My New Bike Project: Peugeot PH8
I have a new bike project! It's a Peugeot PH8 from about 1981-1985. This will be my new touring bike or possibly a single speed commuter/gravel bike.
The previous owner wasn't sure of the model nor the model year and I haven't been able to find out for sure. It looks like a lot of the PH8 models from early 1980's, but there are other similar models like PH8M and PH8L. I think those are basically the same bike with different trim levels. My bike came with fenders, a rear rack, a sidewall dynamo and lights front and back. I've seen the exact same bike with the same colors and trim level being sold as a 1983 PH8M, but I have no idea if that info was accurate or not.
The bike is in pretty good condition! Paint still looks good and there are only a few rusty spots in the frame. It's got Simplex derailleurs (2x5) with the dreaded plastic parts. The rear derailleur works surprisingly well, the front not so much.
It's a Carbolite 103 frame which, if I'm correct, was used in the lowest end bikes Peugeot made in the 1980s. I haven't been able to ride the bike that much yet but it doesn't feel that bad. It's not as heavy as I expected it to be.
That Simplex chainguard is a beauty! :) I also like the Simplex downtube shifters and they seem to be working pretty well. Even the sidewall dynamo and both of the lights work, amazing!
I'm still not sure what this bike will turn into. I've had some problems getting the bottom bracket out (I'm still unsure if it's French, Swiss or British) and the stem broke apart when I tried to adjust the handlebar height. At the moment I have two options on my mind:
- Turn the bike into a proper touring bike with a new groupset and new wheels (cold setting the frame to 130mm or even 135mm). Basically just keeping the frame, mudguards, rear rack, seat tube, stem and handlebars.
- Make it a single speed commuter/gravel bike. This would be the easier and cheaper route. I already have a single speed flat bar Trek Soho S, that I barely ride anymore. I could move most of the components from Trek to Peugeot, and just get new brake levers and handlebar tape.
I still haven't had time to clean the bike properly and I haven't even got the stuck bottom bracket out yet. I'll have to clean up the bike and remove some components and then decide if cold setting the frame makes any sense. Another option is to keep the frame width at the original 120mm and run it single speed or just keep on using the original 5 speed Simplex.
Anyway, it's an interesting project and I can't wait to get my hands dirty again :)