I have no great affection for the cottered cranks on the boomers unless they are Raleigh... replacing them is now a pretty easy job since Velo Orange offers a cartridge bb for French bottom brackets.

It knocks a good pound off the bike and frees one up to use whatever crank / chain ring combination suits them best.

Rode my UO8 all day and laid down about 20 miles in some scorching heat... got my rear rack installed tonight and now that that I can carry my panniers will use the bike to go and see my mom on the weekend... it's a 50 mile ride if I take the short route and 60 if I take the scenic route.