Right or wrong, I bought this.Honest opinions please. Tell me what you think and what I may need to upgrade. The seat? OUCH! I'm guessing the bike is from the 80's. How can I find out for sure?
Description:
AN EXCELLENT LOTUS 12 SPEED MIXTE EXCELLE. THIS BIKE IS IN FULL RIDING SHAPE IT IS A SIZE 53CM AND THE STANDOVER=31 INCHES. THE RIMS ARE STRAIGHT AND TRUE. HERE ARE THE SPECS AS FOLLOWS: HEADSET=SHIMANO, HANDLE BARS=SR ROAD CHAMP, BRAKE LEVERS=C-STAR, BRAKE CALIPERS=SHIMANO 500 AND TOURNEY, FRONT WHEEL=27 1 1/4 UKAI, REAR WHEEL=SAME, HUBS ARE SHIMANO VIA, SHIFTERS= SHIMANO 600 ALONG WITH BOTH DERAILERS, PEDALS=MK THE FRAME HAS NO CRACKS OR BREAKS.
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10-05-2007, 08:48 AM #1
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OK, I want to talk about my NEW BIKE!!!
"Chisel praise in stone; write criticism in sand."
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10-05-2007, 08:55 AM #2
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Oh my gosh. Have I seriously messed up? My Trek 1000 is a 52 cm. My hubby's Trek Pilot is a 54. I can ride either. This is a 52. Were they sized the same back then?
Looking at the links on the other thread for the bikes on ebay, I'm wondering if I have made a mistake."Chisel praise in stone; write criticism in sand."
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10-05-2007, 09:09 AM #3
I like bikes
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it depends! even with modern bikes, they are often measured differently..
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10-05-2007, 09:11 AM #4
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keeping my fingers crossed.
"Chisel praise in stone; write criticism in sand."
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10-05-2007, 09:13 AM #5
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How can the standover be 31 on a 53 cm bike that has a sloped tube like that!
"Chisel praise in stone; write criticism in sand."
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10-05-2007, 09:14 AM #6
Mmmmm... Broccoli?
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Oh yeah, you're right! Weird... Maybe they are giving a "virtual" standover or something... See if you can get more measurements from the seller!
Originally Posted by sandra
My bike:Slideshow at Picasaweb
My dog: http://hudsonthedog.com
My job: http://racheljimenez.com
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10-05-2007, 09:13 AM #7
Mmmmm... Broccoli?
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It's hard to tell fit based on the info they gave you... BUT, what is the standover on your current bike, and how much clearance do you have? Measure the height of the top of the top tube from the floor.
The bike looks really cool for an errand bike! How much was it? Did you get it on ebay?My bike:Slideshow at Picasaweb
My dog: http://hudsonthedog.com
My job: http://racheljimenez.com
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10-05-2007, 09:33 AM #8
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I like it! I wouldn't change the seat unless you don't like it. The seat that came on my mixte is very comfortable. Did you find it on craigslist? If so, if you go see it and find it doesn't fit well, don't get it. It's like classifieds. A black brooks would be pretty cool though! I find that they usually need new tires and chains. The rest is a learning curve. I've learned to change bar tape, fix brakes, change cables, and change handlebars. It's been a relatively inexpensive way to learn about basic bike mechanics.
I find that I can ride a wider range of sizes on the mixtes, so hopefully you are okay. The Bianchi was about 6 cm bigger than my normal size, so I didn't mean to make you panic. I was just in bike lust with it's looks!
Edit: Oops! Saw you got it on ebay. Ignore my craigslist advice...Last edited by uforgot; 10-05-2007 at 09:37 AM.
Claudia
2009 Trek 7.6fx
2013 Jamis Satellite
2014 Terry Burlington
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10-05-2007, 09:34 AM #9
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Calm down, take a deep breath, and relax.
The good thing about a mixte frame is that it lets the builder do a lighter frame than a traditional step through, while still getting a lot of the advantages of a step through. So "standover" is something of a misnomer. Unless you're trying to stand with your pelvis hitting the handlebar, it shouldn't be an issue. It's a really neat piece of engineering
. I hadn't realized just how neat til I rode one, but it is *spiffy*.
The Classic and Vintage forum over at bikeforums.net is really handy, even if you just lurk and use google to dig up old threads. Do not let the prices people there cite faze you. A lot of the regulars there are like DebW, and have been working on bikes all their lives, so they know the good stuff and have an eye for a deal. It's like going to a thrift shop with an older woman who sews and has worked in fashion for years... she'll pick out lovely things much easier than a younger woman would. Mixtes tended to be higher end frames, and most men won't ride them. Most vintage bike collectors are... men.
Also search a bit around here. You probably won't find anything about your exact bike, but it's pretty handy getting a female viewpoint about what works and what doesn't when fixing up a vintage bike. Collectors tend to get focused on things that don't matter as much for actually *riding* the bike.
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10-08-2007, 02:17 PM #10
renouncing weeniedom
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Don't worry, S.....if you don't like it you can sell it or you can give it to some kid who needs and can't afford a bike....
People have spent more money than that on bad meals....
Besides, if you bought your saddle from Riv. you got a great price....I thought of buying my regular B67 from them...but since I started out w/Wall Bikes, I thought it was only right to stick with them....even at the tune of over 30 bucks...
elk
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10-09-2007, 03:37 AM #11
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My Bike Has Shipped. It Should Arrive Thursday!!!!
"Chisel praise in stone; write criticism in sand."
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10-09-2007, 06:36 AM #12
listen to the bees
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Stay calm. Get excited when you open it and it seems ok.
(golly, I'm so....practical.)
OK forget that advice. BE EXCITED!!!!
Lisa
My mountain dulcimer network...FOTMD.com...and my mountain dulcimer blog
My personal blog:My blog
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10-09-2007, 07:27 AM #13
Shine on...
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Ooh, Sandra...I've been watching this thread...can't wait to hear how it looks when you get it. Crossing my fingers it's everything you've hoped for!
2007 Trek 5000
2009 Jamis Coda
1972 Schwinn Suburban
"I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood."
Susan B. Anthony, 1896
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10-09-2007, 06:36 PM #14
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so....how should I go about cleaning it up when I first get it?
"Chisel praise in stone; write criticism in sand."
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