Peugeot of France If you want a strong, reliable and unfussy racing bike, a Peugeot is a really safe bet. The company have a long history as a bicycle manufacturer (I once rode a Peugeot bicycle that dated back to 1906!) that even predates its long-established car-making division. With lugless tubing and no particular flourishes in terms of design, it might be a little too safe for some people's taste. But I've bought and sold my fair share of racing bikes and I can very confidently say that what sets the Peugeots from every other 1980s racing bike is its paint job, which is nothing short of exceptional! I don't know what the French did differently to their English counterparts, but they got it right. I bought an absolutely filthy Peugeot racing bike last year and it took me at least two hours to clean it. Like an obstinate Frenchman, the paintwork was impervious to everything that had been thrown at it - it had simply ...