52telecaster

Lovely bike! Scratches are cool!

Ged117 

What a timely thread, 52T. I have to say I always look forward to reading one of your posts or threads, because your bikes are cool, often the ones I'd like to own some day, and you put them to good use! I'm getting some parts together to build my '75(?) AO8 into a run-arounder for next spring. Normandy high-flange hubs to be built with some scrounged Weinmann alloy 27" rims (I may attempt to build my own wheels - I have an awesome LBS builder, but maybe this time I should try), a Philippe alloy drop bar, a sanded stem to fit, a Suntour VGT Luxe derailleur from the box to replace the cracked Simplex gears, an alloy double crankset up front (I put in one of those VO French thread cartridge BBs) and other low price but lightweight goodies. Most importantly, it's RED, and these old Peugeots return a nice ride for what they are. I like the AO8 because it's always open to being my next build idea - with the others I get too attached to what they're supposed to be. I'm also not afraid to scratch the Pug or lock it up on the street.

Here's the Pug with more of its original steel parts a few years back. I'm thinking simple racks and my old MEC panniers.



Old Montreal bike shop sticker

52telecaster

Man that's beautiful. My bikes always have excess patina but that means a scratch doesn't hurt.

gaucho777 

Recent beer run on the '73 Speedwell Titalite.

Velo Mule

Nice setup. Is that a Sturmey-Archer shifter on the top tube? The bike looks great. The fenders and Stronglight crank are icing on the cake. It looks like you have a coaster brake on the rear 3 speed. Is that correct?

Velo Mule

Here is my vintage 10 speed converted to a IHG 3 speed. I am embarrassed to post a picture among these beauties, but keep in mind that this project in still in it first steps. There will be more to come.



This is a Lampert frame sans "death fork". It has a Sturmey-Archer AW with an aluminum shell and 40 spokes. I'm hoping to get fenders (mudguards) and tires with some Christmas money/gift cards.

bwilli88 

My heavy-duty errand bike. A gazelle Opafiets.

nlerner

Thanks! Yes, that’s a new production S-A bar-end/downtube shifter modified to fit the top tube:



Rear hub is a new S-A S-RC3, 3-speed with coaster brake. It really works well, both braking and shifting, better than the old AWs I have used for many years.

52telecaster

Mine has aluminum shell as well but only 36 hole. The weight difference is quite slight but I always wanted the lighter shell.

52telecaster

I have a couple of the three speed bar end shifters. Really nicely made.

DorkDisk

I use this to go to the baker; it's not a very nice bike but is very fun to ride

52telecaster

I bet it is. So simple and direct.

repechage

throwback shifter location.
never owned but always liked the look of the old quadrant shifters. Just reminded me of the movie Brazil for some reason.

these new production hubs seem to be sorted now. I would want to ditch the plastic shroud over the axle end. I know out in the vulnerable.

sloppy12

Beer run and found on curb dump truck.

Inusuit

And I like the green color.

Velo Mule

Hey @Dork Disk that Hiawathia looks good. It looks like an old Murray built frame, but I don't remember Murray ever painting as pretty a color as this. Perhaps it was during the time that they were building for Schwinn, so they had access to better paint and techniques. Did you change the chainring? My dad had a Murray built Sears basic black, three speed that I used quite a bit. It also had a Shimano hub. For us, it was reliable despite my teenage tendencies to be hard on bikes. The only problem with it was that the spokes were not as tight as they should have been and it gave the bike a less secure feel.
@sloppy12 , nice Collegiate and nice score on the dump truck. Are you big enough to ride that bike? And, I hate to say it, but you look young to be drinking beer. I remember those days, I would borrow my dad's black bike, ride to 7-11 and ask people to buy beer for my friends and me. Back then people would buy us beer. I am surprised that they still do.

52telecaster

Rode downtown to see a friend's gig

Slightspeed

My $20 Craigslist (missing wheels and drive train) '78 Raleigh Super Course is my beater, errand bike. It's a great riding bike, Suntour drive train, nice Campy hubs on Mavic rims. It could use a repaint and decals, it's that nice of a bike, but with the built in patina, it can fly under the radar for Post Office, bank or bagel runs. I do love riding it, and may go for a repaint one day.

52telecaster

I love those later ones. The barends and derailleur dropout are awesome.

amedias

I use my ropey old Carlton Franco Italia as my local commuter and errands bike

It's slightly too big for me really, the paint is falling off, the chrome is a bit rusty in places, some of the braze-ons have long since become braze-fallen-offs, but it's reliable and low-maintenance and above all it rides so damn nicely that I love using it even though it's the lowest end bike I own!

52telecaster

My supercourse is really in decent shape for an old bike but it feels so good. Something about the geometry I think. I also love having only three speeds. Makes me forget about trying to go fast.
Btw your bike looks amazing to me.

Velo Mule

Nice Carlton @amedias , I like the simplicity of it. I'm with you on low end, but well built and designed frames. I like your mudflaps, especially the rear one by the bottom bracket. That is unusual at least in the US. I suspect it might keep some of the water that gets entrained in the fender from washing onto the chain. And while we are on the topic of unusual in the US, your right brake is your front brake. I used to prefer it that way too.

Those are fat tires, what size are they. It is great that you can fit wide tires and fenders on this bike.

Devon is pretty hilly, your Carlton looks like a single speed, is that correct? How do you handle the hills? I had a single speed Astra brand French bike that was similar. But for Long Island and Bridgeport, CT where I lived a the time I didn't have to deal with too many hills. Perhaps that bike was my gateway drug into low end bikes with a few upgraded components.

amedias

Thanks Velo Mule, the extra flap actually makes a surprising difference, I add them to all my mudguarded bikes now, it moves the drip/runoff point to down below the chain and chainrings and keeps them noticeably cleaner*. (I ride in the rain a LOT).

* This bike is used year round, in all weather and hasn't been cleaned for ~3 years, I lube the chain every now and then, and replace the brake pads when they're worn, other than that nothing has needed attention.

Regarding the brake setup, it is of course normal in the UK so it's all I've ever run, I've ridden (French, German, Dutch) friends bikes that are set up the other way a few times and just find it awkward and odd, only because my brain isn't used to the , rather than there being a 'right' and 'wrong' way if you see what I mean.

The tyres currently fitted are labelled as 32mm but they measure 35.5mm on those rims, there's loads of room, you could easily run 38mm+ under the guards without issue, it originally came with 27in wheels so the 700c Conversion for some fatter rubber was an easy swap as it's still within the available brake drop.

And yes, it is set up SS, and far be it form me to blow my own trumpet but I've been riding and racing SS MTB's for over 20 years and ride a lot of SS on the road too so the hills don't bother me too much, an appropriate gear ratio and some brute force (and a certain amount of stubbornness) normally see me through. The Carlton is geared pretty mellow for commuting and errands round town so it's just nice and reliable and simple. I live right next to Dartmoor and only ~20miles south of Exmoor so I do spend a lot of time in the hills so do ride geared bikes as well as the moors have a lot of 20-25% grades that although not long are brutal with poor surfaces too. I've been known to use the SS for some 100-200K Audax rides round here but only if the route is appropriate!

The paradox of low end but nice riding bikes is a funny one, I've got a whole bunch of lovely posh bikes as well but sometimes a bike just works for you and at that point it doesn't matter if you spent thousands on it or pulled it out of the trash, if it rides nicely then its a *good* bike.

Germany_chris

I have one on my DD my phone let’s me know if I get to far away from it




It’s right there under my bottle cage

Velo Mule

* This bike is used year round, in all weather and hasn't been cleaned for ~3 years, I lube the chain every now and then, and replace the brake pads when they're worn, other than that nothing has needed attention.

Regarding the brake setup, it is of course normal in the UK so it's all I've ever run, I've ridden (French, German, Dutch) friends bikes that are set up the other way a few times and just find it awkward and odd, only because my brain isn't used to the , rather than there being a 'right' and 'wrong' way if you see what I mean.

The tyres currently fitted are labelled as 32mm but they measure 35.5mm on those rims, there's loads of room, you could easily run 38mm+ under the guards without issue, it originally came with 27in wheels so the 700c Conversion for some fatter rubber was an easy swap as it's still within the available brake drop.

And yes, it is set up SS, and far be it form me to blow my own trumpet but I've been riding and racing SS MTB's for over 20 years and ride a lot of SS on the road too so the hills don't bother me too much, an appropriate gear ratio and some brute force (and a certain amount of stubbornness) normally see me through. The Carlton is geared pretty mellow for commuting and errands round town so it's just nice and reliable and simple. I live right next to Dartmoor and only ~20miles south of Exmoor so I do spend a lot of time in the hills so do ride geared bikes as well as the moors have a lot of 20-25% grades that although not long are brutal with poor surfaces too. I've been known to use the SS for some 100-200K Audax rides round here but only if the route is appropriate!

The paradox of low end but nice riding bikes is a funny one, I've got a whole bunch of lovely posh bikes as well but sometimes a bike just works for you and at that point it doesn't matter if you spent thousands on it or pulled it out of the trash, if it rides nicely then its a *good* bike.[/QUOTE]

That bike looks great for not having been cleaned in three year. Nice picture, by the way. I notice that there is just enough water remaining on the stones to give a blurry reflection.

I've got to admit that I am probably the opposite of you. Mostly flat terrain, all my bikes at the moment are multispeed, I would not be inclined to grind up a hill, and I rarely ride in the rain. I still like mudgaurds for puddles, if I get caught in some rain and I like the looks of bikes with fenders. I also don't have any "posh" bikes anymore.

I may try your mudflap in the front of the rear fender idea. I used to like using milk jug material (polyethelene), but it doesn't hold up too long.