Hi, all. This is my first post here.

I spend a bit of time in the emptybeer (MTBR) 29er forum, but that place is cut-throat. I like the attitude in the various retro forums, and I love the pics of older bikes rebuilt/refurbished to be ridden.

I've just come into ownership of a slightly-vintage Canadian-made Peugeot UO-14. Also, after a recent move to the country I have access to a network of roads which are seldom traveled, although a stage of the women's World Cup passed near my door this past summer; the Tour de PEI. Stupid name, I know.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/DogsBikesX-Mas016.jpg

So far, I've had very little luck finding our anything about these bikes; when they were produced, where this model might fit in the overall product line, or any information at all about the UO series.

Frame is lugged and features a 453 butted seat tube, a low end Reynolds tube. Any idea what the other tubes might be? Sakei cranks, Shimano shifters f-der & Light-Action r-der, and Shimano brakes.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/DogsBikesX-Mas019.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/LikeBikes007.jpg

My guesses? Probably late eighties vintage, probably mid-level quality. Not sure about the tubes. Bike was originally sold at Bungay's Bikes Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

The bike has clearly received some love over the years. Although the rear wheel was Rigida 27x1&1/4 (probably the stock wheel), the front seems to be a Sun M13II laced to a Campy Record (36H!). Scrounging in the corners of my LBS turned up a Wolber TX Profil 32H laced to a Shimano 600, featuring a six speed road block. Lucky. Some fiddling w/the Shimano brakes and everything fit.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/DogsBikesX-Mas017.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/DogsBikesX-Mas018.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/DogsBikesX-Mas020.jpg

I replaced the infinitely uncomfortable Vette seat with my Brooks Pro (another free find), and my girlfriend bought me some tan cork grips for X-Mas.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/LikeBikes003.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/DogsBikesX-Mas024.jpg

Anyway (I know I left the point around here somewhere), what do I have here? I don't care about monetary value, but I would like to ensure that I have a reliable ride for a recreational road rider. Any reason I couldn't add some CX tires for clay road rides? What gum-coloured-side-wall tires do you recommend (I was thinking Panaracer Duros)? What else should I do to add some flair to this bike? What shouldn't I do (would cork bar-end plugs look dorky on an eighties bike)?

Any information you could provide on the bike or parts would be very much appreciated as I'd like to know what kind of a story I'm riding. Also, if you could recommend other resources such as other vintage forums or websites, I'd be quite obliged.
Thnx,

C. Long

I've not seen that tubing decal before. In the first picture, it looks like there is a dent in the upper portion of the front fork, but it's probably a reflection.....

I'm a big fan of having the front and rear wheels match. When the existing tires wear out, consider Michelin rubber. I like Continentals, too

The frame has a butted seat tube, but the rest are just "gas pipe". The rear wheel is not original, and is actually of a much higher quality than the rest of the bike. The whole thing is probably worth $100, maybe as much as $200, with the rear wheel and the Brooks saddle being the majority of that value. The rest of the bike looks pretty basic.

Dave may know this more reliably than I do, but I think the Canadian builder ProCycle stopped making lugged Peugeot frames in 1988 and started making welded (or perhaps internally lugged) Peugeot frames. That would put your bike into the 1986-88 time frame. BTW, what does that sticker on the down tube say—same as the seat tube sticker?

Thanks for the info all! Much appreciated.

The main point of this bike is to have a clean functional ride for the local roads, I'm not planning on selling it, and don't even really plan to upgrade more than tires, brakes, grips, etc...the cheap stuff. Sorry, I know that's not really the point of this board.

I guess I didn't mention it in my original post, but this bike was given to me by the facilitator of a bike-loan project I was working on at University a few years ago; it was too big for all who applied to the program, and we were lacking storage space. It looks as if it was well cared for ,and I chose to make it ridable again rather than allow it to languish any longer.

bicyclerepairman, the front wheel was fitted when the bike came to me, the rear was a freebie from my LBS. When it came to me it wore a 27"x 1 1/4" Rigida hoop. I probably won't bother trying to match for looks as long as both remain functional. However, thanks for the tire tips.

Dave, thanks for the reply. I'm assuming the butted tube is of only slightly higher quality than the 'gas pipes' found elsewhere on the bike. You pin the bike at a higher price than I would have assumed, but I must admit that I'm not concerned at all w/resale value, and the Brooks would stay with me regardless. It was another find from the program I mentioned. All the others involved insisted that I replace "that clunky looking seat" with something more modern. Fine with me.
Any more info on the Wolbers? I was specifically wondering when it might have been manufactured. The 600 hub should be a clue to me, and I guess I could find out with a bit more sleuthing. The small amount of information I've been able to glean from google searches suggests that the company was eventually bought by Michelin, and that the wheels themselves had a fine record for durability. Sound right?
Also, if you happen to know any of the history of the Canadian made Peugeots, as wim suggests, I'd be happy hear it. Did Pro-Cycle manufacture Peugeots in Canada or purchase the manufacturing facility after the fact?

Wim, the 453 sticker is on the downtube. There are two stickers on the seat tube however. One was applied by the original bike shop (I assume), and the other lists licensing information from Peugeot and place of manufacture. Thanks for the info on the manufacturer. Also, your time frame sounds correct to me, and matches what I assumed. Thanks for the confirmation. Blurry photos of the seat tube stickers follow.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/DogsBikesX-Mas023.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj116/Bruin_Dog/LikeBikes009.jpg

Thanks again for your help, folks.