smashworth

Hello Group,

I just wanted to do a little show and tell. I picked this bike up as a package deal off craigslist, it kinda came free another bike. It's in rough shape, but still rideable. It's my daily driver, atm. Link to pics here: https://imgur.com/a/aCLf1#0

I did a little looking around for info on it and I believe it is an '81 PFN10. https://www.cyclespeugeot.com/images/1981_PFN10.jpg
It has all the same components as this one and has the pearl white paint. I had to replace both the original simplex derailers and I replaced the freewheel with a Maillard Atom compact one.
I put on my selle anatomica saddle and gave it new fizik perforated bartape. It rides really nice. The 58cm frame fits me perfectly. It has Vitus 181 tubing, which is really light and the geometry feels compact and "race-y".

The frame has a few issues. No dents, it's straight, but has awful paint and crazy surface rust. Then, there is the seat tube problem. If you look at the pics it looks like someone tried to ream it out and thinned it a tad too much(and then it rusted). The seat post covers the holes but, that dosen't seem like a fix of any sort. I'm not really sure how to solve that, but I'll tackle that at some point.

My plan is to ride it until I can finish building my '88 Panasonic DX-5000. Then I'll tear it down and see what I can do with it. If it's saveable, Ill restore it and keep it.

Thanks for listening. I'd love to hear any comments y'all have.

20grit

That seat tube looks like a Vitus steel enema waiting to happen.

smashworth

It does. Any suggestions?

smashworth

I'd like to add that I treated it with a rust inhibitor, so it's not still rusting away.

20grit

Have you done anything to stop the rust? There are products like rust mort, naval jelly, and the like that will stop it. The frame could use an oxalic acid bath, but that would require disassembling it. Other treatments would as well; most rust treatments are not aluminum friendly. Once treated, you could see what steel remains. There may be less non-compromised steel there than you think.

The hole on the forward portion of the tube looks like it may be from a pump peg.

smashworth

Yeah, rust killed. Ill be doing a complete tear down soon. I'm almost finished with my DX, I just need to find a few key pieces. Then I can start on repairing this one.

I'm pretty sure it didnt have a pump mount on the frame. Its "racer" model, albeit entry level in that line.

Chombi

Without changing that seat tube, that French frame is Toast!

Pistard

That rear derailleur is like a mutant piece of new tech on that frame...

randyjawa 

One of my favorite bicycles is the Peugeot Course. I have owned a few and the ride quality, not to mention the look, always impresses me...

smashworth

Yeah, I had an extra one from my DX-5000 build so I threw it on there when the original Simplex one failed.

smashworth

Ha!!! Good one.

Seriously, though. Is it worth repairing? Id love to have this bike be in better condition. Is that even a possibility?

Michael Angelo 

I'm rescuing one now for a customer. More pictures soon.

Wildwood 

With the hole in the seat tube (large hole) I wouldn't put any money into that frame. Probably has significant rust inside the tubes. Some things are just DOA.

bikemig 

Agreed that these are beautiful bikes and they are well made as well. I enjoyed putting them together when I worked in a Peugeot shop. I sold my PKN 10 and UO 10 many moons ago. I'd like to find a UO-10 in my size; they make a great utility/beater bike.

Michael Angelo 

They are not well made.

Chombi

+1.... Unfortunately, I wil have to agree....
They ride real well, but the "craftsmanship" was not really there even up to the 80's, despite having decals proudly stating "Brase' a la Main''" (Hand brazed) on the top tubes of their bikes...
Brazing gaps and lumps and bubbles at the lug/tube seams were the norm that was accompanied by uneven lug alignment and shaping, very rough filing marks and really thin spots on the paint finish.
Yes you can find good ones within a bunch of frames, but they more the exception, rather than the norm.... Took me about 8 months of visiting repeatedly (as new deliveries came in) the Peugeot dealer's shop to find a PSV with a well made frame back in 84, and the first one I found that looked good enough had to be returned for warranty replacement as after a few miles, the head tube inexplicably started to develop a bulge at the front. Good thing was, the owner of the shop located one with a very well made frame through his contacts at Peugeot USA.
I suspect that the quality of other Peugeot models were similar in general....

miamijim

...

Ex Pres 

Yes, it's possible to replace the seat tube. But it would cost waaay more than the bike is worth.

Ed in Toronto

Nice looking bike, I hope you can get it cleaned up and working nicely.

peter_d

I had a mid 80's Course, Canadian built I think, that was very nicely made, much more so than other Peugeots i've seen. The frame was too small for me so it's currently my daughters single speed. Even with the often sloppy workmanship Peugeots still seem to be great rides.

Michael Angelo 

The fork blades have a very visible seam on the back. The chrome is thin and full of file marks. Frame alignment is non existent, brazing is terrible. The bb threading is not deep enough. Seat bolt lugs are thin and not back filled, easily crushed. .....etc..

ebow3d

other than that, what do you like about the bike? :-)

gerv 

I think this means he likes it.

bloom87

i once had a teal pb-12 course too... i crashed it when I was drunk

Robofunc

It's a shame about that terrifying seat tube.