Vintage Peugeot fixed conversion

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...

Looks awesome, very well done! Wouldn't road levers look more correct though?

I really like this, looks ace!

loving this!!

wow. that bike is beautiful. I want those brake levers for mine.

edit are those BMX brakes? Did they fit your drop handlebars with no problems?

sexytime

tasty!

Very classy!

Excellent work

Thanks all. ArthurFrayn - yes, thought for ages about drops but the bars are a good shape to use slightly more upright with the BMX levers. Might change my mind. Ulysses31 - they are Dia Compe Tech levers and designed for 22mm bars so I had to tweak them slightly, but it's an easy manipulation, just slightly bent the metal to suit the larger diameter. One of those mods that's easily undoable and they fit perfectly.

Brakes are still squeaking - it's ruining my life... One more attempt tonight.

You could try roughing up the braking surfaces a bit with course sandpaper, not very deep at all, and lightly scoring the pads with a knife, this works to create more friction so it might make it a bit better. Or worse.

Thanks Tom. Reckon there's a good chance some light filing or sanding might work. I did that before with these blocks when I first set them up a while ago and they were quiet. Then the bike was rested for a few months while I was working on it and the squeal returned once built up again with no change in adjustment. Will let you know how I get on.

what is outer cable you used?

Brake cables were a NOS Dia Compe find on eBay. They are sort of clear plastic showing the metal casing beneath.

I’m also trying to work out which size track nuts I need as the fronts and rears are a mismatch.......... and, man, do those old brake blocks squeak. Still fiddling to shut them up...

Front and rear axles are usually different diameters.You'll probably need 9mm track nuts(M9) up front and 10mm(M10) at the rear.Could be the rear axle is 9.5mm,unlikely though.

The front of the brake pad needs to touch the rim just before the back, to avoid squeeling.So, either reposition the pads or sand a tiny bit of rubber from the rear of the pad (about 1mm).

Really special looking bike you got there.

How did you find such a pretty peugeot frame??
Nice job.

Bike newbie here...
Great looking bike, fairly strange question but i have a super competition frame aswell except the bolt used to tighten the seat tube was missing when i got it. Any chance you could tell me size of bolt/thread so that i can get a new one or is it a one size fits all situation?

gorgeous! taking your time has been totally worth it

**rat racer **- where did you track down the Michelin GumWall's from ? I'm wanting some for my new build ! This build looks bloody awesome though can i just say !!

Hi chaps. Michelin gum walls are on eBay - they are 700x28 Dynamics. I'll see if I can dig out a link. Jwhite - will take a look at the seat bolt. It's the length that matters I think, I take it you have a Mafac hanger for the centre pull brakes that fits to the bolt too?

Finally found some near-NOS Michelin World Tour tyres for this, which are a quite a bit less modern-looking than the Dynamics currently fitted up. Pics once the postman arrives.

Oh, and this came into work as a sample, which with luck found its way to my desk and I fitted up as it's a good match for the Brooks leather:

Looks nice, but I'm not 100% sure it's right for the bike. Depends how far the period-correctness is going to go from here really - to do it properly will involve second thoughts on saddle, bar tape and rack, which will all weather-in nicely soon anyway. Hmmm...

Kinda love how this bike is never quite finished.

Bike newbie here...
Great looking bike, fairly strange question but i have a super competition frame aswell except the bolt used to tighten the seat tube was missing when i got it. Any chance you could tell me size of bolt/thread so that i can get a new one or is it a one size fits all situation?

As far as I know, they're pretty standard. A proper bike shop (one that smells like oil, not one that's full of crabon goods and smells like polish) will have a replacement.

This bike is schmexeh. Really lovely conversion.

But... MY EYES!! Those brake levers... so polished and shiny. They gleams and burns me!! WTF did you shine them up with?!?? They're amazing. :-)

A tiny update only because I am ridiculously pleased with myself after half an hour of this:

...the brakes no longer scream when you pull on them. I had taken to basically riding this as if brakeless, but I managed a little toe-in after filing off way more pad away than I originally had the heart to attempt. It worked.

Also removed that front leather bag I talked about above. Just wasn't right. And I can use the rack to carry more stuff with bungee ropes than I could squeeze through the bag's tiny opening, like a newspaper. Or a note book. Or a shoe. Ok, so it's still not exactly practical and I hardly ever use it but I like the way it looks, especially with the saddle bag.

And that, incidentally, is now filled with this slightly geeky eBay find. A period Dunlop puncture repair kit:

It did still have all the original repair kit parts in there but I (perhaps wisely) wrapped those up and tucked them away in favour of using the tin to hold a much more compact puncture patch and a set of period Mafac tools. All fits snugly inside so there's no rattling as I ride:

The bike looks fab.

Just finished this one
http://http://brightonfixies.blogspot.co.uk

Love this! You should get a set of these. I've just got some for mine. Might look more fitting than those michelins http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130883812602