Comparing bikes; help me choose

[henristig]

This will be an odd comparison. Bare with me

I'm looking to cross over from retro mtb's to road machines and I've been shopping around for something special for a while. Now I've narrowed it down to three candidates, so please help me convince myself on one of these bikes.

Candidate nr. 1

Centurion Le Mans 12, late 80's/early 90's Tange #2 tubeset
150€

Candidate nr.2

Bottecchia, pretty much everything about it is a question mark since the owner's not really interested in bikes. 170€

Candidate nr.3

Old soviet road bike, XB3. No idea about the spec, looks so nice though! 150€

Soo, which one would you go for? :twisted:

 

[colnagolover]

Hi henristig

Looking for an honest answer? None of them - wait until something better comes along, may be a bit higher price but with a better frame, better angles, shorter wheelbase and more - in other words, a road bike.

These bikes are basically everyday tourers for popping down to the baker to fetch your croissant on Sunday morning

Save your €s

colnagolover

 

[henristig]

Yes, honesty! Exactly what I'm looking for! Well, how about this one? Literally just popped up for 120€. Might it be a PX10 even, judging by the chrome details?

 

[colnagolover]

Tbh i don't know much about Peugeot bikes - but that bike certainly looks to have the angles and wheelbase proportions to qualify it as a road bike. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to zoom in on the picture, so I cant see what tubes have been used or other details but from a distance it certainly looks better than the other bikes

 

[Midlife]

Peugeot pgn 10 ?

My knowledge of Peugeots however is pretty limited ....

Shaun

 

[colnagolover]

I've tried different sites with Pug history etc. but the detail that throws me is the internal cable routing for the rear brake cable. Found only 1 pic of a Pug with internal cable route but then the seat cluster/stays were not the same as on this bike. The colour scheme seems to indicate Peugeot from somewhere between '85 and '88.

Still, a little sleuthing can always occupy a few hours

 

[Midlife]

My pic is hazy but I thought the rear cable was on the outside, just the cable should be behind the bars which is why it looks so drooping and odd?

Shaun

 

[colnagolover]

Found it I'm pretty sure: 1984 Peugeot PH11

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vinta ... -ph11.html

Looks very similar in most details

As far as the way the cables have been set up (apart from the internal routing), it looks as if it has been set up by somebody with little or no knowledge of what a bike should look like - and certainly without any sense of aesthetics :facepalm:

Anyway, there you go henristig - now I'm off for shuteye so I can be on my bike before the heat hits me tomorrow.

Good hunting

 

[henristig]

Re:

Ha, seems like that little Pug got the conversation well and truly started

Nice work mate, seems to match. A bit disappointed it's carbolite crap after all though...

 

[henristig]

Re:

What say ye about a Battaglin then? They've never really produced low-end bikes, have they? 50€