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Gettinga UO-8 and I'm strangely excited.

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Gettinga UO-8 and I'm strangely excited.

Old 02-09-10, 04:53 PM
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Gettinga UO-8 and I'm strangely excited.

As you may or may not know, I am currently in possession of a late 70's Peugeot PRN that is two sizes too small. I was surprised to find that it was mostly original and for that reason and because it was a gift, it has a special place in my heart. Plus: it's French. In researching it I realized that French is to bike as KLR is to motorcycle or Apple is to computers and I AM a dedicated Mac guy! So I like them because they are quirky. I also respect the history of the things that I have collected and hold my father's old camera in very high regard as I do my father in law's Raleigh Marathon that he passed along to me recently. I use them, but carefully. I have been searching for a larger PRN or PX to come up for reasonable money locally, but it has not been the case. Even the UO level Peugeots that have come up have been "big bucks". Then, one day I found a bike on Craigslist for cheep enough money and sent an inquiry for a picture. I got a very long and detailed reply from a nice gentleman who bought the bike new and had ridden it ever since, making some practical modifications along the way. We made a "deal" in the sense that I didn't haggle at all and he agreed to hold it for me for a couple of weeks until I can get some other things straightened away.

I know tha this is a low-level bike-boom bike. I know that it's going to need some work to make it road-worthy. I know that the guy is asking a little more than it's worth. I know it won't be as nice as either the PRN or the Raleigh. What it will be is a 10-speed bike that fits me and that I can feel completely free and comfortable riding in all circumstances because that is what the man who owned it since new want's for it and has always done with it! And it's French. I'm as giddy as a school girl. Seriously. I can't wait until next week to get it!

Thank you for listening. I just wanted to share.
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Old 02-09-10, 05:50 PM
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I think the UO8 is analogous to the VW Beetle from the same time period---they transcend their market category, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and they have a loyal cult following.
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Old 02-09-10, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Whit51
I think the UO8 is analogous to the VW Beetle from the same time period---they transcend their market category, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and they have a loyal cult following.
+1 I had one with most of the heavy OEM bits replaced with alloy parts. It was amazingly competitive, for a low end bike. It will surprise you.
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Old 02-09-10, 06:24 PM
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I already have a PX10 and a PA10, but I'd still like to find a nice UO-8 to go with them.
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Old 02-09-10, 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by wrk101
+1 I had one with most of the heavy OEM bits replaced with alloy parts. It was amazingly competitive, for a low end bike. It will surprise you.
I got a UO-8 bike needing a total rebuild, and started thinking about how to refurbish it. I gave up on a French freshening or restoration, and realized I have a nearly complete 1984 Shimano 600 gruppo that I could use, with the exception of the calipers, headset, and BBcups. It now has aluminum rims, crank, stem, and handlebars. It ended up being an amazingly comfortable bike, and with that build and a Brooks saddle, it weights just a bit over 25 pounds! Amazing for a seamed steel base-level bike boom frame.

Be excited! It's a great bike.
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Old 02-10-10, 05:19 AM
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I already have a PX10 and a PA10, but I'd still like to find a nice UO-8 to go with them.
I seem to be tripping over Peugeot UO8s these days. I have a couple of blue ones, a white one or two, a red one, a purple one, a black one and there might even be one gold colored one left in The Old Shed. Then there are a few Mixtes out there also. Now that I have my PX10, the UO8, and anything else from the Peugeot line, is of little interest even though the UO8 is a pretty decent road bike. That said...

I did find one UO8 that was so nice I kept it for a while. That bike was near mint and you will not believe me when I tell you how I found the bike and that the find spanned two consecutive days... If you are interested in the bike and where I found it, have a peek https://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...troduction.htm

Maybe I will have Peugeot Bicycle Yard Sale in the Spring.
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Old 02-10-10, 05:36 AM
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I use a UO as my primary beater. It's a great bike. I might get rid of the Serotta before I got rid of the UO.
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Old 02-10-10, 05:50 AM
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We have nothing but nice things to say about these at our house. We usually sell every one to local college kids as fast as we can get'em ready. Helps pay for the kids' sailing camp in the summer. Same with Fuji S-10s.
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Old 02-10-10, 10:19 AM
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back in the mid 70s bike boom years, i got as a graduation present a bike labelled Francia-- which i've come to suspect was a rebadged UO8. it had mafac racers, a cottered steel crank, Simplex derailleurs, an Ideale saddle, stem shifters, 27" steel rims....white, black lugs, the whole thing, only Francia, not Peugeot. anybody ever heard of Francia? i won't go into all the wrong things i did to that bike, but i still have the frame....
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