With my Bianchi going up for sale at the Stop, Swap and Save meets in Westminster, MD and the Richmond area . . . . . . and assuming my job IS going to call me back sometime in March . . . . . . . I'm going to need a new ride to keep at the office for lunch hour errands. I'll admit, I like the looks of the Pashley Guv'nor, but have no desire whatsoever to either pay that kind of money for what to me is a limited use bike, nor do I have the ego to be seen on one in the first place.

Now, I've got a rusty UO-8 frame sitting in the shop, from a successful foray to the local transfer station earlier in the spring. I do love the way those things ride. Picked up a Lotus 27" fork at the local recycle shop. Started fitting bits together this afternoon so I could start working out the fine details:



The headset is no-name Taiwanese, the crank and spindle is the original crank from my Magneet (I really want a cottered crank on this) - both chainrings (52 and 40) are bolt-on to the spider so I should be able to work around the spacing and get a good chain line. Bottom bracket cups are the original Peugeot. Just have to figure rear sprocket diameter so I can decide which chainwheel gets used. The plan is for 27" alloy rims with either SS/FG or Sturmey AW hub. Probably Weinmann side pulls and mustache or North Road bars. Favorit black leather saddle, probably a micro adjust alloy seat post.

Now comes the problem. Obviously since I'm going to all this trouble this is going to get a high quality powder coating, and I may even go fancy enough to pinstripe the lugs.

I'm seriously considering hacking off the braze ons to get a clean frame line. Yes, this goes against my philosophy of treating a vintage frame, and if the frame was in any better condition, the thought would never cross my mind. I'll admit, I'm torn. I may put Peugeot decals back on it (as vintage as I can find), but it'll never get rebuilt into a functioning UO-8 again.

Thoughts from the peanut gallery?