Show us your mixte!

[Robert Raburn]

The East Bay Bicycle Coalition creates several "commuter-bike makeovers" each year to give away as prizes at events like Bike to Work Day. A member who admires our work asked if we could transform her beloved Nishiki Mixte? She is the original owner (1982). We could not deny her request to convert, update, and buff her forlorn Nishiki into a smart and comfortable commuter that readily handles hilly terrain. The "Pink Panther" is now used daily and receives the admiration of her Kaiser Medical co-workers!

It was a fun project, but given the low quality hubs, narrow range derailleur/cogs, and non-stainless spokes on most vintage mixtes, it may be worthwhile to lace a new internal gear hub into future makeovers that have a near-horizontal rear dropout.