modifying pump to fit

This photo of the original (I assume) pump was on US ebay, it says OKE on the side:

I bought a pump for $2, made in China.  It does not appear to be completely terrible quality.  It looks just like a AFA pump, made in France, I have a white one on another bike.  I googled afa pump and see https://melbournebicyclecentre.com/shop/pump-afa-plastic-black/  sell a Zefal, made in France for $10:

The Chinese one came with a Schraeder (car) valve fitting, not the Presta (racing bike) I need.  I unscrewed the part at the top of the pump, pulled the handle off the metal rod, cut the metal rod and the main plastic cylinder.  The screw threaded end thing needed some thread rubbed down a bit and was just pushed into the shortened plastic tube.  It seems to work OK, I might have to be careful not to pull it back too hard and fast, or the little stopper thingy might jump out.  I might get a Zefal if it comes with a Presta valve fitting, being French should help the bike stay happy.

http://www.moruyabicycles.com.au/contents/en-uk/d963_standard-pump.html


has the same pump for $8.  it is not clear which valve fitting it comes with.  They sell the little hose thingies for $3, schraeder or presta.

**

I searched 550A on bikeforums.net, in the last four years there have been six north Americans searching for tyres, one looking for a wheel, to suit Peugeot folding bikes, so there obviously must be a few of the in the US and Canada.

One Californian has a Raleigh Cherry:

"It is a Raleigh Cherry, 18" frame marked with "Made in England" label. Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub stamped 81. 20" steel rims marked "Raleigh - made in France 440-20 (550A)."
Tires (original) are also made in France. "

I notice those wheels above have 36 spokes, the NS22 has 28 spokes on both wheels.

Another thing, 440-20 is 500A, not 550A as stated above, but I'll leave it here, they are French and of some interest (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html).  I have not yet found another bike that uses 550A wheels.

****

An interesting collection of modified Raleigh Twenties can be seen here:

http://www.littlepixel.info/twenty/AnotherRaleighTwenty/Other%20Twenties.html

I told the site owner (in UK) about this blog, he tells me:  "I wasn't aware of that Peugeot - it's a beaut too!  ...A rare treat - lovely curves - thanks for sharing."

Shopping trip

Today I carted home an 8kg bag of dried dog food on the back, tied down with an old bike tyre tube, only a 1.5km trip.  I have noticed recently twice I've wheeled the bike over a concrete step or gutter and the front mudguard has hit the edge as it drops down, I must look out for this.  The NS22 on french ebay didn't get a bid at 40 euros and has been relisted at the same price.  One in Sydney with badly perished tyres went for $60.  None on US ebay today.

I see at:  http://www.mon-vieux-grenier.com/velo-pliant-70/

This is an PNSA 40, ie. three speed, side-pull front brake, no front carrier rack.  I think the claim it is suitable for someone 1.9m tall might be stretching it, but I guess it would be easier than walking.

Vélo pliant des années 70 Vintage ManuFrance Peugeot à VITESSE

par Mon Vieux GrenierLaisser une réponse »

Exceptionnel Bicyclette des années 60 début 1970

[Vue avec PicLens]

Vélo femme, homme, enfant.

Ce vélo est pliant comme le montre les photos
En 20 secondes, même un enfant peut le plier
Ce vélo convient aux personnes de 1,50 m à 1,90 m
Ce modèle est celui d’origine, Vélo Peugeot pliant fabriquait un modèle plus sobre sans vitesses et avec moins d’options pour le modèle Manufrance.
Vélo Peugeot PLIANT avec les accessoires suivants :

- Dynamo
- Feux avant et arrière présent
- Dérailleur Simplex
- 3 Vitesses
- Réglages de la selle et du guidon en hauteur
- Béquille
- 2 sacoches présentes ( valeur 20 euros les deux )
- Sonnette
- Selle suspendu sur ressort GALLET FRANCE
- Protège projection de la Dynamo
- Deux Pare-Boue
- Protège salissures de la chaine
- Pompe à vélo d’origine

Tous ces accessoires sont en état d’origine, ils sont en fonction.
Ce vélo sort d’un grenier en Normandie, il est à nettoyer et les pneus ( confort 500) sont à changer, il est visible à Caen.

.

La mise à disposition peut se faire sur Caen ou  Paris   Sinon, me contacter.

***

The photos:

The original bell has a Peugeot lion on it, mine is something different.

I'm thinking about getting a black pump and seeing if I can shorten it somehow, I think it needs to be about 25cm long, see the original behind the seat tube.

 I am missing a little cover above the stem clamp, my bike has some thread exposed on the top of the forks.

This does not have centre-pull brakes at the front.

 Different seat to the one on my NS22.

 I have removed this dynamo, I have it in a box, it might go back on again some time.

 I never had this rear light.

It surprises me that the handlebars don't have a quick-release clamp to let them fold down.

White is not a good colour for bicycles, it just shows up every spot of dirt.

I have seen black pannier bags on an NS22 in Australia.

Creaking folding latch

I noticed when climbing hills when I really put my weight into the bike there was a creaking noise.  When I got off the bike I held the seat pole with one hand and the handlebar stem with the other, pulled them apart and pushed them together, the groaning seemed to come from the folding mechanism.

I put WD-40 on the lever, axle, screw and nut and the surfaces of where things meet each other.  I did not put any on the hinge itself.  The creaking seems to have gone away now.

I have used the cyclocomputer on a particular hill, without any pedalling it rolled 800m in 83s and a second time in 84s.  On another bike the computer said the distance was 820 or 830m.  Without the computer I have timed between the same points and got 80s and ninety-something (I felt a headwind).  I know from a lot of other bikes I have rolled down this hill that low 80s are respectable.  The run is steep to begin with (max speed 52 and 53km/h today), then slightly up hill, then a long gentle downhill run.  Average speed of 34km/h is a good speed to consider wind resistance and rolling resistance.

I still feel some handlebars shaped more like BMX bars would be preferable for me.  I am a man about average adult height and weight, the seat could still go up a bit higher, but the handlebars are not the best pushed as far forward as I have them.

I tightened up a lot of the spokes on the rear wheel today, my spoke key was a bit too big, but it still worked.  The spokes on the front wheel seemed fine, but quite a few were very slack on the back wheel.

Different models of the Peugeot velo pliable

At retropeugeot.com there is a French catalogue, believed to be from 1974.  Under the Nouveau Style section are the following models:

(various accents omitted)

NSA 22.  Routiere luxe, cadre mixte largement, ouvert, de conception nouvelle et originale, en
tubes a section ovale, avec gaines incorporees.  Roues de 550 A, pnues bicolores 1/2 ballon,
moyeux en metal leger, guidon et tige de selle a reglage instantane, garde-boue inoxydables,
porte-bagages AR et bequille chromes.

NSA 40.  Meme modele 3 vitesses.

PNSA 22.  Version pliable de NSA 22.

PNSA 40.  Version pliable du NSA 40.

NSL 22.  Routiere grand luxe, freins a tirage central, garde-boue et pare-chaine inoxydables,
bequille et porte-bagages AV et AR chromes avec serre-paquets sandow.

NSL 40.  Meme modele 5 vitesses.

PNSL 22.  Version pliable du NSL 22.

PNSL 40 Version pliable du NSL 40.

*****

As far as I can see, P= pliable or pliant, ie. folding frame.

A = base model (luxe)

Frame from oval tubes, cables in the frame, 550A size wheels, whitewall tyres, light metal hubs, seat and handlebars instantly adjustable, stainless steel guards, rear luggage rack.

L = luxury (extra luxury), has an extra luggage rack and elastic cords and centre-pull brakes.

For some reason, the 22 changes to 40 if it has gears, the NSA 40 has 3 speeds, NSL 40 has 5 speeds.

I believe all the ones I have seen in Australia have been PNSL 40 variety, a one-speed I saw seemed to have once upon a time been 5 speed, it had the two luggage racks.

****

There is also a NJ - junior with 500 size wheels, also with L or P varieties.  I believe I have seen one of these in Australia.  NJD is 3 speed, PNJ and PNJD are pliable (folding) versions.

A comment was made below about a FU 22/5:

Peugeot pliant, velo pliant, PNSM40

A folding bicycle is a velo pliant in french.  I googled about with the terms "peugeot pliant" and found a few pics.

Somewhere I found this image, I can't find it again now:

www.bikeboompeugeot.com has something interesting:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzerndgo/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Peugeot_1980_US_Catalog_PNSM40_BikeBoomPeugeot.JPG

If the owner objects, I will remove this image, but we're all in this for a common cause, it is apparently from a 1980 catalogue.  Note the extra thingy where it folds, also it is a 3 speed with different brakes to those in Australia:

It seems the NS22 was called the PNSM40 in the US, peut etre also in France.

at  http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21932

someone says:  " I owned and thrashed a 'Peugeot folder for 15yrs from the age of 10yrs. Chemist deliveries, newspaper rounds(heavily laden). Very Strong and Reliable bike. I couldn't kill it, tried hard to. Mother sold it long after I moved out of home. Never had an issue with the folding mech. Wheel size is unique to the bike, 550A, do not let anyone tell you it's 22x 1 3/8, it's not! Tyres and tubes still imported by Apollo (michelin importers). Recently restored one for an elderly Aunt, she loves it. They mono well too. Wouldn't try jumping it though. Hope this helps."

Another comment contradicts the tyres not being 22x1 3/8.  I know there are two sizes of 24" and two sizes of 26", so maybe there is also some other 22" tyre.

I cleaned my wheels, I notice some spokes seem a bit loose, I coated them in WD-40 and will tighten a few.  I also tied a bit of string (light nylon cord, a bit tougher than a shoelace) around each hub, a very daggy thing to do, it keeps the dust off as the string bounces around.

I bought a new CR2032 button cell for my Cateye Vectra, have hardly used it, hit 21mph in 4th gear.  I can't remember how to set it for km/h.

tyres

I think I wrote earlier the tyres are Michelin Comfort, they are in fact CoNfort.  I notice a little 09 on the side, I'm guess my tyres were made in 2009.

I see on ebay today there's another NS22 for sale in Australia, this one resprayed and converted to single speed.  I don't like the look of it much.  Has new tyres, owner says they are Vee Rubber.  I googled around and also see Kenda make this size, so seems like there's no problem finding them if you look hard enough.

I came across a blog:

http://littlebikeblog.wordpress.com/

the author rightly says the NS22 has a certain "je ne sais quoi", though he himself has a Gitane folding bike.


Once I saw one for sale on ebay, the owner said it was the Citroen DS of the bicycle world:

Another thought crossed my mind re Raleigh Twenty vs Peugeot NS22....

Half of 22 is 11, so the wheel radius is 11 inches.  Now, eleven is one more than ten, so it just gives you that little bit extra...  (see Spinal Tap, good movie).

I see quite a few Raleigh Twenties modified with modern parts, eg. on sheldonbrown.com and elsewhere.  A couple of years ago I owned a BSA Twenty (non-folding rebadged Raleigh Twenty).  I prefer the NS22.

I carted two kids on bike down a steep grass embankment today, together twice and singly twice each.  Too steep to ride back up, even without passengers.

load carrying ability and wheel circumference

On Christmas Eve I had two children on the bike, one on either carrier rack, each child is about 25kg.  We did a few laps of two tennis courts, no problems.  The front rack is more easily wobbled from side to side.

Late Christmas Day I measured the circumference of the tyre, or to be exact, I measured the ground covered when the wheel passes through one revolution.  I applied some weight to the handlebars and took the front wheel, valve stem down-most, from a line on some concrete until the valve stem was again at the bottom, repeated several times.  I measured 1725mm, let's call it 172cm.  Without weight on the handlebars it goes two or three cm further.

Calculating circumference = 22inches * 2.54 * 3.14 = 175.5cm

or using 22.2 inches (see earlier post), gives 177cm.

I will use 172cm for the cateye computer.

stainless steel parts

A magnet will stick to the stand, chainguard and mudguards.  Not all stainless steel has this property.  The different kinds have their merits, let's not get into that here.

I moved the handlebars forward on my NS22, the angle of the final part I hold on to is not the best, they could be bent forwards, more like BMX bars.  When climbing a steep hill I hold on to the parts one bend down from the grips, my hands under:

Last night I searched ebay in US, Canada, UK, France and Australia.  There were two NS22 bikes, one in Australia, one in France.  The one in France was 40 euros with no bids yet, it was a non-folding version.  I can't save the image.  No NS22 on dutch ebay either, two other Peugeot bikes.  No NS22 on New Zealand ebay today, a few other Peugeots.

For some reason, I can save two 550A alloy wheels being sold in France, 30E each, the listing says they suit a Peugeot NS22.  I wonder if many other bikes ever used this size?:

I see on ebay.fr there is being sold a tube, suggesting 24" tubes and 550a are the same.  I guess a 550a can be stretched a bit to fit a 24", but I wonder if the reverse is possible:

Chambre à air MICHELIN 24X1,5-1,9 550A confort (presta)

brakes and rims

After further reading, it seems the front brakes are centre-pull brakes, a bridge attaches to the frame at one point, from this bridge the two brake arms pivot.  To me, the rear brakes, both arms pivoting directly from the frame meet the definition of U-brake that I read on a few sites.

On my front wheel rim is stamped:

550A MADE IN FRANCE   RIGIDA CHROLUX CHROMAGE SUPERIEUR

then a little diamond with 75 in it.  I wonder if 75 stands for 1975?

The rear rim stamping seems to have run out in the middle of the G:  550A MADE IN FRANCE   RIG


www.rigida.com is still going, they say they've been making bicycle wheel rims since 1908.

I can't see any 550A rims on their site.

I googled Chrolux and at http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-256311.html

find a comment they are light, but the " Bad thing is they rip the hell out of brake pads because of the ribbed sidewalls of the rim."


It seems these rims also came in 27" size


Another comment says the number in the diamond is a date stamp.


So, looks like my NS-22 is only 35 years old... assuming the front wheel is original.


IMHO, the ribbed sidewalls must be there for a reason.  I had a steel wheeled bike in 1983, it the wet the braking was almost useless.  I will be interested to see how the NS-22  Rigida Chrolux Chromage Superieur rims stack up in the wet.

Brakes & chain guard adjustment

I replaced the rear brake cable and cable housing.  The way the brakes are set up on this bike is called a U-brake.  See  http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-u.html

Sheldon Brown only says there was a fad for them in around 1986-88 on the back brake of mountain bikes.  I would agree with his view that adjusting the rear brake under the lower chain stays is difficult.  I removed the pads completely (he calls them brake shoes), held the brake arms as close to the wheel as possible, pulled the cable tight, and tightened the nut.  Exactly how I managed this with only two hands I can't remember.  It slacks off a bit, then the pads/shoes can be installed.  The rear pads are like this:

As above, they can be moved in and out to get closer to the wheel rim.

The front pads and brake arms are different, the pads have a threaded section on top, they cannot be adjusted in the same way as the rear ones can.

Chain-guard.  It was getting hit by the crank.  Where it is connected to the frame, near the bottom bracket, I used a longer bolt and inserted a 1/4" nyloc nut with it thread drilled out, so it acts as a spacer, pulling the chain-guard about 6mm to the port side.  Now the guard is a little close to the chain ring and barely touched it at times, I just gave it a bit of persuasion and it seems OK now.  I have a feeling if this bike is folded and loaded on and off trains, planes and automobiles, the chain-guard may need adjustment from time to time.

I have also now installed a vintage Cateye Vectra computer, CC-7000, it needs a new battery.  I think this might be 20 years old:

Peugeot NS-22 folding bicycle

I thought I better mention the fact this blog is largely about a Peugeot NS-22 folding bicycle.  I have not used those words together often, doing so might help search engines know what it is all about.

I have feeling this bike is going on a journey somewhere....

To go places no other NS-22 has ever been...

The mint condition NS-22 on US ebay recently starting at $599 did not get any bids.  There goes my plan to snap up all the bargains in Australia and export them....

One thing I have not mentioned is my bike has presta valves on the tubes, like racing bikes.

It appears  http://www.cycles-louvet.com/roues-velo-moyeu-axe-roulement-mavic/3363-jante-550-a-alu-moyeu-axe-plein-avant-roues-.html

sell new 550A aluminium wheels

my very own NS22...

Here is my machine...

The left crank is probably the rustiest part.  Some of the old grotty white paint can be seen around the bottom bracket spindle, it seems to have been disassembled (not by me).

Minus the stainless steel guards.

I put some pedals on from an old mountain bike, about 1cm wider than the originals.  I think I might cut back the outermost underside of the pedals, to give a bit more ground clearance when cornering.

 More rusty left crank.

 Interesting front brake set up.

 I did not like to remove the chain, so I wrapped it and moved it around between coats of paint.  I like the way the lower chain stay follows the same curve as the down-tube.

 Chain ring and cranks were not removed either.

 The chrome bits at the head were wrapped in plastic with a rubber band around them, I touched them up with a small paint brush.

 Early on the bike hung by the chain ring.

 Another view of the front brakes.  Spots of white paint can be seen on the cap on top of the forks and on the front mudguard, these had been painted completely white.

 Original seat on left, Japanese replacement on the right.

 Japanese seat says Velo underneath, the plastic has a crack in it but this doesn't seem to cause any problem.

Nearly there, brakes not yet connected.

Rear wheel nuts have captive washers, note end of nut is rounded.  Note the way the mudguard is connected.  Those spokes look a bit rusty.  I have not cleaned the wheels at all.

Underside view of rear brakes.  Note the almost new tyre tread.  I have pulled the brake cable through too far, also pulling the cable sheat along with it, there is no stopper present, I'll scrounge one from my box of bits.

 Naked bike still with original seat.

 Original seat.  The metal parts were rusty white pait, so I gave them some black killrust.