Nimrod

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.