Show us your mixte!

[DebW]

Ok...the freewheel sounds normal. Just a nice clicking sound when you spin it backwards. Is there a special technique to get it off the hub? We have a park tool, but dh says that won't work. I'd really like to get the freewheel de-gunked!

In 1974, there was no standard on freewheel removers. Every company had their own design, or 2 or 3 designs. So you need to know the brand (Atom, Malliard, Regina, ...) of freewheel to get the right remover. There are splines, 2-prong, and 4-prong versions of removers. The standard Shimano remover will not work. If the freewheel sounds and works normally, you can simply drip some oil in without removing it. But to repack the hub, you have to get the freewheel off.

So, my choices are:
1. Re-spacing the frame...or do I need to permanently re-space it? Will it spring out a bit to fit the new hub? This is the wheelset I'm looking at (WE277 27 inch wheels w/ the 126mm hub and then a new 5 speed freewheel).

I wouldn't try to respace the frame. If you buy that wheelset from Harris, ask if they can respace the rear hub to 120 mm. It involves replacing spacers on the axle, shortening the axle, and redishing (they'd probably charge for redishing). Or I could do that for you (I live near Harris).

2. Taking the freewheel off the hub (and praying that I can do it without damaging anything!!), cleaning it and making sure the hub is still good, then getting a new rim and have it re-spoked. Edited to add that assuming the hub is still ok, I can keep the cool spoke protector, which I really like!

I think choice 2 is the safest way to go. If that doesn't work I guess choice 1 will be my 'plan b'!

The biggest issue here is whether you can really get the freewheel off. They can become really stuck when they've been on many years. And standard factory practice in those days didn't involve greasing the threads before screwing on the freewheel. Use a bench vise if you have one. If spokes start breaking before the freewheel comes off, you're screwed. If the previous owner never rode hard or mashed up hills and there's minimal corrosion, it may come off OK.

[Beane]

Hi all you mixte fanatics, I need some help. There is a beautiful mixte here for sale and I'm really interested in it. I test rode it and it felt a bit too small-- I would have wanted the seatpost up an inch and a half or 2, but the seatpost was already at its max. How difficult is it to make a mixte bigger? The stem that is on it now seems a little short too, so I could probably get a taller one.

I'm 5'7" with a 31.5" inseam. Here's the bike:

http://madison.craigslist.org/bik/649355029.html

I really want it and am just looking for some reassurance that it's not a bad idea!

[HillSlugger]

Wow, she's pretty!

[Tri Girl]

It's really, really pretty!
I'd think it wouldn't be a problem to just get a longer seat post, but I'm no expert here. Unless you're planning to ride it for 20+ miles at a time, if it's a little small I can't see it being a huge issue. Just my thoughts.

I say go for it- it's beautiful!!!

[Blueberry]

Hmmm.....

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/653152680.html

*should* be a good fit (though not as pretty as Zen's).

Thoughts? (other than that the seatpost is backwards.).

[Trek420]

But I already have a mixte

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/bik/653532623.html

[Blueberry]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...QQcmdZViewItem

I'm sorely tempted. And it would fit. Thoughts??

CA

[uforgot]

I came "this" close to hitting the buy it now button on that very auction this morning. If you go to Sheldon Brown, there are some resources for the Bridgestone 300s. There is also a Bridgestone 100 on ebay, but a lot heavier. The 300 is a better bike. It's beautiful isn't it?

Edit: I think this is it! 1987. 27 pounds.

[Beane]

Here's my recently refurbished and singleated Takara. All she needs now is a honey Brooks!

[Beane]

p.s. She is much prettier in real life... I still haven't learned how to take good bike pics.

[HillSlugger]

p.s. She is much prettier in real life... I still haven't learned how to take good bike pics.

She's pretty in pictures, too!

[Blueberry]

She is pretty

What kind of bars are those?

[Beane]

She is pretty

What kind of bars are those?

Thanks! According to the ebay seller, they are the Nitto "all rounder" bar. However if you google nitto all rounder, you get something totally different. (the bars do say nitto on them). So i'm not really sure... Soma makes some that are pretty similar, though these have a nice rise which I like.

ETA: they say Nitto B483

[Blueberry]

Cool! I think that's the kind of thing we're going to put on the rear of the tandem. If we extend the rear stem, the reach will be way too short. So...something like that would give me rise...but I would have liked to keep the drop bars...

[Beane]

um, wouldn't drop bars put your face right in the captain's butt? (or, if my DH were the captain, )