I just pulled the bottom bracket out of an older Peugeot road bike and I'm trying to figure out what type of threading it has. I would like to replace the bottom bracket, since it is older, beaten up, and loose bearings. Since they are prevalent and inexpensive I was planning on going with a sealed-bearing Shimano BB.

1) How do I figure out what type of BB I need? I took out the non-drive side BB cup and it screwed out in a counter-clockwise direction. I was talking to someone that was telling me you could tell if it was English threaded or not by the direction you turned the cups in - is this true?

2) And on this topic, the drive side isn't "cup" meets flush up against the BB shell and just has two flats on it. I'm not exactly sure how I take this off. You can't get a spanner wrench or anything on it, I don't think. Suggestions?

Happy Friday! I hope it is warm enough somewhere out there for people to be riding outside. I'm stuck with rollers and working on old bikes...