BRAKE LEVERS:
MAFAC Professionnel 429 - racing type brake levers - traditional non-aero cable routing - pre 1977 integrated cable adjusters having a metal barrel with rubber "O" ring - pre 1980 standard aluminum alloy bodies - "full style" translucent gum hoods - factory "drilled" Clear anodized aluminum alloy levers / pre 1980 with 34 hole (17 holes per side) lever blades / pre 1980 "narrow" profile lever blades - patented stainless steel mounting clips / pre 1980 solid band marked "Breveté SDGD" - model Course 429 ... [An authentically period correct component that is remarkably similar to that found on the Peugeot PY10’s that Bernard Thevenet rode to victory in both the 1975 and 1977 editions of the Tour de France (...while they are near identical from an external standpoint, Thevenet actually employed Gold anodized MAFAC 529 brake levers in 1975 and Clear anodized 429 levers having a Silver hue in 1977), and a decidedly suitable upgrade in my opinion given their pairing with the modified MAFAC Competition brake calipers selected for use on this bike. In addition to weighing less than the ubiquitous MAFAC Dural Course 121 levers, I believe this model to be a distinct improvement since their "full style" gum hoods tend to be just a tad more comfortable in hand and because the admittedly "cool" looking holes in their lever blades actually afford a better grip with a resulting improvement in control of speed modulation. A typical factory original Crescent Pepita model 320 of this vintage would have had MAFAC Racer brake calipers and matching MAFAC Dural Course 121 levers, although it should be noted that these bikes could also be optionally ordered having Campagnolo Record side-pull calipers with corresponding cables and brake levers - at an incremental cost, of course.]
