Show us your mixte!

[LeicaLad]

Hi!

I'm helping my mom put her Peugeot mixte up for sale.



It's posted in the "For Sale" section. This is not the shameless plug it looks like. I have been asked questions, and I think it would be good to refer to the wisdom here, if anyone would please respond.

The question comes up that I have been asked by several people if this is "their size", based on their height. I have more experience with the triangle frame, where stand-over height will answer the most basic question of fit, but with the mixte, it's always seemed a bit more -- shall we say, generous?

Given that stand-over height is not so critical, what are the recommended ranges for mixte frame sizes to body height? Would the 4'10' to 5'1" go with a 49cm? For a 52cm, is the range more like 5'2" to 5'6"? Or is that too wide?

Perhaps a wise and experienced person here might create a sticky on "Choosing the right Mixte frame size" for those hunting vintage bikes? (Or have I just not found it?) I hope this will be useful to others besides just me.

Thank you.

[uforgot]

I've really only found mixtes that are around 50cm. I would love to find one that is 52cm, or at least had a longer reach. Since I can only find these smaller ones, (and when you go to the earlier Raleigh catalogs, you will see that they didn't come in lots of sizes) I just adapted with different bars and a different stem. I can't imagine that anyone is going to do any serious mileage on these things. Mine (50cm, I'm 5'5") is just fine with the bullhorn bars I put on it. The moustache bars that were on it previously just cramped me, but still, for riding around town it was fine.

[Lisa Holman]

Can't help myself, here's a pretty Raleigh mixte for sale in Louisville:

http://louisville.craigslist.org/bik/1828564241.html

[Zen]

Not anymore

[sarahspins]

Can't help myself, here's a pretty Raleigh mixte for sale in Louisville

That's a gorgeous one

[sarahspins]

My tiny rebuild project.. 24" wheels, it's so cute (and in terrible shape..as you can see... bent fork and all).. pictured next to my Nishiki



Any ideas on brand? The bike says "Circle Sport" on the side, and has this headbadge:


I've scoured the internet for the past week and I can't find anything at all even close? It's probably a department store bike of some sort... but from where? It only cost me $10 at a local thrift store.. I've probably got at least $150 in various parts invested now (including a new fork).. waiting to go back on it.

I'm about to drill out the head badge and take it to be powdercoated I have almost all the goodies I need to rebuild it, just missing tires and a freewheel (those are coming, just not here). Hopefully I'll have everything once it's painted and I get the headset cups put back on

[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

[Lisa Holman]

Everyone is probably familiar with the Linus mixte, but saw a link to it yesterday, and thought it was nice looking.

http://www.linusbike.com/models/mixte/

[Zen]

32 pounds