NIMROD tries the
PEUGEOT PX10
Cycling and Mopeds (UK) Feb 26,1964
It may not be in the current Peugeot team colours but at least it is
basically the same as the one that Tom (Simpson, ed) rides, I thought a I had my first
ride on the Peugeot PXIO road machine, the type used by the Peugeot team on the Continent.
Solid is perhaps the best word to describe it as this is what one would expect for a
machine designed to withstand mile after mile of racing and the rough handling given them
by professional bike riders.
The frame, using Reynolds 531 tubing, Nervex Professional lugs and Simplex fork ends, is
soundly constructed. The fine seat stays form the basis of a sturdy rear end, which is also
in Reynolds 531 tubing.
Close-ratio Block
The close-ratio block (14-15-17-19-21) was combined with a 45/52
chainset for gears of 100, 94, 87, 83, 81, 74, 71, 67, 64 and 58 which was a suitable
range for use on the runs I made. The Simplex parallelogram gear provided snappy changes.
There was a pleasant zing in the sprints, built with Simplex Blocade hubs and Mavic rims
with stainless steel spokes. These were tied, to give added strength to the wheels. French
Dunlop 700C racing tubulars were used and these would have been more in place on the
starting line of a road race than riding through the glass and grit of London as I was,
but I did not puncture.
Tough Finish
The finish of the frame was in a tough blue flamboyant paint, the
lugs being in yellow,but the distinctive black and white checks that we see in the Peugeot
team's racing jerseys, were not used.
The rest of the specification included Stronglight cotterless chainset, Mafac brakes,
Ideale saddle, AVA stem and Lyotard pedals, Ad Hoc Ventolux pump. A refinement on the
frame itself was a plastic plug under the fork crown. The frame seemed sturdy, but the
complete machine was by no means heavy, tilting the scales at just under 241b.
This machine was one of a batch of touring and racing machines imported by Layford
(Automotive). Ltd., 134/136 King Street, Hammersmith, London ' W.6 which were shown to
the- public for the first time at the Blackpool Show. I understand that they will soon be
available over here, both as framesets or as complete machines. The PXIO machine similar
to the one I have been riding will cost in the region of 80 Lb. A price for
the frame-set alone has not yet been decided. |