I recently decided that the I would refurbish the old peugeot that was left in our garage when we bought our house 2 years ago.... I would like your optinion on a few things.
Firstly here is a bit of info on the bike:
Its made in Canda,
its red and white rainbow design,,,
carbolite 103 frame,
shimano SIS gears 10 speeds,
an Italmanubri handle bars,
swallow 28x266 tires
and the following code on the frame 8k04522,
and finally a pb9 sticker which I think is bogus as I can't find any info on a pb9 anywhere!!

I was thinking in repainting the frame as the rainbows are a bit horrible... is this frame worth investing in? I was then planning on installing straight handle bars as the brakes are really stiff and the bike seems unstable to me.... what do you think?
I am planning on keeping the original gears, shifters, brakes and frame and only installing the new handle bars, brake levers a new saddle and new tires

This is all after I build my own bike stand.
This seems like a new hobby to me

I am looking forward to all your expert advice.

Thanks

PB9's existed. Pictures needed.

I doubt that straight handlebars and new brake levers will make the bike more stable. Has it been a while since you last rode a bike? Stiff brakes almost certainly means that it needs new cables and housings. The levers themselves aren't the problem.

I started out fixing up my old Peugeot. Now I have three of them plus many more bikes.

Another normal human gets drawn into the vortex of the ancient Peugeot. I wouldn't make any changes to its componentry. Instead, I'd fix what needs fixing and ride the bike. Nice hobby, though, fiddling with bikes.

Howabout some pictures?

+1 fix the components that are there.

Treat any frame rust (do a search on oxalic acid for details). I wouldn't paint the frame, unless it is totally trashed.

Carbolite is bottom end steel frame, but OK.

Old low end Peugeots can be good lookers and worth cleaning up, but not dumping a lot of money into.

And they certainly aren't as heavy as the old Schwinns. Pic is of my 1975 Peugeot, after I cleaned it up. The brakes on the old Peugeots were pretty good, replacement cables can be had at Walmart for less than $5 for a set of four cables (enough to do the entire bike). Then if you want new levers, pick up some knockoff Areo levers. I bought some on fleabay for about $15, they go on my U08 next.

Wal Mart cables are not lined. If you use them with aero levers they may feel 'sitcky'. Please dont ask how I know that.....

My LBS has 'Pyramid' branded cables that are lined for $4 each.

Agreed. Lined (polyethylene sleeve) brake housing is what you want. And grease the cable before running it through the housing. A teflon-based grease seems to work best.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the info. Here are a few photos of my Peugoet:

I was originally thinking in a straight handle bar because the bike feels really wierd to ride. I think its because I am used to my hybrid.... I just bought a Jamis Aurora and the Peugoet still feels small or something compared to my Jamis. I measured the frame and its around 20inches so it should be good for me!!!

I am now thinking that I could cut the existing bars and invert them, keeping the original brake levers. Everything woud stay the same exept the frame which would be repainted..maybe. How do diy repainted frames normally look?

Like diy repainted frames.

just strip the paint and brush it down yourself and drop it off at an automotive paintshop and have them throw it in with the next car of your color choice, then new decals.
although i do kind of like your paint scheme.

I'd personally leave the paint scheme as-is. Just my 0.02$.

I'd vote keep the paint unless you've got a great, better idea (and good quality paint). Paint is an add-on to a bike (or car) that you really can't pull back off & use on another one.....know what I mean. Of course, I like the old, dated paint schemes...even the Peugeot ones (of which I now have two....)

btw, besides the cables being unlined, are the walmart cables themselves stainless ?? I picked up a set for my old Fuji.......maybe a mistake....was more for convenience than economy in my case.

Buhhhh...do not do anything to the paint or handlebars. The paint looks good, and pugs with flat bars look absurd.

Sell it to me instead, if you're going to butcher it.

like...
...?

I don't know what your exposure to the proper use of drop bars has been, but I'd read up a bit, seek advice from proficient local cyclists, and try to live with the original bars for awhile before deciding to modify them. A lot of the discomfort people have with traditional bars is either not using them properly or having them adjusted badly. With the drop bars you have four broad classes of hand position (which in turn allows a lot more body positions) -- on the tops, on the hoods, in the drops and on the bottoms. They are much more versatile than either straight bars or the odd compromise bars people have invented.

mmmm, now I have some food for thought.....
I have been checking out some other threads and maybe what I really want to do is find a good quality road bike, or frame, upgrade old components and have areally nice refurbed road bike. On the cheap. I see that tis could be done for under $300. true? any experience?

I will need to think about what to do with the old pug!!!!

I feel your dilemma...I have a Carbolite framed P?10 (I think) Pug that I took out on one of my regular rides the other day for the hell of it. Yes, it's heavy & no the frame is not anything to write home about (though nothing particular *wrong* with it by broad standards), but man it was a really nice ride - all 10 speeds of it! I was (and still am) thinking of putting slightly more modern (ie, early 90s vs its original early 80s) gears & at least rear derailleur, moving shifters to the (original, drop) bar ends and outfitting it with some fenders, lights & rack(s)....riding it seemed to scream to me that this was transportation...solid, smooth, dependable, not sexy, exotic, rare, or necessarily collectible...but ultimately *enjoyable* and, ahem...useful! If the frame, paint, headset, BB, etc. weren't all great & I didn't have lots of spare parts to play around with & I didn't just enjoy taking things apart & putting them back together a little differently, I wouldn't bother.

And, to Fraz28, that could prove to be a tough price point to find everything you want, but you may be at a point where you could buy someone's slightly used project to the same effect that is for sale because they have the new bike bug. (or, rather, because they HAD it).

I was in Atlanta experimenting with the various drop positions earlier today. I've returned to drop bars after a 20 yr or so break in favor of MTB type setups. I agree...especially in the last I guess 20 years that the options a great. I have been pleased to see things changed since I had tuned out!