redneckwes

This is my new project, A slightly modernized UO-8. It's a 22" frame, but that goofball stem makes it look smaller.









70's UO-8 Frameset I bought off e-bay.
Stronglight crankset. Sugino BB Cups and a #3 Spindle.
27" Alloy wheels w/Maillard low flange Hubs, (not Helicomatic)
BF stem, untill I find an ATAX.
Belleri Bars (Made in France)
Norex 39 saddle, still needs adjusted.
Rear Derailleur is a Simplex 410, front is a Simplex off my other UO-8.
Calipers are the factory Mafac Racers, levers are Weinmann's

I've been scrounging parts for it for awhile, had to make it rideable today so I could test it. Have not even taped the bars yet.

Still to come are Fenders, and Pletscher racks front and rear.

Kommisar89

Very nice Aaron. The paint looks a lot better than mine. Those old Pugs looked pretty sharp even with the entry level models.

hockeyteeth

I'm a fan of short stems. I have a short torso and they keep me from getting a sore neck.

I love Peugeots! My stepfather's was the first road bike I ever rode.

Dwaine Alberts

thats a good looking bike. I like the color. Looks great!

Dwaine

John E

Your paint job is in far better condition than mine, but we otherwise ride essentially the same thing -- an early 1970s UO-8 with aluminum rims and cranks. I don't know about you, but I am consistently surprised and impressed by how competent that cheapo frame is. The Pletscher racks (I have the old mousetrap style rear rack on mine) and mudguards will be a great addition, and of course the frameset has ample clearance for the latter. (My shorter-rake aftermarket fork does admittedly give me a toe-to-tire clearance problem that you do not have.)

Bikedued

Wow, that is nice looking paint! Nice find..... Looks nice!. I seriously need to convert my SS to a "modern" 3 piece. After seeing this bike, and the red Continental. It should drop a good 3 pounds from that alone, lol. Nice job~~! Now, WRAP THEM BARS!!,,,,BD

miamijim

I like the look. Blue is one of my Peugeot favorites.

stronglight

Yes, you have a very good looking bike there. Congratulations on finding one in such nice condition.

I think that stem is just raised EXTREMELY high - probably to accommodate the very deep drop handlebars. Using bars with a flatter "ramp", shallower drop and with the brake levers placed higher, the stem would look pretty normal. Before you toss the stem, try tilting the handlebar up so the slope down to the brake levers is more level with the stem. Then you should be able to drop the stem down a couple inches to a more "normal" height - and without making a big difference in your shoulder height.

Below is an example of a similar bar on one of my French bikes. The stem and headset are blocked by the bell, but stem height actually measures just around 3" (75 mm.) from the headset to top of stem. Saddle top is only 1" higher than the top of the stem (I like to keep them pretty level with each other). I can comfortably ride (and brake!) either with my hands on the hoods or with my hands in the "hooks". Not my favorite style bars, but useable this way without dropping my shoulders too low and straining by back and neck. ~ I think my bar now looks a bit odd, but I often see them tilted like this in old 1970s catalogs, so it was actually pretty common back then.

redneckwes

Thanks guys, From riding it yesterday, about a half hour, I was very surprised at how nice a ride it gives. It's not terribly light, but it feels a lot closer to a 501 or 531 frame then I thought a straight gauge mass market bike ever could.

Stronglight
You are correct it is set very high. Because I can't get it to go any farther into the fork. I had to sand that stem from 22.2 to 22.0. There's enough material in the fork to be safe, but it's borderline, so before I tape the bars I'm going to replace the stem with an Atax.