1972 Peugeot PX50

[epic1400cs]

That's a lovely build and good to read that such a classy bike is a daily commute. Know what you mean about getting friction shifting right.
Old 650B bikes come up for sale quite often in France, and perhaps now that 650B seems to be the way forwards for mountain bikes there will be some crossover into road bikes.

Thank you! It is a strange that I feel rather better to commute on this one than on contemporary racer. Probably because of the charm PX50 has? or may be more relaxed ride it gives me? I commute on both tarmac street and uneven path alongside canal so this fat smooth tyre is perfect.

Good to know 650B touring bike are still traded there. Is there any website you recommend to look at? I might start looking for decent 650B touring bike in France in near future!

 

[Rich34]

I don't know how good your French is but this site is a club of 650B devotees (http://www.confreriedes650.org/) who've been persuading tyre manufacturers to remake 650B tyres and have had framesets made by a manufacturer too. They might be proven to be ahead of their time since 650B seems to be taking off again. If I was looking at a new bike I'd probably go for the Velo Orange Polyvalent (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/ ... -mkii.html) as a good and simple basis for a build.

That said, French eBay can be a good source for 650B bikes, or the French small ads website www.leboncoin.fr although some sellers might not want to ship so you would have to go and collect. There's plenty out there though.

 

[Gastheerg]

I'm in love!

What a great winter bike! Super!

 

[epic1400cs]

I don't know how good your French is but this site is a club of 650B devotees (http://www.confreriedes650.org/) who've been persuading tyre manufacturers to remake 650B tyres and have had framesets made by a manufacturer too. They might be proven to be ahead of their time since 650B seems to be taking off again. If I was looking at a new bike I'd probably go for the Velo Orange Polyvalent (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/ ... -mkii.html) as a good and simple basis for a build.

That said, French eBay can be a good source for 650B bikes, or the French small ads website http://www.leboncoin.fr although some sellers might not want to ship so you would have to go and collect. There's plenty out there though.

The first one is very serious and informative site! I am impressed they included all the builders around the world who specialized in 650B ranronneur. Velo-orange is my favourite shop, too, as they are very proactive as well as reachable. It was my first time to see the leboncoin.fr and I am very shocked to see that I could buy PX50 or PX10 for around €50 here! :shock: I may need to plan a journey to France on a van one day! Some seller seem to ship small parts to abroad. In general in France, is Paypal well received? I have learned, for example, in Germany most of the people loves bank transfer on eBay so am wondering if there is any nation specific preference regarding international money transaction.. Many many thanks for your insider info, I always appreciate your input. :xmas-big-grin:

I'm in love!
What a great winter bike! Super!

Thank you Sir, your Gios is magnificent! :shock: Gios blue is another dream of mine.

 

[Rich34]

I don't think PayPal is as widely used in France as in the UK though since I have a French bank account and a Euro chequebook anyway I can just as easily post a cheque if that's what the seller wants. For a UK buyer I think the problem is more likely to be sellers in France not wanting to ship overseas, as many sellers on Leboncoin are hoping for a quick and easy local sale. Though in fairness there are UK sellers on eBay (as well as this website) who don't want to ship to France so it goes both ways.

 

[epic1400cs]

Rich34, thank you very much for the info! Much appreciated!

 

[Buzzsaw]

Haven't seen this thread until now but have to mention your restore on the Pug is absolutely lovely

 

[anagrama]

That's a lovely restoration. Out of interest, where did you find the Mafac springs? I'm in the market for some and have seen some repros from a US eBay seller, but was wondering if there's another source?

 

[epic1400cs]

Haven't seen this thread until now but have to mention your restore on the Pug is absolutely lovely

Thank you very much, it is very rewarding to hear that after putting lots of hours!

That's a lovely restoration. Out of interest, where did you find the Mafac springs? I'm in the market for some and have seen some repros from a US eBay seller, but was wondering if there's another source?

Thank you for the nice comment!

The spring is from a bike shop in down town Tokyo.
They are kind of specialized in 650B touring bike but they are not promoting their business as the demand is not that strong.
http://www.riverone.jp/Product_01.html
So they don't sell parts over the net, no English page, a bit of old school shop.
I think these springs are their special order made by local factory I believe (there are many small factories in the area, Honjo, for example)
I think the set was about £10 plus.
If I ever go to visit Japan again I might get more but it may not happen very soon... :|

 

[anagrama]

Cool, thanks for the info - that shop looks amazing! The ones I had seen cost a fair bit more unfortunately..