Vintage Peugeot conversion help and tips please

PapaLazaru, I was wondering if you managed to solve this problem with your chainline? I've got the same set up on the Peugeot I'm converting and not sure whether to keep the existing cranks and try running the 52 T or the 40 T chain ring and what size BB to get..

Sorry for the delay, replied by PM so you don't miss it...

Wow, this thread is great! I miss my peugeot racer. I'm looking for another but I can't seem to find any decent quality ones in a driveable distance.

The shame!

yeah what not, drop the stem and get some straps and it will be nice! the gear looks ridiculously spiny, you might find you will want something lower than that over time.

Yeah, I'm running a 17t out back and it's proving pretty spiny. I kind of thought it'd be good for tricks but as soon as I get to a steep hill my legs struggle to keep up! What's the largest tooth fixed that Surly do?

http://www.surlybikes.com/parts.html

try and look for a 44t chainring.

Do you know if one of those would fit my original crank?

depending on the BCD of your crank, check out sheldon brown for more information on how to find out what BCD your crank is (you can find out if it written on the chainring).

hey

lots of peoples been mentioning building a rear wheel. can someone explain why? is it necessary when converting a road bike?

also for those of you with rear drop outs, how did you know what chain ring size to ensure tension? experience.?? I got a 61cm raliegh (not enough representation on this forum to my mind!) ive stripped down an want to convert to a fixie on the cheap but i nervous about buying chains off t'internet in case proves unrideable/ not tight enough.

i feel bad askin cos it seems to be pretty much the standard "newbie" question, but youre all so nice!

cheers

depending on the BCD of your crank, check out sheldon brown for more information on how to find out what BCD your crank is (you can find out if it written on the chainring).

Cheers Ed, i'll check it out

hey

lots of peoples been mentioning building a rear wheel. can someone explain why? is it necessary when converting a road bike?

because you would need a new hubs that designed for fixed wheel (if you're keeping the original rims and spokes that come with the bike), the road one are designed both for freewheel and to hold numerous cogs, so it's not suitable for fixed wheel.

also for those of you with rear drop outs, how did you know what chain ring size to ensure tension? experience.?? I got a 61cm raliegh (not enough representation on this forum to my mind!) ive stripped down an want to convert to a fixie on the cheap but i nervous about buying chains off t'internet in case proves unrideable/ not tight enough.
cheers

by rear drop out, you mean those drop out that doesn't allowed you to adjust the tightness of the chain?

if your chain isnt tight enough remove some links. what angle are the rear drops? if they are more horizontal than vertical you might be able to slide the wheel back to take up slack.

because you would need a new hubs that designed for fixed wheel (if you're keeping the original rims and spokes that come with the bike), the road one are designed both for freewheel and to hold numerous cogs, so it's not suitable for fixed wheel.

Just to add to Ed's comment.

It is possible to reuse the old road bike rear wheel as a fixed wheel but a lot of people say that you shouldn't. You have to 'suicide mount' the fixed cog which means that the lock ring is on the same thread as the cog and you use a hell of a lot of loctite to make sure it stays on. I used this method on my original conversion for a good few months without any problems but you have to make sure you know what you're doing and read up on it. Also read up on 'rotafix'ing your cog. This is a method of screwing you rear cog on really tight to make sure it doesn't move.

• The other thing to remember about doing this with the old road rear wheel is that it is dished to allow for somewhere between 5-10 cogs so you may have some trouble lining up your cogs/wheel with frame.
  
  

I can't stress enough how much reading up on with other people have done helps you to build your own. Just search for things that you hear mentioned and you'll get no end of really important info coming up.

hey - yeah cheers. I know its all so repetitive. i kinda get lost in all the jargon AND there IS SO much out there. no probs buying a new back wheel just wanted to make sure i wasnt being a pigeon.

edscoble - was look at a peugoet youd converted yesterday (was it this thread?). Looked cool and looked like you had same drop outs as me. Anyway looking at the bike and think i have "Horizontal Dropout Campagnolo 1010" (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html). Talked to Charlie from Charlie the Bikemonger and he said i would NEED a ENO hub for £120 (no thanks!). was thinking drop out angle + half link + gearing would be okay. but "Charlie" threw me. may have been mislead by my claim to have a "vertical dropout".

Those dropouts should be fine for running singlespeed or fixed with regular hubs, at least I do on my conversion (currently SS) without any problems. I think you should be able to get the chain tension right with any chosen chainring by adjusting the number of chain links and moving the wheel in the dropouts.

hey - yeah cheers. I know its all so repetitive. i kinda get lost in all the jargon AND there IS SO much out there. no probs buying a new back wheel just wanted to make sure i wasnt being a pigeon.

edscoble - was look at a peugoet youd converted yesterday (was it this thread?). Looked cool and looked like you had same drop outs as me. Anyway looking at the bike and think i have "Horizontal Dropout Campagnolo 1010" (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html). Talked to Charlie from Charlie the Bikemonger and he said i would NEED a ENO hub for £120 (no thanks!). was thinking drop out angle + half link + gearing would be okay. but "Charlie" threw me. may have been mislead by my claim to have a "vertical dropout".

basically you have this;

singlespeed bicycle in the past use those dropout (without gear hanger), there's plenty of room to adjust your chain tension anyway, so you'll be fine.

you don't need to spend money on the eccentric hubs, just get those cheap Formula/System EX/Zenith etc. hubs, despite the cheap price tags, they're reliable and plenty durable.

coolness. think im getting it. my whole sat is going to be devoted to tuning the bike. ill let you know how it goes

it's like we turned up to a party in the same dress... awkward

There are on-one hubs on sale now for a very good price. Much cheaper than formulas.

my pug has developed an annoying crank noise .. creaking on every push.
I have tightened everything i can see and its still there .. any suggestions.

your annoying crank noise could potentially be an annoying bottom bracket noise? also sometimes pedal bearings can creak? had to retap the frickin' threads in the pug i built up to get a new bb in not cool. or it could be your knees?

well i am pretty sure its not my knees .. not yet anyway :-)
but i have been looking at changing the crank and bb to a sugino messenger so maybe worth it now
they are new pedals so i would hope its not them .. might take it to the lbs and see what they say .. i am passing brixton cycles tomorrow i will ask them.

if you point one crack straight down and push through the bike with your foot you should hear some cracking noises if the bb is super worn. it's lazy man diagnostics. if it's the orig bb i would hazard a guess and say it's def the bb when i did mine the bearings were rectanglular

my pug has developed an annoying crank noise .. creaking on every push.
I have tightened everything i can see and its still there .. any suggestions.

yeah it is bottom bracket! the bearings come loose on those old french threaded bb. New bb or put up with the sound.

This is the Pug I built up for my girlfriend.... She is very happy with it.....

where have i seen this before?

i just stopped at a local shop who told me a new sealed unit for it is £25 + £18 fitting .. that seems a bit high to me .. is it ?
not really worried about the fitting i can fit it myself but the bb seems a bit steep.