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@rat-racer
So this is the bike that started it all about three years ago. I was (and still am) a long-time car fan who every day had to walk past an old Peugeot frame strapped to the staircase my old flat. The typography in the decals caught my eye first and within weeks I’d started my first bike build – a 1980 531 PKN-10 that my neighbour wouldn’t take any cash for so instead it was swapped for a half-decent bottle of wine.
Soon I found out what fixed gear was. First few build iterations are best left untold (wide-eyed newbie walks into Brick Lane Bikes…) but then the period correct(ish) idea struck. What would a fixed conversion look like in the late 70s/early 80s? I shopped for NOS Dia Compe brake levers (and cables), Mafac Competition brakes, Maillard CXC track pedals and Maillard/Mavic MA2 wheelset (thanks to Skully for these). At the same time I polished up the original Stronglight cranks, Philippe bars and Laprade seat post, then fitted a brown Brooks Swift and tape. Oh, and that slightly modified front rack.
So, after some years of mistakes, indecision and parts collecting, finally it’s… almost… finished:
Still not sure those Michelin tyres are quite perfect, so I have an eye out for something NOS. I’m also trying to work out which size track nuts I need as the fronts and rears are a mismatch. I need to break in that Brooks, too, so it doesn’t look so new - and, man, do those old brake blocks squeak. Still fiddling to shut them up...