Peugeot with Reynolds 531 frame tubes ( info sought )

[Rickus19]

My son has purchased a puegeot push bike but it has some parts missing. Is there any way to find out the model? He wants to renew the cabling and replace the tires, they seem to be racing tyres i believe. It also has the saddle and post missing. He hooes to keep it as original as poss and wants some bits for xmas so im on the hunt. All help appreciated. I have s couple of pics of the badges if that helps?

Thx Rickus

[reohn2]

A photo would help alternatively a model name

[pwa]

Regarding the saddle, this one is probably going to be period correct. https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/selle_san_ ... t=UK%20All

Seatposts are a bit more problematical. It will probably want one that has "layback", meaning the very top part is slightly set back compared to the shaft. And to look right on an older steel bike it should probably be silver in colour. But they come in a wide variety of diameters and which one is right depends on your specific frame. It might be safest to take it to a good bike shop to be sure you get one that fits.

This is the sort of general style that will look about right, but you do need to be sure about the diameter (eg 27.2mm in this example) before ordering one. https://www.wiggle.co.uk/ritchey-classic-seatpost/

What is written on the side of your existing tyres?

[Rickus19]

Ty need to source a saddle post as well, are they a universal size?

[Rickus19]

Pics if badging

[Jamesh]

Seat post is most likely to be a 27.2mm.

I'd there is a bike library they will chances are have one to fit and a saddle too.

Brake cables are cheap at Wilko.

For tyres wiggle own brand are good.

But you may need 27" tyres not 700c.

Cheers James

[Brucey]

those Reynolds transfers are for

- butted forks
- main tubes double butted
- are in French
- and date from before 1982.

At a guess it looks to come from a good (but not quite the best) Peugeot between 1975 and about 1980.

Possibly you have a bike that is built in French specification there; differences (to a BSC dimensioned/threaded frame) could include;

- seat pin diameter (often 26.6mm even with DB seat tube, instead of 27.2mm)
- seat tube outside diameter (28mm instead of 28.6mm)
- bottom bracket threading (35mm x1, RH threaded both sides, instead of 1.370" x 24tpi LH/RH threaded)
- headset threading (25mm x1 instead of 1" x 24tpi)
- quill stem diameter (22.0mm rather than 22.2mm)
- 34.7mm x 1mm freewheel threading (instead of 1.370" x 24tpi)

Normally if you have one of the above features you will have them all, and (IME) any Peugeot of this quality with French language Reynolds transfers of this age is odds-on going to be French spec. Replacing any of the above French spec parts is about x10 more difficult than with British spec parts, and for 'period correct' items this goes double; often French ebay will be your best source.

'Modern' road bikes usually come with 'high pressure' type tyres (often -probably wrongly- referred to as 'clinchers') which are fitted to hook bead rims. However these (in narrow modern form) were only available from ~1975 and for the next decade or so most racers still used 'tubs' (as professional cyclists still do). Very possibly the wheels, if original, are 'sprints for tubs', i.e. the 'tubular' tyres are sewn up at the bottom and the whole thing is glued to the rim. Running tubs can be an expensive business, because every time you get a puncture the tyre needs to come off the rim and either need to be replaced or (if you have the patience/skill) unstitched for a length, repaired, and then sewn up again. 'Needles used next to tubes that need to be airtight' sounds like a recipe for more punctures and appearances are not deceptive.

If the bike is to be used much then most people would recommend that you replace (or rebuild) the wheels with hook bead rims. If the bike is 1975 or later ( the hubs may have a date mark) then a period correct hook bead rim would be a Mavic Module E2. These look almost identical to sprint rims and they still come up on ebay as NOS from time to time but they are not necessarily going to be cheap or easy to get. A modern rim that looks almost identical is the H plus Son TB14.

Period/model correct saddles (for ~1975) would include 'ideale' leather (think French made Books), Cinelli, Arius, Unica Nitor amongst others. Seat pin would have been French made, an Atax probably. Seat pins normally come in 0.2mm increments and using the wrong one can wreck a frame. As noted above if the frame is French spec then 26.6mm is a likely size but the best thing is to check with an LBS who should be able to verify the correct size for you.

Note that if the hubs are French threaded and you are thinking of doing something with the wheels, I'd advise against re-using the hubs; the reason is that French-threaded freewheels are very difficult to find and they just wear out and need replacement at regular intervals.

cheers

[Brucey]

the above would be a typical seat post from the late 1970s /early 1980s. Fluting was 'the thing' just then.

If you want to see saddles of the types I mentioned, you can see pictures on Hilary Stone's website.

cheers

[Norman H]

This site contains one of most comprehensive resources of all things Peugeot.

http://www.bikeboompeugeot.com/index.html

There's an extensive library of old brochures from all over the world. I suggest you start your search with those from France and the UK for the years that Brucey has indicated.

[Polisman]

Be careful with the seat post, Peugeot often had 26.4mm posts and sometimes 25.8 in a Reynolds frame. Best measure up before you buy, because even 0.2mm is a bugger to fit. Trust the French to be different!

[Brucey]

oh, just to add that the Reynolds transfer style is not only pre-'82, it is also post '77. Prior to 1977 Reynolds tube transfers did not include 'TI Reynolds' markings (even though TI had owned Reynolds since 1928 or something...). A few bikes/frames with 'old' transfers were sold after 1982, but not so much from big makers like Peugeot.

Note also that a metal Peugeot head badge was something that (IIRC, do check this) disappeared around 1978 or 1979. Even if the hubs are not marked and the frame number is not clear that should narrow the date range down quite a lot.

cheers

[mattsccm]

Please take this as help not criticism. If, as it seems, you have a French spec bike you may be better off moving it on to someone who like this sort of thing and looking for something a bit more mainstream in the UK. There is a hint of inexperience of bike maintenance here and greater satisfaction might be had from something less challenging.
Of course you may like a challenge. Good luck either way.

[rjb]

Those weinmann centrepull brakes may have a 4 digit date code on them which may help identify the year of manufacture. First 2 digits indicate the month, the next 2 the year, eg0576 is May 1976.

[KM2]

Are the Weinmann brakes a Mafac copy?

[Rickus19]

Wow, im overwhelmed people. So much info, im in from sea on wednesday and will look into all the things mentioned. I cannot thank you enough. I will attempt to visit said sites and look into what i can sort for him before xmas. Thx again