Jean-Pierre Paranteau (1975)

A publicity card from 1975 showing Peugeot-BP-Michelin team rider Jean-Pierre Paranteau. And while this publicity card officially dates from 1975, in fact, the details of the Peugeot PY-10 bicycle seen here are consistent with specifications used from May of 1974 through only the earliest months of calendar year 1975. The all new PY-10 model had made its public debut at the Grand Prix du Midi-Libri held in May of 1974. Although it retained a chrome finish along its rear stays and lower front fork in common with its predecessor the venerable PX-10, the earliest of these new bikes were painted in a hue of metallic silver and typically equipped with a full complement of distinctively colored components including a gold anodized Simplex SLJ AV 326 front derailleur, a gold anodized Simplex SLJ AR 615 rear derailleur, gold anodized Simplex SLJ retro-friction shifters, and gold anodized MAFAC Competition calipers with wheel guides. One particular difference with respect to that equipment normally found on Peugeot-BP-Michelin team bikes from this era would be the clear anodized MAFAC 218 brake levers having black colored full hoods as opposed to otherwise matching gold anodized MAFAC 318 levers. Note too that the bar tape is a shade of green as opposed to the typical white or occasional black, and that the large style "pancake" adjusters on the brake levers are obscured by what would appear to be a padded ring, presumably positioned to cushion any pinch between the index finger and thumb when riding atop the hoods.