About a month ago I saw a blue Peug mixte at the used rack of my local bike shop and bought it. I would not call it an impulse purchase since I have been interested in this kind of bike for a while now. About a year ago I test drove a Kona Roundabout (a modern reincarnation of this Peug) after falling in love with its geometry. I could not justify buying another Kona then so I returned it back to the store but kept my eye out on the bike racks in both Ottawa and Croatia looking for similar bikes.

When I saw this blue cutie at the price point 10% of what the Kona would have cost me, I decided to not to dilly dally and get it right away. It was cheap enough that, even if I end up getting rid of it without getting any use out of it, it would not be a big deal. Chris was in England so I was neither able to test ride it nor could he talk me out of the purchase. The tune up was included in the price and I was glad to see that the bike is rideable when I picked it up. It is in fair shape and it is evident that it has been well used despite the fact that all standard factory equipment is still on it. And what equipment it is; a pump (people keep asking me what it is), simplex down tube shifters, fenders and rear rack, front and back lights powered by the dynamo hub, funky brake levers, checkered decals…).

When I finally got to ride it, it turned out to be too small for me. It is a road bike, a style of bike that I have never ridden but have been getting interested in trying. Now that I tried I was done with the bike. My plan was to ride it a bit more here and there and then flip it. I was talking to Chris about it and we though it might be fun for him to try riding it.

It fit Chris perfectly! He has looked up more information about it and we think it is an ’83. He will probably be able to ride it for a little while without making any upgrades. It is now his bike and he is happy with it.