I guess I'm the guilty one for reviving this thread - the post before mine was five years old - didn't notice.

The metal-reinforced later-model Simplexes worked as well as the earlier models but, because of their dual-pivot design, were still a little more difficult to keep in proper alignment. I was a bike shop employee in the 60's and 70's and I hated to see Simplex-equipped bikes come in for adjustment.

Regarding the entry-level French bicycles of the time, their frames were surprisingly lively - the frames of the entry-level Peugeots and Gitanes were much more reactive than anything else on the market in their price range at that time. IMHO, the best products the French ever manufactured, including automobiles. And that is coming from a person who once put 12,000 miles on a Schwinn stovepipe Varsity in one year before the right chainstay broke.

Speaking of Schwinns, I once bought a Schwinn S/S Tourer (used) in the late 60's (Super Sport frame, TA cranks, Huret Allvit derailleurs, Normandie hubs) - that may have been Schwinn's first exploration outside the single-piece crank outside of the Campy-equipped Reynolds-531-framed Paramounts. By the time the bike and I parted company (divorce) there was no moving part that was original. Campy headset and hubs, (I build my own wheels). Regina Oro 13-31 rear gears, Constrictor Asp 36/36 clincher rims on Campy high-flange hubs, 60-56-52 chainwheels on the front, Campy NR shifters (and the rear handled the the necessary takeup without modification).

Damn, that was over 40 years ago, and I miss that bike to this day.....