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Touring Bike Challenge: Vintage Peugeot Racer
- Thread starter alexdobbyn
- Start date
alexdobbyn
Retro Newbie
Re:
Thanks for your help guys, really appreciate it, I think I'll just use this as an interim for my commute and look out for something more like that raleigh!
Thanks for your help guys, really appreciate it, I think I'll just use this as an interim for my commute and look out for something more like that raleigh!
non-fixie
Senior Retro Guru
What does touring involve for you? If it's lots of panniers filled to the brim with camping gear, than I'm with Shaun, and swapping it for a rigid MTB with lots of eyelets would be a good idea.
If, however, you tour like me, i.e. with a large Brooks bag hanging from the saddle and a couple of bananas and a credit card in your jersey pocket, than your bike is an excellent starting point. In that case you just need:
- a used wheel set with clincher rims
- a 14-28T freewheel
- A pair of smaller chain rings for your cranks (110 BCD?) The smallest you can find and fit with a 14T difference. (50/36 is nice, 48/34 even nicer)
- a pair of decent tyres
This will get you up most hills and can be handled by the Simplex derailleurs you've got.
One of my favourite touring bikes has a similar set-up. Including the Weinmann sidepull brakes.
If, however, you tour like me, i.e. with a large Brooks bag hanging from the saddle and a couple of bananas and a credit card in your jersey pocket, than your bike is an excellent starting point. In that case you just need:
- a used wheel set with clincher rims
- a 14-28T freewheel
- A pair of smaller chain rings for your cranks (110 BCD?) The smallest you can find and fit with a 14T difference. (50/36 is nice, 48/34 even nicer)
- a pair of decent tyres
This will get you up most hills and can be handled by the Simplex derailleurs you've got.
One of my favourite touring bikes has a similar set-up. Including the Weinmann sidepull brakes.
alexdobbyn
Retro Newbie
Well it is likely to be more like your touring style, maybe slightly more kit - I'm not as brave as you. I definitely imagined something much more like your bike. Remember it's for commuting as well. Any recommendations on brakes?
non-fixie
Senior Retro Guru
alexdobbyn":1r1c1qzv said:
I don't think bravery has much to do with it. I just book a hotel a couple of days ahead and have my luggage transferred. Hotels tend to be nice and do that for you.
WRT the brakes: there's nothing wrong with the Weinmanns you've got. If set up correctly they work well. Try them. If they work (as in "lock the rear wheel when braking hard"), they work. If not, clean the brake surfaces on your rims, lightly sand the brake surfaces on the pads, and try again. Pros used them all the time before MAFAC came on the scene with their centre-pulls. (Which would be a good alternative, BTW)
A few more examples of bikes I've toured with in a similar vein.
A Belgian Toortelboom. 50/40 chainrings, MAFAC brakes, Universal levers, Shimano Titleist transmission:
Unknown frame from ~1970, Weinmann Vainqueur brakes, Weinmann levers, Campagnolo Nuovo Record transmission:
I'd start by answering these questions:
1 Where do you plan to tour? (e.g. Alps vs. Netherlands v. Arctic Norway)
2 How many miles per day?
3 What is your plan for accommodation: hotel, B&B, camping on sites, bivvying?
These will help you choose a suitable bike.
For a week in the Netherlands using hotels then it's a Carradice saddlebag with a change of clothes and waterproof jacket on the back of a fast road bike. For Norway it's a 26" MTB wheeled tourer with 2" semi slick tyres and an 18" bottom gear, 4 panniers, cooker, 3 days of food, tent and sleeping bag.
1 Where do you plan to tour? (e.g. Alps vs. Netherlands v. Arctic Norway)
2 How many miles per day?
3 What is your plan for accommodation: hotel, B&B, camping on sites, bivvying?
These will help you choose a suitable bike.
For a week in the Netherlands using hotels then it's a Carradice saddlebag with a change of clothes and waterproof jacket on the back of a fast road bike. For Norway it's a 26" MTB wheeled tourer with 2" semi slick tyres and an 18" bottom gear, 4 panniers, cooker, 3 days of food, tent and sleeping bag.
Spokeydokey
Retro Newbie
Re:
If it's just for commuting I'd just add a decent saddlebag (unless you carry enough to warrant panniers, in which case you need a rack).
Swap the rear freewheel to 14-28, which should be fine unless it's particularly hilly where you live. If not you could replace the front chain rings with a Spa Cycles triple, although you may need a new derailleur.
Add a set of mudguards and that bike will be fine for commuting. I've just done up a Peugeot tourer from the 80s for the same purpose as you so happy to help. Just don't get sucked into upgrading too much, especially as Peugeots of that age are generally not compatible with modern size standard parts for seatposts, handlebar stems, pedal threads etc.
If it's just for commuting I'd just add a decent saddlebag (unless you carry enough to warrant panniers, in which case you need a rack).
Swap the rear freewheel to 14-28, which should be fine unless it's particularly hilly where you live. If not you could replace the front chain rings with a Spa Cycles triple, although you may need a new derailleur.
Add a set of mudguards and that bike will be fine for commuting. I've just done up a Peugeot tourer from the 80s for the same purpose as you so happy to help. Just don't get sucked into upgrading too much, especially as Peugeots of that age are generally not compatible with modern size standard parts for seatposts, handlebar stems, pedal threads etc.
