PX-10 _ Mudguards removed?
A current photo (September 4 2009). Yes, while fidgeting with this bike at 3:00am. last night I decided to remove the fenders. They really were quite tight - especially with these rather large wheels and tires... 630 x 28mm. (27" x 1-1/8"). One serious issue I had noticed was that with the non-French style steel "v-stays" of the cheap plastic fenders which I was using, the upper rod of the stays were rubbing against the chrome at the back of the fork blades. With the chrome so uncommonly nice on this bike I really did not want to risk any damage to the finish. To be honest, I had not entirely committed to fenders on this bike and had never even added my typical mud-flap - which I think is really necessary if you decide to go the full-fender route on a bike...
The MAFAC "Racer" brake pads on this bike are all moved to the upper (shortest) limits of the brake adjustment slots. In fact, the front brake caliper is not well suited to these wheels at all. The pads must approach the rim at an awkward angle. The correct size 700c rims for sew-up (aka: sprint or tubular) tires intended for this bike would be 4 mm. shorter in radius and this would allow a slightly better fit but would still be pushing the limits of these brakes. Mafac "Competition" calipers from this era may have allowed a very slightly shorter reach... maybe some day. Until then, I'll just continue to eat up inexpensive replacement brake pads with uneven wear. These brakes work well enough, anyway.
I suppose I really "Should" finally build up a better wheelset for this bike. I do have a perfect set of Normandy "Luxe Competition" hubs and Robergel French spokes which would be perfect - and in fact "correct" for the bike. But, I'm still reluctant to commit to tubular rims which would be ideal. ... Always so many options and minor decisions to make for any bike.
DSCF0022a
PX-10 _ Mudguards removed?
A current photo (September 4 2009). Yes, while fidgeting with this bike at 3:00am. last night I decided to remove the fenders. They really were quite tight - especially with these rather large wheels and tires... 630 x 28mm. (27" x 1-1/8"). One serious issue I had noticed was that with the non-French style steel "v-stays" of the cheap plastic fenders which I was using, the upper rod of the stays were rubbing against the chrome at the back of the fork blades. With the chrome so uncommonly nice on this bike I really did not want to risk any damage to the finish. To be honest, I had not entirely committed to fenders on this bike and had never even added my typical mud-flap - which I think is really necessary if you decide to go the full-fender route on a bike...
The MAFAC "Racer" brake pads on this bike are all moved to the upper (shortest) limits of the brake adjustment slots. In fact, the front brake caliper is not well suited to these wheels at all. The pads must approach the rim at an awkward angle. The correct size 700c rims for sew-up (aka: sprint or tubular) tires intended for this bike would be 4 mm. shorter in radius and this would allow a slightly better fit but would still be pushing the limits of these brakes. Mafac "Competition" calipers from this era may have allowed a very slightly shorter reach... maybe some day. Until then, I'll just continue to eat up inexpensive replacement brake pads with uneven wear. These brakes work well enough, anyway.
I suppose I really "Should" finally build up a better wheelset for this bike. I do have a perfect set of Normandy "Luxe Competition" hubs and Robergel French spokes which would be perfect - and in fact "correct" for the bike. But, I'm still reluctant to commit to tubular rims which would be ideal. ... Always so many options and minor decisions to make for any bike.
DSCF0022a