Peugeot PY10-FC- THE dream bike of my youth...

The Robert Millar photo can be seen here

http://veloretrocourse.proboards.com/th ... -py?page=4

Note the Turbo saddle, which Peugeot were putting on their top end bikes by ‘83 and the toe clips.

Of course RM’s race set up may have been different.

Hi DSH, that is an excellent link you attached, lots of Peugeot loveliness on there, much appreciated.

Over past weeks I have been slowly accumulating parts, I will get some photos up shortly..

So I have been slowly collecting parts for the 'Robert Millar PY10FC Homage' and this has lead me into the mysterious world of French componentry! I don't know if the following will be of any interest or use but I shall post my discoveries as I go along with this build... So starting with the gears...

Rear Derailleur
The standard 'off the shelf' bike originally was supplied with a Simplex SLJ5500 R/D, and on later versions of the bike it was an SLJ6600 T/SP... Simplex parts alone is a minefield and very easy to think that you are looking at one type of R/D when in fact it was something completely different.

For the actual team bikes, they used a Simplex LJ4000 CP/SP rear derailleur. This was further modified by drilling holes in the jockey wheels and jockey wheel cages to reduce the total weight to 145g! I managed to find a standard version (a hefty 170g!). interestingly the body is made of delrin plastic. Odder still, instead of a standard allen headed bolt to attach to rear hanger on the frame. it has a bolt that feeds in from the other side of the hanger and clamps the derailleur to the frame. Unusually on mine it has a gold Simplex logo on a black background (all the images I found of these have a black Simplex logo on a silver background) has so I don't know if this a special version, or just an early version? it is possible to get the decals for these so I shall ponder on changing it..

I used to drool over these in the Pug catalogues . There`s one on ebay at the moment, been on for ages with a strange mix of kit including c-record chainset and rear mech , fancy it myself but its beyond my budget. As well as Peugeot`s own pro team even ANC had a few PY10-fc`s for the 87 tour with full C-record , would love to recreate one of them one day

I'm back! I have been busy gathering parts so I thought it was time for an update...

Marshalllucky, I saw that bike too, which I thought was an unusual spec. There was another one on ebay the other week . Looked all original except the rims- that went for £1000! blimey). If anyone is after one, do check under 'Vitus', some people don't realise they are actually Peugeots so they get miss-described, that is how I came across mine.....

So the postman has been busy. I have had to scour the world for the right bits. What did people do before the internet!?

Front Hubs
The off the shelf bike and the team bikes, used Maillard Professional 700 hubs. I don't think they used helicomatic (couldn't find any evidence) so managed to score some standard hubs. The early versions had a black dust bearing seal (late 1970's). The correct ones have a metal bearing seal. A lot of Maillard hubs look similar so it takes some detective work to make sure they are correct. The ones I got were badged spidel. They are really well made and spin very smoothly. They are an unusual design for the cones as they incorporate the bearing seal.





And here they are greased up and polished. You can get decals for them so I will get that sorted.. In the end got some near NOS quick releases for £10 (result!) as the originals were a bit far gone.

Next bits through the letterbox have been the chainset and bottom bracket. The challenge here is trying to find the correct bottom bracket. It should be a Simplex 650 with titanium axle but haven't found one yet, so to keep the show on the road, I managed to source a Simplex Competition BB near nos. Oddly the frame and forks have british thread, and you guessed it.... most of these French parts that I have found have been French thread! For info the correct length Stronglight BB for a double chainset is 118mm. 124mm is for a triple..



Chainset
Chainset is a Stronglight 107. nearly all I found had French pedal threads. You can get them reamed out for English thread pedals, but that sounded like hassle, so I eventually tracked the ones I wanted from a seller in Canada! they are in superb condition. Some of the black highlights have rubbed off on the chainrings, but they otherwise look unused and as this isn't going to be a show bike build (nothing wrong with a bit of patina) they fit the bill. They are really nicely made..

A bit of a bumper addition of this build but have been busy getting some more parts....

Front derailleur
This would have been a Simplex SLJA522. I managed to find a Gipiemme badged version. I have hit a snag! The frame tubes are a larger diameter than the norm! looks like I will have to (carefully) get busy with the Dremmel as I can see no evidence they made one specific for this frame...







Freewheel
The freewheel would have been a Maillard 700 Professional. I read somewhere that for mountain stages Robert would have used a lighter Zycral version. I managed to find one (looks a bit worn to be honest so will see if it is any good), but compared to a standard steel one which I had in the garage I did a weight comparison..... look at the difference!





I suspect the zycral version is probably a very limited mileage option before it wears out but the standard one feels like a brick in comparison. By the way, this isn't a 'weight weenie' build, just trying to make it as sensibly authentic as possible...

So good news is that decals are on their way, Rims are also on their way. I couldn't help sticking a few bits on to get a 'flavour' of what it might look like (and to stop this thread getting too boring).









I haven't found the correct seatpost so she will have to have a Campag record post (that looks near identical) for the moment. Also the OCD in me doesn't like the different colour of the headset upper and lower bearing cups compared to the original lockring but I have a plan for that as well...

I love that classic Black and White Peugeot team kit. Always reminds me of Tom Simpson. Nice Build !!

I agree, one of the best ever team kits! many thanks!

So getting some momentum now. Rims have landed- some nos Mavic Argent 10 rims. It will be a shame to put some glue on them! These will be off to the LBS to build the wheels this weekend.





I appreciate not quite the original Mavic Service des Courses rim but I haven't seen a pair that 1. weren't a stupid price and 2. couldn't prove they weren't 'fake' i.e a set of standard rims with stickers on! these were actually good value (that is what I told the better half anyway).. and they have the finish I was looking for- not too bling.

I am starting to think I am losing the plot in the name or correctness- finally I managed to find the correct unobtanium bottom bracket (titanium axle) but it had French threads, So then bought another bottom bracket just for the correct English thread cups to match the sealed bearings.



Aside from the cost - please tell me there are others reading this with the same affliction!!



Steel axle:


Titanium Axle:


Feel free to share similar tales of obsessive behaviour to make me feel better!