Zoxe

There's a permanent garage sale (you know the type) on the way home that normally has a few small framed junker bikes out front - Huffys and other X-mart types. Yesterday I noticed a tall framed, blue, steel framed bike there. Today I slowed a bit and tried to read the downtube. It might have said PEUGEOT. It's nowhere near as nice as your ride, but checking out your pics made me think about it again ... tomorrow I'll be driving the truck home and will have room in the back.

I don't need a project bike at the moment, but it could be fun to mess with once the snow flies and I need to keep my idle hands busy.

DTSs

Mine cleaned up very well. Hope you get it.

DTSs

Thanks Barrettscv. I almost let this one go, but got out the tape measure at the last minute. It's the first French bike I've owned, but it won't be the last.

Redcat

I picked this up as both a road & gravel bike. I don't plan on any CX racing as of now, but just to get out more.

Zoxe

I got it. It wasn't a Peugeot, it was a Centurion LeMans, 10 speed. I know next to nothing about it, maybe I got taken, but at the price I paid ... probably not. It's a lugged frame, so I took it home. The stem shifters reminded me of the Sears-brand 12-speed I had as a kid, so that sold it.

Not sure what I'll do with it yet, but it'll see some chip n' seal and maybe some gravel next season.

The paint is chipped and faded, but thought as I drove home that maybe I'd just rub the frame with some scotch brite pads and then clear coat it like the rat rodders do on those car shows. The patina it earned shouldn't be removed.

DTSs

Good catch. Look up "Centurion LeMans" on the Bike Forums. It's amazing what folks have done with them.

wearyourtruth

finally finished this build after a small welding repair to a brake boss

jtgotsjets

The LeMans was Centurion's money-maker. Not their nicest bike, but a few steps above their bottom-end. Yours looks like early 80s, which means it's not *that* nice, but it should still be a solid rider and last for many years to come. The frame sticker is a good representation of this: hi-ten steel (low end) but butted (nicer than 90% of hi-ten frames out there).

Would make a good candidate for a fixed/single-speed conversion, if you ask me. Save some weight and the shifter clamp, cable stop and derailleur claw will come off for a clean look. You could convert to 700c at the same time and probably gain a bit of tire clearance, all the better for gravel rides.

Zoxe

I was actually thinking along these lines now that I've had the bike a few days. I don't currently have a SS, and setting it up to compete with the Cross Check will cause it to get more neglected.

Kopsis

Wow, riding gravel on 18/20 spoke rims? Your gravel roads must be better than some of my paved roads

wearyourtruth

i'm pretty light on my bikes. if i find they are going out of true too much i can always swap them out, but when i got the frame home i couldn't pass up the opportunity to put on matching rims, how often does that happen??

Barrettscv 

Nice vintage build! How old is the frame.

cs1

WOW, that is one nice bike. When do the derailleurs go on?

wearyourtruth

not sure, but based on the *very* limited information i've found about the brand, and the fact that i'm almost certain it was originally built for 27" wheels (took forever to find a set of brakes that i could get a short enough reach for 700c), and the fork crown/other small touches i am guessing it's mid-late 70's.

wearyourtruth

it's only brazed for a rear derailleur, which may go on one day if i find a good shifter setup for a 1xwhatever. i *hate* having mis-matched hoods/levers, so doing a regular lever on the left and a brifter on the right is very unlikely. perhaps a kelly takeoff or paul thumbie will be in order one day, but i'm in no rush

Barrettscv 

Just install a bar end shifter, the old Suntour barcons are excellent;

wearyourtruth

a valid option, but i personally dislike bar-end shifters. when i am standing over my bike i always seem to bump them with my leg. it's a petty thing, but drove me nuts on my touring bike. went to stem shifters, silly as they look, and am much happier.

Meesha

This is my new cross-bike. My first fast bike - my others are a mtb and a hybrid. But the reach is too far - have to replace the stem.Not sure how to post pics properly.

mattheis

Kobe 

After months of going back and forth between the A Soma Double Cross and a BMC Monstercross, the Monstercross won. Mostly based on it was a larger frame and would fit better and the uniqueness. I got it as a frame and swapped most of the parts over from my Salsa Casseroll.

azgreg

Black Mountain builds some very nice frames. Do you have a weight on yours?

Kobe 

I was very impressed with the quality and Mike Varley's philosophy on practical builds.

I have not weighed it yet, but it is probably in the 25lb range with the Brooks and heavy duty wheel-set.

browngw 

The new Salsa Vaya Road/Touring/Gravel I recently purchased has Shimano Sora components. It came with a 30/42/52t crankset and an 11-32 9speed cassette.

I suspect the wide range of gears on this bike has a lot to do with it's intended multiple functions. The geometry is set-up to perform adequately loaded or un-loaded.

With its 700 40c tires it feels sweet on gravel and so far I'm very happy with the gearing.

Vonruden

Very nice Kobe! I was very close to mulling the trigger on a BMC, just love them. I ended up going with an older Indy Fab planet cross, now I just need the parts to build her up. Your ride looks awesome.

Kobe 

Thanks Vonruden, I can't wait to see your IF cross built up. You always have such a great collection of bikes. It must be hard to choose what to ride sometimes.

I was originaly looking for something used, but I could not find anything in my size. It is strange having my first brand new bike in over 25 years. That first scratch is going to hurt.