Depends on where he's going. In L.A., I got my frame / fork powdercoated for $60.

As to why:

1. I already have the frame in my hands, it was free, and I've got the original headset (should I take Poguemahone up on his offer of a UO-8 fork) and bottom bracket (well, mostly - I had to use a carbide cutting disk to get the left crank arm off, it was that rusted). Ditto the Lotus fork.

2. Whatever frame I use on this project is going to get powder coated. I loved the way my "no dead kittens" fixie turned out, time to build another custom. Likewise my Mavic Neutral Support Bike replica.

3. I've lived with a stock UO-8 for the past couple of years and love the way it rides. Replacing the stock wheels with Campy Record/Nisi sewup wheels really made it wonderful.

4. I've got a weakness for French bikes. The only thing I'd have wanted more than the UO-8 for this project would have been a Gitane Interclub. However, for that one, I'd have gone with original color and proper decals, since they're nowhere near as common.

5. Finally, I seem to have wonderful luck with "gas pipe" frames. My Magneet (not even seamless gas pipe) is my major mileage bike in the stable, comfortable to ride and terrific for 70 mile days. I get more enjoyment about refurbishing the cheapies than some, well, er, Masi (yeech!).

6. (Late addition). Reworking the incorrect fork finally gives me the justification to add a proper headset die to my tool collection. I love to buy tools, but fiscal prudence usually stops me from adding more until I actually need them.

Given all the arm lengths available for either Weinmann or DiaCompe calipers, I shouldn't have trouble finding something that fits. Those brakes have always been my absolute fall-back for odd projects.

A quick update: Managed to unbend the original front fork after all, hacked off the braze-ons, and started putting bits together to see what I'm going to need to finish (the wheels are off my other UO-8 for sizing purposes, I'll be building Nashbar alloy rims on vintage 60's German hubs with wing nuts). Given I'm doing fork tweaking, this bike is going to get a serious amount of shakedown riding before I go spending money on the powder coater. Hopefully will find nicer bars at Westminster - the spec ones are Raleigh Sports flipped upside down, and they are beat. Long term plan is to have two rear wheels for it: the German hubs as a single speed (fixie is wasted on me, I love coasting downhill) and a Sturmey-Archer something or other as an alternate. Now, on to the wheel building!



Bear with me on the pictures, I'm still trying to figure the new system out.

Just make sure that you stamp "This is not a PX 10" into the dropouts. Otherwise, in about five years, it'll pop up in a "Is this a PX10?" thread. I normally loathe repaints and conversions, but this is actually an appropriate candidate for both. I have very low paint condition standards and definitely believe in "it's only original once," but between the fork and paint......

Good luck! Show photos when you're done.

You're seeing the good side. All the serious rust on the frame is on the left, and I spent a bit of time hand sanding just to make sure it wasn't going to be nothing more than a pitted powder coated mess after sandblasting. If anything, this is a prime example of how a picture hide a multitude of sins.

Have seriously considered having decals saying "Kittenslayer" done for the downtube. Alternately, it may get proper period Peugeot decals, or (better yet) as early as ones as I can find. What it will definitely not be is a plain white powder coated frame. I hate repaints that are left plain.

i would leave it as is and just ride the sucker.

If you decide to do some "major" modification work - Remember: Watch your back!

That's only kind of a half-kitten, anyway.

Kill, cook, eat. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Just leave my dog George out of it

Godspeed!