I recently picked up this Peugeot off CR. While I read everything I can find about Raleighs, Nishikis and Schwinns, I know less than nothing about Peugeots. From my searches on BF I'm guessing this is a UO8? It looks to me like a low end bike. But I can only guess at the model since there is no information on the decals. I'll share everything I know about the bike. The bars are chrome steel. The original rear deraileur is replaced with a Suntour VGT Luxe that does NOT have a year stamp on the back like other Suntour deraileurs have. The levers are Suntour rachet also replacement (actually kinda nice).
The front DR is the original Simplex. The rims are alloy the brand is Champion made in France with 95 PSI Specialized tires (tires obvious replacement). The crank is cottered as you can see from the pictures. The brakes are Weinmann 999 center pull. The brake levers are Mafac with half hoods and nice plastic coating over the handles. They are in really nice condition. A lot of adjustments and lubing are required, but everything works. There are no numbers or identity on the rear dropout, but the BB housing has the following numbers on a plate rivited to the frame, 2245593, no letters.
If you can help me with any information like model or age, of this Peugeot, I would really appreciate it as I'm trying to figure out what to do with it.

1972 UO-8.
Original brake calipers would have been Mafac Racers.
Original brake cable housing would have been white.
Original saddle would have been tensioned leather.

If it fits you, consider upgrading to aluminum rims, KoolStop brake pads, and modern brake cable housings. These are great commuters (see my signature).

But ya, the rims are alloy, and nice ones. Probably also an upgrade at some point. Best thing to do now is replace steel cranks with something alloy, and maybe also the bars, and there you go!

That's an Ava stem right? Isn't that the famous death stem? It doesn't look like the Ava stem on my U08, so what do I know.

cool bag

even the low end 1's ride nice

UHHHH! What's a death stem? I've heard of the death fork, but not the death stem. Please explain.

And explain whether all AVA stems are death stems and how to tell the difference.

Brief searches show that at least oe person claims that AVA stems with horizontal clamp bolts are death stems and others aren't. I have offered an AVA stem to a forum member, but would like to just discard it if it is dangerous.

Little Darwin, I did a search on BF and found a reference in Sheldon Brown. With regard to AVA, he says "don't ride them they break". I tried to copy the link, but it did not work. But here it is:
https://sheldonbrown.com/velos.html#parts
EDIT: Dang! It does work!

I've hear that ava stems are bad.

Yeah, I saw Sheldon's site too, but as I said, I saw someone that indicated that it was only a specific type of AVA stem...

Given two opinions, I lean real heavily toward accepting Sheldon's over an anonymous person's. However, even though he is a great source, I do think Sheldon has the potential to be imperfect.

For safety, I think a blanket statement doesn't hurt, but with the increasing shortage of French sized stems, I would hate to toss one out that is OK.

There is always the factor that 22.0 can be acheived easily by sanding a 22.2 stem... That and I do need to start getting rid of parts that I'll never use.

Anyone want an AVA stem and alloy bar? If the non-Sheldon site I read is valid, it isn't the death stem.

I cut all ava stems in half out of fear! (they are usually rusted in the fork and they cut in half real easy with the angle grinder!)

As for this "death stem" theory, I have heard that for years. Other common notions include Cinelli bars should be changed out every few years or they will "fail", Campy NR road cranks are cracking and falling off, etc. From a practical standpoint, there are a lot of Cinelli bars, AVA stems and Campy Cranks still around after 20, 30 or even 40 years. I think it depends a great deal on what type of use the componenet recieves. If you are an out and out racer, particularly a sprinter, a tremendous amount of force is applied to these parts, and you would be concerned if one failed. And, of course, being subjected to lots of force will tend to separate out the top of the line components from lesser ones. I would say maybe AVA stems were made for lower end bikes which the manufacturers did not think would be used under the stressfull situations inherent in racing. For us "lower tier" riders that just like to get out and exercise and maybe ride up a long hill fast once in awhile I don't think we are going to exert the same force on our handlebars and cranks as Lance Armstrong in the French Alps. But, if we are charging up hills and sprinting to finish lines then we better be using the best equipment we can get, and not Peugeot UO8's with AVA stems! Of course, with ANY old componentry, we need to contantly be inspecting for cracks, fractures, loosness, etc etc that we may not need to worry about with a new modern bike just off the showroom floor. Thats my take and I'm sticking with it!

Yeah, I would have a hard time seeing a stem just fail without any signs.

Yeah, good point. The bike I pictured has had the tires replaced, half the cables, the shifters, the rear deraileur and the rims. Of all the old, garage sale bikes I've purchased (I'm up to about 35-40 now), this one has the most changes. Someone put some money into this bike. That usually happens to a bike that is being used. So, the stem has lasted however many miles occurred over its 35 year life span. Even if it is the dreaded death stem, this one seems to be holding up real well. I think I'll just leave it alone.

Ah the death stem.
Yes they failed, I don't know if there was any warning, but there
were enough cases for it to be a well known fact that certain AVA stems
failed. Below is a picture from Sheldon's site, note that the stem is hollow and
is through the entire extension, enought bouncing, jostling and stress and it's
going to tear/fail.

if you're going to take your ava stemmed bike out for gentle riding probably
won't matter, but if you are going to hammer, climb etc. I'd change it for something
a bit less prone to failure.
but what do I know, I rode a viscount with death fork for 4 or 5 years.

marty

Thanks, there is a different ava stem on a couple local one.
But my atax one looks a lot like that...., as long as those don't have a bad rep.

Did Sheldon cut the stem in the pictures? Mine has a flat, filled in back. There's not enough meat on the back of that stem to cut it and have it look like Sheldon's, (I think). Also, note the limit ridge on the stem in my picture that I did not notice on the one in Sheldon's picture. Any thoughts? Do I have the dreaded Death Stem

It looks like a very late UO8 or similar model. The brazed-on housing stops on the down tube indicate it originally came with stem shifters, which was only done quite late in the run. The pie plate on the crankset also suggests late '70s.

The Sun Tour Power Ratchet shifters are an upgrade, as are the wheels, or at least the rims.

It doesn't appear to have the 36 tooth chainring that was the particular hallmark of the UO8, but that might also have been a late-in-the-run change. If I had to guess, I'd say 1977 or 78.

Sheldon "Tubes Special Allege" Brown

Thank You Sheldon,

Not familiar with the Spanish Inquisition eh?

I've learned a lot of historical facts about bikes here on the C&V forum. However, I never knew that punishment during the Spanish Inquisition was to ride a bike until the stem broke. What a terrible way to go! I'll be sure to tell my kids so they have the answer if that comes up at school. (Thanks Joe v.)

Admit that 'the death fork' and 'the death stem' could easily be inserted in a list already including 'the rack', 'the iron lady', 'heretic's fork' (!!), 'the skull crusher' and 'the wheel'!

p.s. Picture this history classroom scene :
Teacher : 'Today's subject : the Bicycle.
Today's bicycles are a far cry from the original 13th century invention which over time became known and feared as one of the most cruel instruments of torture of the Middle Ages. While the Inquisitors appreciated its manyfold possibilities, suspects would often faint at the mere sight of the dreaded metal contraption...