Show us your mixte!

[teigyr]

It is definitely more recreational in California (at least SoCal). When I first used to visit WA, I was impressed that the ferries had a "please do not walk in cleats" sign. I saw commuters on bikes in the rain. I'm not of that hardy stock but still, people do it. People use bikes for transportation here! California, for all it's lovely weather, is mostly bike illiterate. Strange.

I will say that there is still a lot to be done in WA, at least where I am. My SoCal riding was on wide streets with huge bike lanes. Here the streets/bike lanes seem much narrower and scarier. Maybe it's because this is city (old city) and I was from a sprawled out open area.

WA is cool in many ways. I just wish we could somehow meld the SoCal weather (without the extreme heat and brown) with the culture here.

[DebW]

Note that the left bottom bracket cup on this one needs a lock ring.

Please explain. I don't notice and understand all of this stuff yet.

A lockring is a thin circular piece with inside threads that is screwed over the left bottom bracket cup and tightened up agsinst the frame so that the cup holds its adjustment. The right cup (called the fixed cup) is screwed until it is tight or flush against the frame and can't be adjusted. The left cup is the one used to adjust the bearings, but it wouldn't stay in place without a lock ring to secure it.

[KnottedYet]

How difficult would it be to find a left lock ring to fit that Raleigh? Or would you have to replace everthing?

(I'm still thinking about that frame, wishy-washy Knot... I think it'd fit Trek and I both.)

Edit: whoops, too late! Wheels are sold. Now it's just the frame for $25. http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/455225570.html I suppose I could offer $15, but the thought of trying to get wheels and everything is a little daunting... (though I could get recycled parts from my LBS)

Hey, DebW, what should I do?

[Trek420]

Hey, DebW, what should I do?

Knott & Dew, get it for $15, ship the frame to DebW and have her build you a freewheel

Consider when it comes to a mixte fixie that according to Chris the bottom bracket is lower to the ground which makes cornering problematic. You must not lean into the turn because there will come a day you're at an apex of the turn and your inside crank is down.

Best case scenario is it lifts the bike off the ground, worst is a fall/crash.

He says if I decide to try it fixed gear we'll put the bike on the stand first and get a feel for just hw far I can....and can't lean into a turn.

[DebW]

How difficult would it be to find a left lock ring to fit that Raleigh? Or would you have to replace everthing?

(I'm still thinking about that frame, wishy-washy Knot... I think it'd fit Trek and I both.)

Edit: whoops, too late! Wheels are sold. Now it's just the frame for $25. http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/455225570.html I suppose I could offer $15, but the thought of trying to get wheels and everything is a little daunting... (though I could get recycled parts from my LBS)

Hey, DebW, what should I do?

The Raleigh is English, and the English threaded bottom bracket, while one on many versions in the 70s, is now the standard. A lock ring shouldn't be hard to find from a place like Recycled Cycles, but most shops would not carry it separately. You can get one here for $3. It also needs a headset locknut, again not too hard to find. The Weinmann centerpull brakes are quite adequate. Does it take 27" wheels? If so, it needs dedicated wheels and can't interchange with your other bikes. I'd say it's not a bad deal to grab that frame if you can. You don't have to build it up right away. Would you go singlespeed?

[DebW]

Knott & Dew, get it for $15, ship the frame to DebW and have her build you a freewheel

OK by me. Something to do this winter, and 2 new wheels to build. I've got a smattering of spare parts and Harris Cycles is a good source for vintage bits.

[Trek420]

OK by me. Something to do this winter, and 2 new wheels to build. I've got a smattering of spare parts and Harris Cycles is a good source for vintage bits.

whew I should not have volunteered you and I'm sure you have a lot to do in the winter. snowshoeing, cross country ski ....

[KnottedYet]

Would you go singlespeed?

I would go singlespeed. I like to coast! No fixie for me!

[KnottedYet]

I emailed him offering $15 as-is or $20 if he has the left lockring.

DebW, how could you tell there was no left lockring?

[Trek420]

DebW, how could you tell there was no left lockring?

Because she's a jeenious!!!

[DebW]

I emailed him offering $15 as-is or $20 if he has the left lockring.

DebW, how could you tell there was no left lockring?

Because it wasn't there. He had a closeup picture of the left side of the bb.

[KnottedYet]

125mm rear spacing. I can't find a 125mm rear hub in Harris Cyclery's singlespeed hub list.

Is that going to be a problem? I know nothing about wheels...

Glad you saw the missing lockring! I guess that pic was in the original ad. bummer he sold the wheels already.

Oooh, will I get to buy a Surly Jethro Tool? I like Trek's... BTW Trek, be sure you tighten the nuts on the front wheel (and check the back wheel) again before you ride. They really did loosen up on me.

[DebW]

125mm rear spacing. I can't find a 125mm rear hub in Harris Cyclery's singlespeed hub list.

Is that going to be a problem? I know nothing about wheels...

It's likely 126 mm, which was the spacing for 6 speed freewheels. Easy to adjust the hub width by a few mm by chainging the spacers under the locknut. Or within a couple millimeters, you can just spread the frame by hand as you insert the hub.

[KnottedYet]

Dude selling the Raleigh frame says the left lockring is on the bike.

He'll sell me the frame for $20 without the brakes, $25 with the brakes.

sigh...

[Trek420]

Dude selling the Raleigh frame says the left lockring is on the bike.

He'll sell me the frame for $20 without the brakes, $25 with the brakes.

sigh...

I dunno Knott, he sounds like a real wheeler-dealer with this part by part thang. What are the odds of Recycled Cycles finding you a frame?