Show us your mixte!

[SpinSpinSugar]

So named because her color matches my beloved '92 Dodge Grand Caravan which is named "Kitty."

The bike is a 1977 Raleigh Record LTD Mixte 20/10 steel tubing. It has been upgraded with a Sugino 26/36/46 triple, 8sp 11/32 cassette, a cheap $10 shimano rear derailleur, hand built double wall rear wheel, a taller 60 cm stem, an alloy single wall front wheel, Ultra Gatorskin 27" 1 1/4 tires and an aluminum seat post. It still has the original Weinmann centerpull brakes with suicide levers, Suntour stem-mounted friction shifters, and original Handlebars. The yellow bar-tape is ugly, but cheap -$4.00 a kit, and highly visible.

Kitten's a steady old mare. I rode my 132 mile century on her - gravel, grass, pavement, she does it all... she fits, and I love her.
SpinSpinSugar

[Tri Girl]

you did your 132 mile ride on THAT? You really ARE an animal!!!! WOW! It's a beauty for sure! Love the yellow bar tape, actually. It gives that blue a nice pop.

[sarahspins]

Here is the mostly finished mini-mixte! I am not sure I am done with the bars/brake levers so I haven't taped the bars. This bike has become sort of a mish-mash of parts.. I took the brake levers and rear derailleur off my Takara for this one, since I am putting an internally geared hub on that one and different bars.

I bought new Tektro long reach brakes for it, and that was the most expensive part of this rebuild (@ $54), aside from powder coating (which was worth every penny - this bike will last forever now).

The original fork with the bike was bent/twisted, so it was replaced, along with the stem and seatpost. The original crankset was rusted, and too big IMO for the bike, so it was replaced too

I have not yet replaced the rusty rear spokes.. that is on my agenda As is finding/making some sort of interesting headbadge to cover up those holes...

It's hard to really get a good sense of scale, but this bike is tiny.. it has 24" wheels! It's still a *hair* too big for my oldest (who is 9) though, but I don't think it will be long before he can ride it.







(oops, the quick release is up on the brake - I had just the wheel back on and forgot...)


(and yes, that is a rusty washer.. for now.. I have another aluminum one somewhere, it was just MIA when I put the brake on, so when I find it, I'll fix it - I had to get creative since these brakes weren't meant to be mounted this way).

[sarahspins]

Some lousy iPhone shots to give a sense of scale.. it's super cute



(spokes look funny, just like the fence because of how the iphone camera captures data)

[Tri Girl]

it's sooooo pretty!!1 I LOVE the green color. You better lock that bike up. I might be coming to Weir, TX soon.

[LeicaLad]

That is so utterly cool. And very nice looking.

I've never seen such a small mixte. And you've taken it to a new level. Hope your son thinks it's as cool as we all do!


What did the powder coat refinish cost, if I may ask? Did you do any prep work, or just deliver a naked frame? Was it a car paint shop? I've never refinished a bike, but have one that I love dearly that is pretty much in need.

[sarahspins]

What did the powder coat refinish cost, if I may ask? Did you do any prep work, or just deliver a naked frame? Was it a car paint shop? I've never refinished a bike, but have one that I love dearly that is pretty much in need.

It was a local powdercoating shop (they also do media blasting)... basically they specialize in baked on coatings for auto and motorcyle parts. I called around to several and this was the first that said "yes, we'll coat a bicycle frame!" and wasn't an hour+ away.

I did no prep work other than taking everything off the frame (including the headset cups, which I paid the bike shop to do)... they took care of cleaning it up, and just asked me which areas I needed masked off since they don't do a whole lot of bike frames (that was not a problem, and they got it all right).

What I paid (for cleaning, paint, and clear coat) was on the upper end of the range, I think, at $85... however, it looks incredible, and I'm glad I splurged on it - I figure, this is a bike that can literally be used by all 3 kids (my 9yo is my oldest) when they're the right size for it, so it would be worth it to do it right (and not rattle-can the frame myself) so it would last.

I literally picked up the frame from the powdercoaters yesterday morning, and took it straight to my bike shop to have them put the headset back on (and cut and re-thread the steer tube on the new fork), and they were so excited to see the frame back they had it ready for me in just a couple of hours

[ummbnb]

These are great! I just put a tiny 24" mixte on hold this morning and we'll fix it up for my kids.

Some lousy iPhone shots to give a sense of scale.. it's super cute



(spokes look funny, just like the fence because of how the iphone camera captures data)

[ummbnb]

My newest aquisition....sigh (heart going pitter, patter)....

http://bikingandbaking.blogspot.com/...Swoopy%20Mixte


Sorry just a link but you can read and see all about it on my blog :-)

[Zen]

Is that a Peugeot

and

What kind of rack is that?