View Full Version : Mariposa
Here it is, I haven't heard from the owner yet, I'd like to take it to the bike shop and see what Brian thinks
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/MariposaSeattubedecal.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/MariposaHandlebars.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/MariposaTaillight.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Mariposadetail.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Mariposa2.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Mariposa3.jpg
I would hate to change the stem out because it goes with the bike but the angle is just too acute. The downtube shifter- I'm not sure if I'd leave them or move to bar ends...it's all a pipedream at this point anyway.
mimitabby
08-13-2007, 07:47 AM
you can always get a longer stem like what i have on my bike!
It's a really cool looking bike and the price is right!
BleeckerSt_Girl
08-13-2007, 08:01 AM
Oh Jeez it's gorgeous! If you buy it, please consider changing as little as possible on it!
The fenders, headlight, old fashioned brake hoods, downtube shifters, gold pinstriping, rear rack, handlebars....all perfect and original and very nice quality!
The stem is top notch and doesn't seem like an acute angle at all to me, but then I am not used to modern stems made for carbon racing handlebars.
It's a CLASSIC.
I would say the same thing I usually say to people who are contemplating buying a vintage musical instrument in original condition and planning to modernize it to suit them....better to just buy a modern instrument that suits your needs to begin with, rather than taking an instrument that has survived many years in its original state and then remove and replace parts to the extent that you are forever altering the original design and function. Why not let someone else buy the old one who wants to play it and enjoy it for exactly what it is?
I hope you don't take this the wrong way- it's just that I love seeing old bikes like that all pristeen, and I get sad when I see people toss the original parts and put somewhat inappropriate new parts on them. Then the bike winds up looking like a mish-mash and is not really special anymore.
Just my OWN admittedly biased opinion. :o
mimitabby
08-13-2007, 08:03 AM
Lisa, i wasn't suggesting she modernize it. I have a retro stem that fits me. Bottom line you want to be able to ride the bike ... or keep it as a museum piece.
Kalidurga
08-13-2007, 08:11 AM
Zen, instead of changing the stem, would you be able to install a riser or spacer of some sort to bring the bars higher? Considering the angle of the head tube, that might also bring the bars back a tad, too.
That looks like a heck of a deal for $100. But will your Trek get lonely if you start riding the Mariposa instead?
The Mariposa would be the utility bike for tooling around town on errands (if I ever get to move to civilization)
Do you think it would take slightly wider tires? I'm kinda thinking of it as a towpath bike too.
That looks like a heck of a deal for $100...
It's even a hecker of a deal at $25.
SOLD!
TO ME!
mimitabby
08-13-2007, 10:06 AM
FAR OUT! enjoy.. We want blow by blow details :D
RoadRaven
08-13-2007, 11:04 AM
Zen... thats a fabulous pipe dream!
Looking forward to hearing/seeing the next installation!
Great deal - the Scots blood in me has me really admiring a good bargain - and this one is most excellent
BleeckerSt_Girl
08-13-2007, 11:05 AM
Lisa, i wasn't suggesting she modernize it. I have a retro stem that fits me. Bottom line you want to be able to ride the bike ... or keep it as a museum piece.
Mimi, I wasn't suggesting you were suggesting she modernize it. I wasn't actually responding to your post when I wrote mine. I was speaking in general terms.
Yes, one can certainly change some parts to make this bike fit someone new. But it would be great to use parts that were in keeping with the traditional style of the bike. For instance, black carbon handlebars with black up-slanted stem would look out of place on this beauty.
But hey, I just wanted to give my own esthetic point of view. In the end, people are going to do whatever they want with their bikes.
It sure is a beauty, and if you left it as is you could sell it for way more than $100 on Ebay or Craigslist I'll wager.
RoadRaven
08-13-2007, 11:10 AM
Zen... thats a fabulous pipe dream!
Looking forward to hearing/seeing the next installation!
Great deal - the Scots blood in me has me really admiring a good bargain - and this one is most excellent
I could never touch those handlebars, did you see that leather and stitching?
:D :eek: :D :eek: :D
Blueberry
08-13-2007, 11:21 AM
Yes, I think slightly wider tires will fit under the fenders without problems.
There's a chance that that stem can be raised up. It should be a quill, and might have a little more extension on it.
It's a pretty bike!!
BleeckerSt_Girl
08-13-2007, 01:55 PM
I could never touch those handlebars, did you see that leather and stitching?
:D :eek: :D :eek: :D
You would probably have to at least tilt them up quite a bit though at least- look how awkward it would be to have your hands on top of the hoods where they are now. Whoever set the hoods there must have ridden only in the drops.
You could get the same stem but a bit shorter, and tilt the bars up, and reposition the hoods while you had the bars off.
Here's the type of stem, that you could get in any length to fit you:
http://www.velo-orange.com/nitedest.html
To change the stem you would need to remove the leather tape. Unfortunately the tape seems to have holes through which the hoods are attached. The hoods are in a less than ideal position if you ask me (you didn't, i know!)
But you could reposition the hoods to a better place AND sew on new beautiful elk-hide leather tape, and it would then look like this:
http://www.velo-orange.com/elsebarco.html
(notice the old style gum hoods with the cables coming out the top like the Mariposa has....beautiful!)
Then you could get a matching honey Brooks saddle! (drool drool.....)
It would go from black leather bars and saddle to honey leather bars and saddle....awesome.
Man, I wish that bike was bigger and fit ME! ;) :cool: :cool: ;) :D
redrhodie
08-13-2007, 02:07 PM
Wow, she's gorgeous! $25?!!!! You stole her! Good for you!
Kalidurga
08-13-2007, 04:19 PM
$25?? That's excellent! Congrats :D
I dunno about wider tires. You could possibly go a tad wider, but if you're thinking of knobbies it looks like it'd be a tight squeeze.
Skierchickie
08-13-2007, 04:22 PM
Wow! What a beauty! Congratulations!
Question: I may be a dolt, but what is the thing that looks like a shifter, on the seat tube? I'm not so familiar with classic bikes. Is it just a spare, or is it for some other purpose?
attached. The hoods are in a less than ideal position if you ask me (you didn't, i know!)
No, I dint ax, but I'm counting on you guys because you know about these classics. What do I know? I chose my pilot because I liked the wheels:D
Then you could get a matching honey Brooks saddle! (drool drool.....)
It would go from black leather bars and saddle to honey leather bars and saddle....awesome.
Don't think I haven't already pictured it with a Brooks:D :D
Wow! What a beauty! Congratulations!
Question: I may be a dolt, but what is the thing that looks like a shifter, on the seat tube? I'm not so familiar with classic bikes. Is it just a spare, or is it for some other purpose?
It engages the generator! Very cool.
You have a sharp eye.
Skierchickie
08-13-2007, 04:39 PM
Wow! Or, as we say around here, Holy Wah! Too cool!
BleeckerSt_Girl
08-13-2007, 04:55 PM
Current comparable Mariposas:
http://www.mariposabicycles.com/650b-touring.html
$2,179.00 USdollars (frame and fork ONLY)
http://www.mariposabicycles.com/michaels-porteur-bike.html
$4026.00 USdollars
The poor woman selling you this bike for $25...I guess she has no clue she could probably get somewhere close to $1000 for it on Ebay listing it just as is?
Holy ess, Batman!
I will tell her but I really think she just wants to clean house.
If I sold it on EBay she'd never speak to me again and I like her so I can't do that:o
BleeckerSt_Girl
08-13-2007, 06:08 PM
Holy ess, Batman!
I will tell her but I really think she just wants to clean house.
If I sold it on EBay she'd never speak to me again and I like her so I can't do that:o
Yes it's kind of a dilemma, especially if the bike doesn't really fit you right.
Maybe you could clean it up and get it working nicely again, then have it sit for a year or so and THEN sell it. This is assuming it doesn't fit you well of course, or else you'd be riding it and enjoying it.
If you do get it, be sure to get a good lock for it- there are people out there looking for fine classic touring bikes like this.
If you do get it, be sure to get a good lock for it- there are people out there looking for fine classic touring bikes like this.
After seeing that youtube video I think the only really good bike lock is a Rottweiller:rolleyes:
Trek420
08-13-2007, 09:14 PM
Yes it's kind of a dilemma, especially if the bike doesn't really fit you right.
Maybe you could clean it up and get it working nicely again, then have it sit for a year or so and THEN sell it. This is assuming it doesn't fit you well of course, or else you'd be riding it and enjoying it.
If you do get it, be sure to get a good lock for it- there are people out there looking for fine classic touring bikes like this.
....and if it doesn't fit you :D
Beeyoooteeful bike:cool: :p
KnottedYet
08-13-2007, 09:18 PM
....and if it doesn't fit you :D
Beeyoooteeful bike:cool: :p
:confused: :eek: <knot mentally trying to arrange 7 or 8 steel bikes in one little house>
:confused: :eek: <knot mentally trying to arrange 7 or 8 steel bikes in one little house>
now, now.
I think it fits;)
KnottedYet
08-13-2007, 09:32 PM
now, now.
I think it fits;)
(I was thinking about our little house/s, with Trek covetting your Mariposa and darn near every steel bike we come across:D not that I'm complaining! More bikes more better)
Zen, that is a lovely lovely LOVELY bike!
Trek420
08-13-2007, 09:43 PM
now, now.
I think it fits;)
Darn :mad: :D :rolleyes: ;)
That's ok, I would need to raise the bars higher ;)
Knott-Ever heard of the Collyer brothers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers)?
BleeckerSt_Girl
08-14-2007, 06:24 AM
Knott-Ever heard of the Collyer brothers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers)?
Hits a little too close to home for me.... :(
KnottedYet
08-14-2007, 06:54 AM
All rIIIIIIIIIIIIIght! A disorder I can really relate to!
Ok, honey, go look for all the bikes and bike parts you want! We're golden!
(hey, Zen, are you *sure* that bike fits ya? Hmmmmm? Isn't it a teeeeeensy bit too small? Or too big? Eh?)
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