With my Bianchi going up for sale at the Stop, Swap and Save meets in Westminster, MD and the Richmond area . . . . . . and assuming my job IS going to call me back sometime in March . . . . . . . I'm going to need a new ride to keep at the office for lunch hour errands. I'll admit, I like the looks of the Pashley Guv'nor, but have no desire whatsoever to either pay that kind of money for what to me is a limited use bike, nor do I have the ego to be seen on one in the first place.

Now, I've got a rusty UO-8 frame sitting in the shop, from a successful foray to the local transfer station earlier in the spring. I do love the way those things ride. Picked up a Lotus 27" fork at the local recycle shop. Started fitting bits together this afternoon so I could start working out the fine details:



The headset is no-name Taiwanese, the crank and spindle is the original crank from my Magneet (I really want a cottered crank on this) - both chainrings (52 and 40) are bolt-on to the spider so I should be able to work around the spacing and get a good chain line. Bottom bracket cups are the original Peugeot. Just have to figure rear sprocket diameter so I can decide which chainwheel gets used. The plan is for 27" alloy rims with either SS/FG or Sturmey AW hub. Probably Weinmann side pulls and mustache or North Road bars. Favorit black leather saddle, probably a micro adjust alloy seat post.

Now comes the problem. Obviously since I'm going to all this trouble this is going to get a high quality powder coating, and I may even go fancy enough to pinstripe the lugs.

I'm seriously considering hacking off the braze ons to get a clean frame line. Yes, this goes against my philosophy of treating a vintage frame, and if the frame was in any better condition, the thought would never cross my mind. I'll admit, I'm torn. I may put Peugeot decals back on it (as vintage as I can find), but it'll never get rebuilt into a functioning UO-8 again.

Thoughts from the peanut gallery?

Hack it up. Of all the frames in the world to agonize over, a gas-pipe French POS isn't one of them. What are there - 300 billion of these choking up the landfills?

Besides - it came from the factory without a RD hanger, and that's the big one. Other than that - two cheesy cable guides and some ugly and unusable pump pegs. If you really wanna "restore" it back to a geared bike, just add chrome brake cable guides. That would actually be a big improvement over the original design.

Having seen the poor condition of that frame and knowing it would be unlikely to see it on the road otherwise, you have my blessing to hack away...for what that is worth.

That's what I'd do, hack and file and get it smooth, powder coat it and call it a day, hang what parts you need and go from there.

Every time someone refuses to hack a bike just because it's vintage I kill a kitten. I've got a kitten in my hands, so you better remove those braze ons fast.

I would not do it. You might want a rear brake back there, esp if you go SS.

Why not? Chrome cable guides would look better than those cheesy OEM tack-welded guides. You can't hurt this frame - you can only improve it.

On that frame? It would be an improvement...

I would be irate if it were something relatively unusual or rare, or even a 531.

Aaron

Syke, it's a UO8, and a particularly beat one at that. The main reason we value the UO model is not any inherent collectibilty, but rather it's fine ride. I say go for it. I've said these bikes make tremendous in city beaters, and nothing I've experienced in the last fifteen or so years of riding one has made me think otherwise.

Soon as I find a Sturmey S3X, it's going on a UO8.






uo

I agree with everyone else. And the chrome cable guides would be an improvement.
Go for it.
-Gene-

I don't know if you were asking about what ratio to try for, and I don't know if you are fit or fat, but with 27" wheels, which chain ring were you going to use? If it is the 40, I'd say a 19t or 20t free wheel. Isn't Montpelier kind of flat?

Obviously, you haven't seen Syke's driveway, which is about a 5.9 technical climb.

I take exception to the description of a UO-8 as a "gas-pipe French POS." Certainaly it is French. Gas pipe, perhaps. But POS? U0-8s, 9s, 10s actually ride quite well.

With that said, in this case, have no worries about the kitten.
"

Linus and Dixie were on my desk while I was reading this - I don't think you want to come to my house.

Forgot to mention - I was planning on leaving the rear brake cable guides intact. Any FG/SS I build gets DUAL brakes. I don't overrate my abilities to lock my knees and track stand.

If you're gonna powder coat, I still say the chome clips would look a ton better.

Actually, Montpelier's rather hilly. My driveway is a cat 4 climb, straight up. West End Richmond (where it'll be usually used) is flatter, but still has some climbs. Using the usual 16 tooth rear that's readily available for a single speed, I'm going to be overgeared with the 52 (87.75 gear in), and undergeared with the 40 (67.5). I'd love to run a 52/20 combination (70.2), if I can find the rear.

Hopefully I get the wheels built right after Westminster, and mock everything up for a road test or two. I won't be spending the money on the blasting and powder coat until I hear that I'm being called back. In the interim, I've still got the original Raleigh Gran Sport frameset in the attic, and can put it together around it for the time being.

Say hi to my daughter and son in law, and grandson, they live in Berlin.

The rear brake cable guides are on the wrong side for most sidepulls.

"Gaspipe" and "French" it may be, but a UO-8 isn't a "POS." Hack it up, by all means; there's no shortage of UO-8s out there, but they do ride sweet whatever you may do to it.

Most, but not all. OP wants to use Weinmann, and they have the cable housing stop on the right for the rear brake, as do the Dia Compe copies.

Bingo!

Let me take this to another level: Why put so much money into a powder coat for a common Peugeot with the incorrect fork?

You can fairly easily find a great condition original bike that you could hack up with relative impunity. Granted you will get less CV flack with an abused frame, but a quality powder coat will eat up a lot of your build budget... and you will loose the really beautiful vintage Peugeot character. I say rattle can it if you are going ahead with this frame.

I have a great one you can come and get for a good price. Long drive though.

Will they have a long enough reach?

"French" = "POS."



Seriously though - there are plenty of bikes in the same price range that ride as well or better than a UO-8, have better fit and finish, and have current standard parts on them to boot.

I've sold every U0-8 I've ever got my hands on, and will continue to do so. No room in the herd for marginal bikes.

The UO-8 is the PERFECT bike for getting creative - it's not worth anything, and no one's gonna miss it.