Welcome to the mixte club :D I figure if there's a club we should have jerseys, a club ride, a charity road ride, at least matching socks.
Someone else on TE is about to join the mixte club. I won't say who's having one built.
Printable View
Welcome to the mixte club :D I figure if there's a club we should have jerseys, a club ride, a charity road ride, at least matching socks.
Someone else on TE is about to join the mixte club. I won't say who's having one built.
Uforgot - I got it! It definitely needs work so I'll be asking lots of questions soon. It's orange and black with suntour components which if I remember right are low level components? It's a double with shifters on the - not down tube - but on the headset? Up high anyway but not on the handle bars.
The wheels need to be replaced but I'll need to have some help with whatever needs to be done. I haven't measured yet to see what size it is but it felt "small" to me. The front insignia is missing which was a bit of a disappointment and there is some minor rust on the frame on some scratches. How do you get rid of that and match paint?
I'm excited about my first real bike project though!
Stem mounted shifters.
There's not a thing wrong with Suntour components. They were highly regarded back in my day. now where's my rheumatiz medicine?
I've been lurking this thread for a long time. I love the look of these bikes. Last week I was down in texas visiting my sister and B-i-L. In the past year or two he has saved several bikes from various junk heaps and fixed them up.
He found this one out on the curb on garbage night. He fixed it up for me to use while I was there!
Attachment 9682
We went on a 35 mile ride, and she's a great bike! Too bad I can't get her back to NY.
Wow! That's terrific. You are going to have a great time fixing it up. Keep us posted with pictures.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtbdarby
I just got this bike for $30 and I'm making it my bike project. I think I need to replace the chain and the cassette, and learn how to make the gears work. Plus it needs a little bit of shine :p
I'm pretty excited!
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3...b18jpeg.th.jpg
OOOhhhh, look at this pretty orange mixte on ebay!:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tab%3DWatching
I emailed to ask where it's located since it said midwest. Like I need another bike but if it's close and someone wants it I would consider picking it up.
Ladies, I sold the '83 Raleigh Clubman Lady tonight. The young lady who bought her is very happy. The bike sold for $275 with all the old bags and the old lights. Her new owner plans to ride her and ride her for another 25 years.
I'm preparing the house for sale and I won't have room for 5 bikes in a condo. My friends were happy i sold it, because that bike was meant for riding and not for sitting in the garage.
it wasn't a real mixte (only one "top tube") but it sold for $380 !!!Quote:
Originally Posted by mtbdarby
Yes, it is a real mixte. The top tube doesn't matter, it has three seat stays. I've seen these every once in a awhile. I think Motobecane even made one at some point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Biciclista
From Sheldon:
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.
$125 of the $380 was for shipping, break-down, and reassembly most likely. More than $200 is still a lot to pay for an old Schwinn. E-Bay is not the way to buy a bike unless you know the bike you are buying. That makes me feel that I did not cheat the young lady who paid $275 for my Raleigh. I posted $325 asking to Craig's List because I considered shipping expenses if a buyer came from another state. :rolleyes:
Hey I think the price is great. The fact is, we started buying Mixtes (here on TE) when we realized that women's bikes were so incredibly cheap compared to "men's" bikes. If they have gained in value, that's a good thing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by amartha
I think mixtes have an urban virtue. They're probably less likely to be stolen when they're chained up at the center city coffee shop. There are draw-backs:
older mixtes with center pull brakes are not as responsive in stopping as bikes equipped with dual-pivot side pull brakes and their frames are longer which makes deft handling sluggish, especially in quick turning situations. :rolleyes:
Check out this blog dedicated to Mixtes:
http://themixtegallery.wordpress.com/
A Puch mixte on St. Louis craigslist for $50. They can still be found for under $100 here. This one was really tempting, but alas, my garage has too many bikes.
My latest acquisition and my first project bike- an Azuki Sebring I picked up off Craigslist! I don't know how to fix up a bike, though, and will be doing plenty of research. I may change the wheels to a spare set of 700c I have, but they are more racy/have fewer spokes- will these work with a heavier frame?
Also can't decide if I'll change the handlebars to moustache or a swept-back style like Nitto Doves, to turn it into more of a city bike. I'll change the brakes and get rid of the suicide levers. A number of people say keep the Suntour shifters... but I am interested in making this into a triple, unless that won't work or is way too pricey?
Any advice from someone who has built up a bike would be greatly appreciated!
Great bike! I used Bicycling's book. I knew nothing and just jumped in and did it. My poor Nishiki has been through so many makeovers! I've also used the Park Tool website. Has lots of info there. They also have the Blue Book of Bicycle Repair or something like that.
Have a blast and provide pics!
Thanks for the tips!
I got my first mixte - a 5-speed Raleigh Spirit 5 in their "signature" sparkly coffee brown. This wants to be an errand / around town bike I think. It is actually quite speedy and responsive for a steel bike -- it seems like the Raleigh Hi-Ten was a bit lighter than some of the other steel frames in production at the time. It had a basic tune-up, but there is a lot more that I would like to do, namely figuring out how to grease the wheels and steering tube.
Does anyone know a good source for one of the old-style back racks that came on some of the Raleigh bikes? They are silver, curve and bolt directly to the back frame eyelets, and are shorter then modern racks (I think) - plus they are all frame, no flat sheet at the top. A modern bottle side-wall generator and headlight would be fun, too. I have a black compass / bell combo, which is modern but practical! (Also a coffee cup holder in the front as well.)
Pictures soon, hopefully!
There's this rack
or what you might be thinking of is the old school Pletscher rack
and a bottle generator and light like this.
just like my bike:)
Raleigh Mixtes near Boston:
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/bik/1343554663.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/bik/1342108345.html
My 1984 Trek 420L, I've slowly replaced almost everything on it--except headset & derailleurs, which are probably among the next few things to be either replaced or overhauled! I rode it from Seattle to SF last summer, here's a pic enroute of Mariela the mixte:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/...69c340aacf.jpg
I just bought a ~1980 Bianchi mixte yesterday, an acquaintance had built it up as an SS/fixed cruiser and had it powdercoated a beautiful glittering lime only to find that it didn't fit her! Pics of it soon. I'm enjoying reading this thread *so* much!
Thank you! The Pletscher rack is exactly what I am looking for.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
[QUOTE=n_claw;462012]My 1984 Trek 420L, I've slowly replaced almost everything on it--except headset & derailleurs, which are probably among the next few things to be either replaced or overhauled! I rode it from Seattle to SF last summer, here's a pic enroute of Mariela the mixte:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/...69c340aacf.jpg
I just bought a ~1980 Bianchi mixte yesterday, an acquaintance had built it up as an SS/fixed cruiser and had it powdercoated a beautiful glittering lime only to find that it didn't fit her! Pics of it soon. I'm enjoying reading this thread *so* much![/QUOTE
Oh, that Trek is nice! Bianchi pics? I would love to see it.
I would love to see the lime green Bianchi also! Mmmmm. I need to re-finish my new Craigslist purchase, and lime green is second in the running. First is a medium pink with black between the headset lugs and top seatpost lugs... third is a hotter pink with celeste between the lugs (though I can't really justify it on a Raleigh Super Course).
And Portlanders -- there is a 49 cm Bianchi mixte up on Craigslist now, grab it!
http://images.craigslist.org/3kf3mf3...abfc841c28.jpg
Edit: Oh, and I found Bianchi mixte love for the Chicago gals too: 19.5" C-T Bianchi Sport chromoly, a maroon with classy yellow lettering.
http://images.craigslist.org/3k03o73...002d721707.jpg
http://images.craigslist.org/3k03p53...a75deb1dbe.jpg
For Maryland: on eBay, but unfortunately local pickup only. Another maroon chromoly mixte, this time a 1984 Raleigh, with beautiful lugs and paintwork; in storage and looks very lightly used. Going for only $26 with only a little over one day left...
Thanks for the Maryland heads up. I'm gonna watch this one. Not sure how I'd justify it however.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yelsel
It went for $71.52; I lost track of time and forgot to bid. As far as family peace goes, it's probably better this way.Quote:
Originally Posted by MDHillSlug
Lovely Raleigh on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Raleigh-Marathon...d=p3286.c0.m14
I'd be all over it, but it's too small for me.
That Raleigh is gorgeous!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lisa Holman
I found a pixte on craigslist. I'm going to pretend it's too big for me.
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...410549172.html
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/a...bk/bridge4.jpg
haha ... it is a beauty. I think I saw a few scratches on the frame, though - does that help, Catriona?Quote:
Originally Posted by Catriona
Catriona- that mixte is GORGEOUS! I LOVE the pink! :)
Neither of you are helping :) A 51 cm is probably borderline too big.
It would fit me...if you buy it I'd be glad to give it a place to park and take it out for exercise ;) :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Catriona
ha. We could split the cost and custody of it. I want Christmas and spring break.Quote:
Originally Posted by MDHillSlug
You don't have to pretend it's too big for you - it is. Too big for me too otherwise I'd buy it with you :D
Unfortunately this one looks smaller :p
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...407100441.html
You are bad.
Technically not a mixte but if i had $200 to spend...:rolleyes:
Well, it would fit me, and if I didn't already have a pink Bridgestone mixte from the same era I'd be all over it. Love love love that color!
I resisted the urge to go measure my seat height - I know I can manage to ride a 50 cm bike. If i switch to a flat saddle like the specialized ruby and put the seatpost all the way down, I can maybe manage this one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
But I totally could ride this if I wore platform shoes.
And to do justice to the pink, I really should ride it with platform shoes & sequined pants.