My Bargain Bike

[Python]

Well, here she is, all nicely cleaned up. Looks as though the bike's never been used. Perhaps it was an unwanted Christmas present thrown in the back of someone's garage. She's in her original state - even the tyres are the original ones, but have perished a bit and will need replaced soon.

For £18 ($33 approx) I think I've got a bargain, and the bike's got a good new home:D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/fionakidd/Bike/PICT0104.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/fionakidd/Bike/PICT0105.jpg

[mary9761]

What a Beaut! Has she told you her name yet? She's absolutely MAUVElous :D Yes I'm being cheeky!

[xeney]

WOW, that mixte is stunning. I just bought one in that color but I don't have it yet, and mine isn't as nice as yours! I am a big fan of the mixte and I bet you will love it.

[Denise223]

Hi Python!

Your Raleigh looks like she's in great condition :D !

I found this site, perhaps you can find out more about her --

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/

Have fun & happy riding!!

Denise

[Quillfred]

She's very nice. Talk about recycling. What's her name going to be?

[Python]

The car's called Vicki (because she's got VK in her registration plate).

My motorbike's called Ellie (she's a Kawasaki Eliminator),

and the racer just has to be.....

Allie the Raleigh:o :D

[mary9761]

The car's called Vicki (because she's got VK in her registration plate).

My motorbike's called Ellie (she's a Kawasaki Eliminator),

and the racer just has to be.....

Allie the Raleigh:o :D


WOW, that's great and I'm having a bit of a WOAH moment:eek: .. I was thinking something like Mauvelous Millie... so close :D :p

[DebW]

Very nice Raleigh 5-speed. Cool find. Do you know what year it was built? If you haven't done so and this bike has been sitting for more than 10 years, it needs new grease in the hubs, bb, and headset, and grease in the cables. Grease just doesn't last that many years, even if it hasn't been ridden. And the small piece of cable housing between the chainstay and the rear derailleur needs to be longer or you're going to be breaking cables. Sweet bike. Enjoy.

[Bad JuJu]

Wow, she sure cleans up nice! Look at that mauve chainguard, and all that bright white--saddle, bar tape. Gorgeous!

[SouthernBelle]

Very pretty. I would call that color maroon ??? which is very good looking against the white.

[Python]

Thanks DebW. I'm not clued up on the gears (yet) but they are not working. She's stuck in granny gear at the moment. We've got a cycle shop about 1 mile from where I live, so I'll pop down with her probably tomorrow and have a word with them because I need to ask them how that gears work i.e. what position of the lever is which gear.

I rode her up to our local grocery shop tonight. Part of the way is quite a steep hill and I surprised myself by getting up it very easily. I had been contemplating getting an electric bike, but I don't think I'll bother now. I think I've found my dream bike:D

Do you know what model she is by any chance?

[Denise223]

Just want to make sure that you are wearing a helmet :)

Ride safe!

Denise

[DebW]

I don't even remember the name of Raleigh's 5-speed. Guess we just called it the 5-speed, since they only made one model of 5-speed. Ask your LBS if it might need a longer chain. The derailleur looks too far forward to me (that may or may not matter). Try to get in the habit of NOT using the brake lever extensions in the center of the handlebars - they are not safe to use at speed. Your LBS could remove them if you ask.

[Popoki_Nui]

WOW!!!! Nice find! LOVE the colour-coordinated chainguard! Hope you'll have many happy years together. :)


~Sherry.

[Bikingmomof3]

Fabulous find! Have a great time with her.

[KnottedYet]

That is a beautiful bike! Wow! Congratulations!

[dingster1]

Glad to see someone else with an older mixte. I was getting a complex!! :)
Enjoy the ride

[Python]

Umm, can someone explain what a mixte means please? It's not a term I've heard in England before:o

[Lifesgreat]

Love your vintage Raleigh! Minor hijack: A picture of mine is right here (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/catalogs/1976/pages/10-76-grand-prix.html). I have it in blue w/ original everything but seat and probably pedals. I got it when I was 13.

[Python]

Excellent:D Now I know what she is:D Smashing bike:D

[wannaduacentury]

What a pretty bike!! :) Love that color, you cleaned her up nicely. Happy Riding :) A bike as nice as that deserves another chance.

[cosc]

Such a regal looking bike! So glad your enjoying your rides. When the gears are working you will think your riding in heaven.

[CyclChyk]

very cool and at such a sweet price!!

[HillSlugger]

Umm, can someone explain what a mixte means please? It's not a term I've heard in England before:o
I found this info on the Sheldon Brown website:

A style of lady's frame in which the "top tube" consists of a pair of small diameter tubes running more-or-less straight from the upper head lug, past the seat tube, and on to the rear fork ends. A mixte frame thus has 3 sets of rear stays, instead of the usual two. A variant on the mixte uses a single, full sized top tube running from the upper head tube to the seat tube, but retains the middle set of stays. A lady's type bike that lacks the middle pair of stays is not a mixte.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/images/mixte-supercourse.jpg

[xeney]

Mixtes are a ton of fun to ride. I have an 80s Japanese mixte road bike that I converted into an around-town single-speed cruiser. Before:

http://www.jerbet.com/images/bikes/nishiki.jpg

And after:

http://www.jerbet.com/images/bikes/Nishikismall2.jpg

Since it has skinny road bike tires and relatively high gearing compared to your average fat-tired townie, it goes nice and fast even though I think it looks like a little old lady bike. My new one is pretty much the same as the "before" picture, only a dark maroon, and I'm going to set it up with moustache bars, a lower stem, and no rack or baskets. And my husband is secretly wanting a mixte because they are a little more stable than a regular road bike for carrying panniers, etc. (I don't think he wants a pink one, though.)

[DebW]

Raleigh's women's frames were not mixte in the mid-70s. Motobecane made mixtes then, but Raleigh used the traditional Lady's design. I wonder when they switched over.

[Python]

I've been trying to find out more about my bike. I'm not sure but I think it could be a 1980's bike. It's got Huret gears (which I haven't figured out yet).

She's such an easy bike to ride and I was planning on finding the cycle routes near where I live tomorrow, but we've got a storm coming in so I might not be able to go out:( Took her up to the local shop today. Normally it takes me 15 - 20 minutes to walk up and back. Timed myself. I left my house at 1620 and was back at 1625:D

I just need to build up some leg muscles although I haven't had any problems yet except for very minor twinges (just finding some muscles that haven't been used for years).

[xeney]

Deb, this 1976 Raleigh catalogue (http://www.retroraleighs.com/catalogs/1976/index.html) shows a mix of mixtes and regular step-through frames. It looks like the Super Course Mk II, the Grand Prix, and the Record all came in mixte models, and the Sprite, the Superbe, the Tourist, the Sport, and the Limited all came with regular step-through frames. (The higher end road bikes didn't come in women's models at all.) The 1977 catalogue (http://www.retroraleighs.com/catalogs/1977/index.html) is similar except that year the women's Sprite was a mixte.

I am really curious to know why they went with the regular step-through, since those frames are not as strong as a mixte frame. Was it cost or styling? I know a lot of people think mixtes are hideous.

Although that site (http://www.retroraleighs.com) is US catalogues, it might help you to nail down the age of your raleigh based on the components.

[Python]

Interesting about the mixte frames. I know my frame is made of High Tensile Carbon Steel which is lighter than normal steel so the mixte style would make a very strong, very stable frame. It's certainly a very good quality bike and was probably quite expensive when it was first bought new.

You can tell I love it LOL:D

Just had a look at the Raleigh catalogue. I had a Raleigh "Rose" which was similar to the Twenty except it didn't fold. It had Sturmey Archer 3 speed gears (which didn't work) and the thing was very, very heavy. I didn't use it much and left it to the next owners when we moved house.