it is? It has a 501 main tube sticker.

http://joepolitic.com/IMG_1432.JPG
http://joepolitic.com/IMG_1433.JPG
http://joepolitic.com/IMG_1434.JPG

Is there a stamp or a sticker on the underside of the bottom bracket shell?

There is a plastic cable guide plate there, nothing else. I think it is a PGN from the 80's

Thanks for the photos. :thumb:

Yeah, the fork ends look slightly askew. This could indicate one or both of the blades have been slightly bent. Simple fix at the LBS, or in your garage if you're the handy type. Alignment issues are key when working with the fork. And kind of tough if you're just winging it. The bike will start tracking left or right if the alignment is off center.

Your call. LBS wold be safe bet. They have the tools for the job.

That headset is a little rusty up top. I would imagine the bearings need some fresh grease. And cancer treatment. :innocent: