Classic & Vintage - Looking for 80s Peugeot & CTA stem info

I have a Peugeot PGN-10 from somewhere between 1984 and 86, and it's a beautiful, fast ride I really enjoy except for one thing: I have a persistent mid-back problem, and the drop bars make it hurt. Long story short, I want to put North Road handlebars on my Peugeot. I know it'll look funny, but hey, I'll be able to ride without getting so sore!

I'm trying to determine if I need a 25mm or 25.4mm bar. The current stem and bar are CTA. I've tried to measure it, but without a nice caliper, it's mighty hard to determine a difference of .4mm! Were all the CTA stems/bars post-1984 25.4mm?

thanks!

I have a Peugeot PGN-10 from somewhere between 1984 and 86, and it's a beautiful, fast ride I really enjoy except for one thing: I have a persistent mid-back problem, and the drop bars make it hurt. Long story short, I want to put North Road handlebars on my Peugeot. I know it'll look funny, but hey, I'll be able to ride without getting so sore!

I'm trying to determine if I need a 25mm or 25.4mm bar. The current stem and bar are CTA. I've tried to measure it, but without a nice caliper, it's mighty hard to determine a difference of .4mm! Were all the CTA stems/bars post-1984 25.4mm?

thanks!

I think post 84 PGNs with the Reynolds 501 frame tubing had (English) sized/trheaded components, so I suspect the bars are 26mm diameter at the stem.
85 was generally the year Peugeot broke free from French sized/threded stuff for most of their bikes.

Chombi

Thanks for the reply, Chombi. When I tried to measure, I couldn't determine it exactly, but it looked a lot closer to 25 than 26, for what it's worth. But hey, I'd take 26!

Oh, and also, near as I could determine last night via components, this one looks pretty certain to be a 1984.

Digital caliper = vintage bike owners best friend. Pick one up at Harbor Freight or similar. You will be happy to have it!

You are no doubt correct, especially considering I have only vintage bikes!

You are no doubt correct, especially considering I have only vintage bikes!


Yes, the lack of standardization is crazy. I use my calipers all of the time.

Digital caliper = vintage bike owners best friend. Pick one up at Harbor Freight or similar. You will be happy to have it!
I purchased a sub$10 caliper at Harbor Freight and it lasted through one engine overhaul which is all I purchased it for, but next time I need one I'll buy another new one, of better quality. The HF caliper lost its thumb roller screw due to fracture of the plastic boss, and went through expensive batteries at a pretty alarming rate. I'm back to using my grand-dad's vernier caliper, the odd times I need something between a 0.02" and micrometer accuracy.

I got frustrated with looking for calipers, so I came up with an interim method. I'm sure it's obvious to some folks, but I was feeling pretty happy with myself for figuring it out: cut a narrow strip of paper, wrap around handlebar, mark where strip overlaps. Measure end of strip to mark in millimeters to get circumference (79.9ish, in this case). Divide by pi: just over 25.4.

Final step: Order new bars! :)