Show us your mixte!

[furryblue]

I am planning to commission a small production run of USA hand-made mixtes, here is a picture of one that is built up and another that is about to be built up.

I am most interested in comments, please see my blog and google group for my information.

Thanks,

Michael

http://furrybluecycles.blogspot.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/furrybluecycles

[bikerHen]

After months of haunting the local craigslist and a couple of misses, I finally got one!

It's a 12-speed Univega with Suntour components. The seller said it has no more than 50 miles on it. I can almost believe it cause the tires still have a few hairs. All orginial and stored indoors so everything is in good shape. Even the tires! Just needs LOTS of cleaning and TLC. The saddle is super comfy. I took it off tonight to clean it and OMG it weighs a ton. I guess that's the price of comfort.

It's a real kick to ride. The down tube shifters are interesting and are going to take some getting use to. I can't wait to take it out for a real ride.

Here is the first picture. It looks black but it's either a dark red or brown. I haven't really figured it out. Maybe if we ever get some sunshine I can tell.

[KnottedYet]

Bikerhen - what a beauty! Those double tubes are gorgeous. Congratulations!

[mimitabby]

I am planning to commission a small production run of USA hand-made mixtes, here is a picture of one that is built up and another that is about to be built up.

I am most interested in comments, please see my blog and google group for my information.

Thanks,

Michael

http://furrybluecycles.blogspot.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/furrybluecycles

Hi Michael, I must confess part of the delight a lot of us have in our Mixtes is that since they are predominantly women's bikes, bike collectors (who are predominantly men) tend to ignore them. Thus, they are an excellent value and are not appreciating in value at near the rate of equivalent "men's" bikes.
I am enjoying your blog, however, and am glad that someone is building a few mixte's.

[furryblue]

Hi Claudia (uforgot),

Here's in brief the story of my mixte. I have problems from time to time with wrist pain, so the mixte story starts with my search for the perfect handlebars.

I put the Albatross bars on my road bike and overall liked them, but the position was a bit too upright for me without switching stems and so I started thinking about a custom frame that might have a slightly longer top tube so I wouldn't need a really long stem.

Also somewhat relatedly, because of the position I like (semi-upright), and my proportions/height, I am kind of on the border for a properly designed 700C frame for drop bars - I like to be positioned a bit behind the pedals and with my desired reach to the bars a "normal" road bike will have more toe overlap than I like. Having a custom frame with a slightly longer top tube for the swept bars yet enough standover clearance for me seemed like the way to go.

Another idea I had was to explore commissioning a small run of hand made "versatile road bikes" (not a hybrid, not a touring bike, but able to take on medium width tires say 25 - 35 mm) because I felt the bike makers weren't making what I wanted. When I met with my favorite local bikeshop, the owner said he would like to see someone make a nice road mixte.

So, the idea of a bike designed for swept back bars and with a little extra standover clearance got merged with the local bikeshop's idea for a mixte.

With perhaps a few exceptions that differ from my mixte in various details,the mixte has disappeared as a model from current bikes and I thought it would be fun to bring it back in a "new/old" version.

Hope that makes sense.

Cheers,

Michael

[furryblue]

Hi Michael, I must confess part of the delight a lot of us have in our Mixtes is that since they are predominantly women's bikes, bike collectors (who are predominantly men) tend to ignore them. Thus, they are an excellent value and are not appreciating in value at near the rate of equivalent "men's" bikes.
I am enjoying your blog, however, and am glad that someone is building a few mixte's.

Hi Mimi,

I hadn't thought of that, so you're saying part of the appeal/interest in a mixte is the "I scored a good deal" aspect. Thanks, that is a very interesting comment!!

As I attempted to explain in a previous post, my personal interest in a mixte started out as just wanting a little more standover clearance and less toe overlap with medium width 700C tires, and certainly a "compact" or "semi-compact" frame design could work. Growing up, I had a fairly macho uncle who rode a mixte, and I like the sort of retro-look and didn't think of it as a "women's bike" and thought it looks more elegant than a bike with a really long seatpost.

Cheers,

Michael

[HillSlugger]

Interesting placement of "bar ends"!

[furryblue]

Interesting placement of "bar ends"!

Right - that was actually a supposed benefit of the Albatross bars, that there is a possibility of multiple hand positions. Previously I had the entire bar taped with cork, and now find I like having the little stubs to support my hand a bit in the curved forward portion. It works well.

[mtbdarby]

How about this folding bianchi on my local craigslist?

http://wausau.craigslist.org/bik/734843874.html

[mimitabby]

How about this folding bianchi on my local craigslist?

http://wausau.craigslist.org/bik/734843874.html

it's not a mixte. but it's cute.

[madscot13]

How about this folding bianchi on my local craigslist?

http://wausau.craigslist.org/bik/734843874.html

is it really $20 for it? i really like it. super cute.

[madscot13]

How about this folding bianchi on my local craigslist?

http://wausau.craigslist.org/bik/734843874.html

so I contacted the seller of the folding bianchi mixed. He refused to ship it at any price. But for $20 gas money he would drive to where he was already going and then charge you again for the Bianchi. He was not willing to step out of his way and actually earn the $20 for gas that he was charging you. I was a bit confused on that point and I called him out on it. But no matter because this morning conveniently enough he ran over it.

[HillSlugger]

As I attempted to explain in a previous post, my personal interest in a mixte started out as just wanting a little more standover clearance and less toe overlap with medium width 700C tires, and certainly a "compact" or "semi-compact" frame design could work. Growing up, I had a fairly macho uncle who rode a mixte, and I like the sort of retro-look and didn't think of it as a "women's bike" and thought it looks more elegant than a bike with a really long seatpost.

Cheers,

Michael

Mike,

What made you decide to go with a single downtube? For me, mixtes are all about aesthetics, and IMHO the double tube has it all over the single tube for looks.

[uforgot]

Mike,

What made you decide to go with a single downtube? For me, mixtes are all about aesthetics, and IMHO the double tube has it all over the single tube for looks.

Oh, I like the single tube! I especially like how the seat stay meets the tube. Every time I see a mixte with a single tube I want it, because they are so rare!

Thanks for your story Michael. It was interesting how you really thought through everything and I enjoyed the blog too. I also didn't like the upright position on my Bianchi Mixte so I put on Moustache Bars and "voila". It was perfect, although my current one is a little on the heavy side since it's old and has 27" tires. It is nice to see that you have blended the old/new look on a nice road bike.

[furryblue]

Oh, I like the single tube! I especially like how the seat stay meets the tube. Every time I see a mixte with a single tube I want it, because they are so rare!

I'm glad you like the single tube, I also think it looks really nice.

It is nice to see that you have blended the old/new look on a nice road bike.

I'm pleased with how the mixte turned out. Thanks Claudia for your comments and for reading my blog.