[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
That's the one my brother recently found at a nearby GW; it's not a Voyager as I posted. Very nice, and IMO far better for a city bike -- add wider tires if you like -- than any Dutch or rod brake bike. On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 8:35 PM, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.comwrote: It rides very well -- with the sprung saddle she get's a very smooth ride, even on rough city streets. Yes, the Le Tour series are quite nice, and this one was (from what I could glean online) made by Panasonic. There are still lots of them out there in garages and they pop up on Craigslist pretty frequently. They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? The original catalog page for the Le Tour Touriste can be seen here.http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1981_10.html The Mixte isn't prominent, but the lower left photo shows one. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
Trek also made a mixte that had the single top tube and then center stays back to the dropouts. Something else to look for, even if you forgo the single top tube, is for the brakes to be on the center stay rather than up top. It gives MUCH better cable routing... Doug On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 5:47 AM, Weird Harold alanpcr...@yahoo.com wrote: I'm searching for a mixte frame for my wife to Riv-up with nicer components. Any brand/models of mixtes I should be searching for on Craiglist? --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
On Sep 2, 1:19 pm, Doug Van Cleve dvancl...@gmail.com wrote: Trek also made a mixte that had the single top tube and then center stays back to the dropouts. Something else to look for, even if you forgo the single top tube, is for the brakes to be on the center stay rather than up top. It gives MUCH better cable routing... That'd be the 1984 Trek 420L. Built one for my S.O. w/high rise stem, dove bars, 8-speed IG, 700c paselas, fenders, front basket, etc. It's a great bike for her: fun/ easy to use, comfortable, and surprisingly lightweight. She loves it. Near Detroit by chance? http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/bik/1312451846.html John McMurry Burlington, VT --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
The Schwinn Mixte I was refering to is called the Mesa Runner. Here is a link that shows one in the Schwinn cataloge from the 80s http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1985_atb08.html Have fun with the build On Sep 1, 5:47 am, Weird Harold alanpcr...@yahoo.com wrote: I'm searching for a mixte frame for my wife to Riv-up with nicer components. Any brand/models of mixtes I should be searching for on Craiglist? --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
I'm in New York City. My wife is 5'4'. Betty Foys are beautiful. I saw one in the city two weeks ago. But it's out of my price range. I'm thinking of a bike for a couple of hundred, and then put in another couple hundred to fix up with Riv/Velo-Orange parts.. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
I built a Breeze up for my Mom. Really just swapped out the rear SA cog for a 22T one as it's geared REALLY low. Great bike! On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 8:03 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? Seems Schwinn made them under a variety of names. But they all looked basically like this one for sale on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1973-SCHWINN-BREEZE-3-SPEED-26-LADIES-BICYCLE_W0QQitemZ190330929423QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c509b810f_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 These are decent bikes for the money all things considered. But they are not as attractive (at least to me, and presumably the rest of us lugged steel fans) nor as readibly open to the 'Riv-treatment' as your daughter's Le Tour. And even though it will fit my son by then, he probably won't want what he calls a girls bike. Yes. Unfortunately the women's bike designation is so ingrained in the thinking here in the U.S. that it would be hard for a young man to want to break the mold. Kids can be awfully mean to one another about those things. Mixtes were originally intended as delivery and errand bikes where the rider, male or female, had to mount and dismount frequently. That is still how people see them in many other nations around the globe. Somewhere along the line in the U.S. Mixtes became ladies bikes. Let's hope you can find some nice young woman deserving of the bike once your daughter gets too tall. On Sep 1, 9:35 pm, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: It rides very well -- with the sprung saddle she get's a very smooth ride, even on rough city streets. Yes, the Le Tour series are quite nice, and this one was (from what I could glean online) made by Panasonic. There are still lots of them out there in garages and they pop up on Craigslist pretty frequently. They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? The original catalog page for the Le Tour Touriste can be seen here.http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1981_10.html The Mixte isn't prominent, but the lower left photo shows one. My only regret is that she will be too tall for it in another year or two and will need something else. And even though it will fit my son by then, he probably won't want what he calls a girls bike. On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 4:28 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Thanks John. That really turned out well. When I warned against Schwinn earlier, I was thinking of the old Chicago cruiser models with the one piece crank, and old north american standard stem and seat post sizing. The Le Tour - I believe there was another as well, conform more readily to modern parts. And it has the nice center seat tube join design. I bet it rides pretty well. On Sep 1, 5:07 pm, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: Another vote for the Schwinn idea -- I took this Craigslist special: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Birthday Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577051527/ ...for my daughter. I wouldn't call it Riv'd Up so much as Velo Oranged Up but I think the outcomes might be similar. The frame was stripped powder-coated locally, and my total cost was less than $400 plus some parts (saddle, pedals, brake levers) I had around the garage. I didn't want to spend a ton as she's gonna outgrow it in another year or two, but she loves the bike and gets more compliments on it than I do on my Atlantis. Good luck! On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an errand bike - the ride will be less than ideal. I have seen a lot of people on these bikes. But with all my 165 lbs to carry around,
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
Sorry for the slight thread drift, but I recently got an early 80s Azuki mixte that I am also planning to fix up with Riv parts. I'm a newbie in terms of bike mechanics. Can anyone recommend a good website or other online resource for fixing up older bikes? I need to figure out which brakes, brake levers, and things like that. Thanks! -Cheryl San Francisco, CA On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 5:31 PM, Weird Harold alanpcr...@yahoo.com wrote: I'm in New York City. My wife is 5'4'. Betty Foys are beautiful. I saw one in the city two weeks ago. But it's out of my price range. I'm thinking of a bike for a couple of hundred, and then put in another couple hundred to fix up with Riv/Velo-Orange parts.. -- “Do or do not... there is no try.” - Yoda --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
Posters: please cut off the fat from the bottom of your posts. Thanks. On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 7:11 PM, David Estes cyclotour...@gmail.com wrote: I built a Breeze up for my Mom. Really just swapped out the rear SA cog for a 22T one as it's geared REALLY low. Great bike! On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 8:03 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? Seems Schwinn made them under a variety of names. But they all looked basically like this one for sale on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1973-SCHWINN-BREEZE-3-SPEED-26-LADIES-BICYCLE_W0QQitemZ190330929423QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c509b810f_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 These are decent bikes for the money all things considered. But they are not as attractive (at least to me, and presumably the rest of us lugged steel fans) nor as readibly open to the 'Riv-treatment' as your daughter's Le Tour. And even though it will fit my son by then, he probably won't want what he calls a girls bike. Yes. Unfortunately the women's bike designation is so ingrained in the thinking here in the U.S. that it would be hard for a young man to want to break the mold. Kids can be awfully mean to one another about those things. Mixtes were originally intended as delivery and errand bikes where the rider, male or female, had to mount and dismount frequently. That is still how people see them in many other nations around the globe. Somewhere along the line in the U.S. Mixtes became ladies bikes. Let's hope you can find some nice young woman deserving of the bike once your daughter gets too tall. On Sep 1, 9:35 pm, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: It rides very well -- with the sprung saddle she get's a very smooth ride, even on rough city streets. Yes, the Le Tour series are quite nice, and this one was (from what I could glean online) made by Panasonic. There are still lots of them out there in garages and they pop up on Craigslist pretty frequently. They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? The original catalog page for the Le Tour Touriste can be seen here.http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1981_10.html The Mixte isn't prominent, but the lower left photo shows one. My only regret is that she will be too tall for it in another year or two and will need something else. And even though it will fit my son by then, he probably won't want what he calls a girls bike. On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 4:28 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Thanks John. That really turned out well. When I warned against Schwinn earlier, I was thinking of the old Chicago cruiser models with the one piece crank, and old north american standard stem and seat post sizing. The Le Tour - I believe there was another as well, conform more readily to modern parts. And it has the nice center seat tube join design. I bet it rides pretty well. On Sep 1, 5:07 pm, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: Another vote for the Schwinn idea -- I took this Craigslist special: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Birthday Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577051527/ ...for my daughter. I wouldn't call it Riv'd Up so much as Velo Oranged Up but I think the outcomes might be similar. The frame was stripped powder-coated locally, and my total cost was less than $400 plus some parts (saddle, pedals, brake levers) I had around the garage. I didn't want to spend a ton as she's gonna outgrow it in another year or two, but she loves the bike and gets more compliments on it than I do on my Atlantis. Good luck! On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 8:47 AM, Weird Haroldalanpcr...@yahoo.com wrote: I'm searching for a mixte frame for my wife to Riv-up with nicer components. Any brand/models of mixtes I should be searching for on Craiglist? the betty foy is a nice mixte frame. :) -sv --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. You ought to avoid mixtes that are designed with the two narrow down tubes that go around the seat tube. These tend to have too much flex for a comfortable ride. Go either for a frame with one large center down tube, or, better still, one large center down tube with middle chain stays that extend around the seat tube and join the down tube. On Sep 1, 7:47 am, Weird Harold alanpcr...@yahoo.com wrote: I'm searching for a mixte frame for my wife to Riv-up with nicer components. Any brand/models of mixtes I should be searching for on Craiglist? --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. You ought to avoid mixtes that are designed with the two narrow down tubes that go around the seat tube. These tend to have too much flex for a comfortable ride. Well, that depends on who is riding it and for what. A light person with no load on the twin-thin-tube Nishiki mixte I recently sold would find it fine. I, at 170 plus groceries, did find it somewhat flexy, but only when carrying upward of 20 lb in the rear. This Nishiki claimed per its stickers to be built of db chromo, but it was rather beefy for a 20 inch frame (I installed a very long seatpost.) Go either for a frame with one large center down tube, or, better still, one large center down tube with middle chain stays that extend around the seat tube and join the down tube. On Sep 1, 7:47 am, Weird Harold alanpcr...@yahoo.com wrote: I'm searching for a mixte frame for my wife to Riv-up with nicer components. Any brand/models of mixtes I should be searching for on Craiglist? -- Patrick Moore Albuquerque, NM Professional Resumes. Contact resumespecialt...@gmail.com --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
I've been looking for a mixte too. Assuming that you want to spend less for the frame than what a Betty Foy would cost, there are some nice English ones made from 531 that aren't too expensive. Here's one example for sale now: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/bik/1350927430.html If I didn't need a French mixte, I'd buy that one. I also know of a nice Holdsworth 531, an Alex Singer, and a Herse. If you're interested I can send you the contact info but the Singer and Herse would be more expensive than the Betty Foy. There are a lot of older Peugeot mixtes, and I'll probably get one of those. Good basic bike and relatively inexpensive. Motobecane had mixte versions of some of their higher end bikes, generally made with Vitus steel, but those are a little harder to find. Jim M wc, ca On Sep 1, 5:47 am, Weird Harold alanpcr...@yahoo.com wrote: I'm searching for a mixte frame for my wife to Riv-up with nicer components. Any brand/models of mixtes I should be searching for on Craiglist? --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
On Tue, 2009-09-01 at 09:57 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. OK, here are three: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
- Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once in a blue moon type of thing. There are any number of bike boom French mixtes, Japanese came at the tail end of the boom. Some good and some not so good. Schwinn made some nice middle weight mixtes. I would hesitate to recommend them here, as the proprietary sizing will make squeezing in Riv parts more of chore than with the French and Japanese. On Sep 1, 1:16 pm, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote: On Tue, 2009-09-01 at 09:57 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. OK, here are three: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? A quick google search shows them between $375 and 475 for the Frameset. I don't have personal experience with them but it seems like a sweet frame and good bang for the buck. I am actually building up a Mixte for my wife right now from a older CroMo Schwinn that I actually found for free at the side of the road. After taking it all apart its going to need some lovin' but I can't argue with the price of the bike. In Seattle I frequently see Ladies 3 speeds for decent prices on Craigslist an older english ladies bike will be plenty strong (IMO) but not light. R On Sep 1, 12:41 pm, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once in a blue moon type of thing. There are any number of bike boom French mixtes, Japanese came at the tail end of the boom. Some good and some not so good. Schwinn made some nice middle weight mixtes. I would hesitate to recommend them here, as the proprietary sizing will make squeezing in Riv parts more of chore than with the French and Japanese. On Sep 1, 1:16 pm, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote: On Tue, 2009-09-01 at 09:57 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. OK, here are three: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an errand bike - the ride will be less than ideal. I have seen a lot of people on these bikes. But with all my 165 lbs to carry around, those I have ridden just did not feel right at all. Maybe I am fussy. On Sep 1, 3:29 pm, RoadieRyan rya...@hotmail.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? A quick google search shows them between $375 and 475 for the Frameset. I don't have personal experience with them but it seems like a sweet frame and good bang for the buck. I am actually building up a Mixte for my wife right now from a older CroMo Schwinn that I actually found for free at the side of the road. After taking it all apart its going to need some lovin' but I can't argue with the price of the bike. In Seattle I frequently see Ladies 3 speeds for decent prices on Craigslist an older english ladies bike will be plenty strong (IMO) but not light. R On Sep 1, 12:41 pm, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once in a blue moon type of thing. There are any number of bike boom French mixtes, Japanese came at the tail end of the boom. Some good and some not so good. Schwinn made some nice middle weight mixtes. I would hesitate to recommend them here, as the proprietary sizing will make squeezing in Riv parts more of chore than with the French and Japanese. On Sep 1, 1:16 pm, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote: On Tue, 2009-09-01 at 09:57 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. OK, here are three: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
Another vote for the Schwinn idea -- I took this Craigslist special: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixtehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Birthday Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577051527/ ...for my daughter. I wouldn't call it Riv'd Up so much as Velo Oranged Up but I think the outcomes might be similar. The frame was stripped powder-coated locally, and my total cost was less than $400 plus some parts (saddle, pedals, brake levers) I had around the garage. I didn't want to spend a ton as she's gonna outgrow it in another year or two, but she loves the bike and gets more compliments on it than I do on my Atlantis. Good luck! On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an errand bike - the ride will be less than ideal. I have seen a lot of people on these bikes. But with all my 165 lbs to carry around, those I have ridden just did not feel right at all. Maybe I am fussy. On Sep 1, 3:29 pm, RoadieRyan rya...@hotmail.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? A quick google search shows them between $375 and 475 for the Frameset. I don't have personal experience with them but it seems like a sweet frame and good bang for the buck. I am actually building up a Mixte for my wife right now from a older CroMo Schwinn that I actually found for free at the side of the road. After taking it all apart its going to need some lovin' but I can't argue with the price of the bike. In Seattle I frequently see Ladies 3 speeds for decent prices on Craigslist an older english ladies bike will be plenty strong (IMO) but not light. R On Sep 1, 12:41 pm, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once in a blue moon type of thing. There are any number of bike boom French mixtes, Japanese came at the tail end of the boom. Some good and some not so good. Schwinn made some nice middle weight mixtes. I would hesitate to recommend them here, as the proprietary sizing will make squeezing in Riv parts more of chore than with the French and Japanese. On Sep 1, 1:16 pm, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote: On Tue, 2009-09-01 at 09:57 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. OK, here are three: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
There is a Velo Orange mixte in the works, looks like it has the twin- top tube, and I belive it's based on a pre-existing design. And there was a 52 Betty Foy demo on RBW going for $1400 complete (w/o saddle), as of yesterday. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixtehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Thanks John. That really turned out well. When I warned against Schwinn earlier, I was thinking of the old Chicago cruiser models with the one piece crank, and old north american standard stem and seat post sizing. The Le Tour - I believe there was another as well, conform more readily to modern parts. And it has the nice center seat tube join design. I bet it rides pretty well. On Sep 1, 5:07 pm, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: Another vote for the Schwinn idea -- I took this Craigslist special: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixtehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Birthday Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577051527/ ...for my daughter. I wouldn't call it Riv'd Up so much as Velo Oranged Up but I think the outcomes might be similar. The frame was stripped powder-coated locally, and my total cost was less than $400 plus some parts (saddle, pedals, brake levers) I had around the garage. I didn't want to spend a ton as she's gonna outgrow it in another year or two, but she loves the bike and gets more compliments on it than I do on my Atlantis. Good luck! On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an errand bike - the ride will be less than ideal. I have seen a lot of people on these bikes. But with all my 165 lbs to carry around, those I have ridden just did not feel right at all. Maybe I am fussy. On Sep 1, 3:29 pm, RoadieRyan rya...@hotmail.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? A quick google search shows them between $375 and 475 for the Frameset. I don't have personal experience with them but it seems like a sweet frame and good bang for the buck. I am actually building up a Mixte for my wife right now from a older CroMo Schwinn that I actually found for free at the side of the road. After taking it all apart its going to need some lovin' but I can't argue with the price of the bike. In Seattle I frequently see Ladies 3 speeds for decent prices on Craigslist an older english ladies bike will be plenty strong (IMO) but not light. R On Sep 1, 12:41 pm, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once in a blue moon type of thing. There are any number of bike boom French mixtes, Japanese came at the tail end of the boom. Some good and some not so good. Schwinn made some nice middle weight mixtes. I would hesitate to recommend them here, as the proprietary sizing will make squeezing in Riv parts more of chore than with the French and Japanese. On Sep 1, 1:16 pm, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote: On Tue, 2009-09-01 at 09:57 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. OK, here are three: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
I recently bought a Soma Buena Vista mixte frameset recently. And I am regretting it. I thought of building it up into a 650b bike but I abandoned the plan. The main problem was in fitting the rear wheel with col de la vie. The rear dropout was semi horizontal and the distance from the brake bridge [even at the shortest distance from the dropout] is way too long; that when I mounted the 650b wheel, the rim is almost out of reach of the Silver caliper brake with pads at the farthest end of the calipers. It could work but I considered it only not pretty but also dangerous. The axle of the rear wheel was almost at the 'entrance' or edge of the semi-horizontal dropout. And since the rear wheel is nearer to the chain stay bridge than from the brake bridge, it was harder to install the rear wheel even without a fender. And I planned to install a fender. So I thought of just building it up as the bike is intended to be. A 700c bike. And I was disappointed also. I bought a new 700c wheel set and a set of 700c x 32 folding paselas. I used the wide mouth tektro at the rear and a wide mouth shimano caliper brake at the front, thinking that with this combo, I can get the clearance I want short of using center pull brakes. It turns out that the clearance of the fork in combination with the brake caliper is not enough to install a fender if I use the 700c x 32 tires that I already bought. I could use a smaller 28mm tire or try a center pull brake but I was too disappointed by that time I just abandoned the idea of installing a set of fenders. After riding it for a while around the neighborhood, it is now installed as a stationary bike on a resistance trainer. Sure, I might ride it outside in the future. With 32mm tires, it is quite comfy. It's just that it is not the bike that I envisioned it to be. Rene -Original Message- From: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com [mailto:rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of JoelMatthews Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 2:19 PM To: RBW Owners Bunch Subject: [RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up? Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an errand bike - the ride will be less than ideal. I have seen a lot of people on these bikes. But with all my 165 lbs to carry around, those I have ridden just did not feel right at all. Maybe I am fussy. On Sep 1, 3:29 pm, RoadieRyan rya...@hotmail.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? A quick google search shows them between $375 and 475 for the Frameset. I don't have personal experience with them but it seems like a sweet frame and good bang for the buck. I am actually building up a Mixte for my wife right now from a older CroMo Schwinn that I actually found for free at the side of the road. After taking it all apart its going to need some lovin' but I can't argue with the price of the bike. In Seattle I frequently see Ladies 3 speeds for decent prices on Craigslist an older english ladies bike will be plenty strong (IMO) but not light. R On Sep 1, 12:41 pm, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once in a blue moon type of thing. There are any number of bike boom French mixtes, Japanese came at the tail end of the boom. Some good and some not so good. Schwinn made some nice middle weight mixtes. I would hesitate to recommend them here, as the proprietary sizing will make squeezing in Riv parts more of chore than with the French and Japanese. On Sep 1, 1:16 pm, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote: On Tue, 2009-09-01 at 09:57 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Off hand, I cannot think of one brand better than another. OK, here are three: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
It rides very well -- with the sprung saddle she get's a very smooth ride, even on rough city streets. Yes, the Le Tour series are quite nice, and this one was (from what I could glean online) made by Panasonic. There are still lots of them out there in garages and they pop up on Craigslist pretty frequently. They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? The original catalog page for the Le Tour Touriste can be seen here.http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1981_10.html The Mixte isn't prominent, but the lower left photo shows one. My only regret is that she will be too tall for it in another year or two and will need something else. And even though it will fit my son by then, he probably won't want what he calls a girls bike. On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 4:28 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Thanks John. That really turned out well. When I warned against Schwinn earlier, I was thinking of the old Chicago cruiser models with the one piece crank, and old north american standard stem and seat post sizing. The Le Tour - I believe there was another as well, conform more readily to modern parts. And it has the nice center seat tube join design. I bet it rides pretty well. On Sep 1, 5:07 pm, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: Another vote for the Schwinn idea -- I took this Craigslist special: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Birthday Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577051527/ ...for my daughter. I wouldn't call it Riv'd Up so much as Velo Oranged Up but I think the outcomes might be similar. The frame was stripped powder-coated locally, and my total cost was less than $400 plus some parts (saddle, pedals, brake levers) I had around the garage. I didn't want to spend a ton as she's gonna outgrow it in another year or two, but she loves the bike and gets more compliments on it than I do on my Atlantis. Good luck! On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an errand bike - the ride will be less than ideal. I have seen a lot of people on these bikes. But with all my 165 lbs to carry around, those I have ridden just did not feel right at all. Maybe I am fussy. On Sep 1, 3:29 pm, RoadieRyan rya...@hotmail.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? A quick google search shows them between $375 and 475 for the Frameset. I don't have personal experience with them but it seems like a sweet frame and good bang for the buck. I am actually building up a Mixte for my wife right now from a older CroMo Schwinn that I actually found for free at the side of the road. After taking it all apart its going to need some lovin' but I can't argue with the price of the bike. In Seattle I frequently see Ladies 3 speeds for decent prices on Craigslist an older english ladies bike will be plenty strong (IMO) but not light. R On Sep 1, 12:41 pm, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once in a blue moon type of thing. There are any number of bike boom French mixtes, Japanese came at the tail end of the boom. Some good and some not so good. Schwinn made some nice middle weight mixtes. I would hesitate to recommend them here, as the proprietary sizing will make squeezing in Riv parts more of chore than with the French and Japanese. On Sep 1, 1:16 pm, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote: On Tue, 2009-09-01 at 09:57 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote: On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM,
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 10:35 PM, John Aydelottej.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: It rides very well -- with the sprung saddle she get's a very smooth ride, even on rough city streets. Yes, the Le Tour series are quite nice, and this one was (from what I could glean online) made by Panasonic. There are still lots of them out there in garages and they pop up on Craigslist pretty frequently. They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? the le tour II and III mixtes had weird stem sizes so you can't use most normal stems but a few places still carry the odd sized ones. -sv --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
Nice! Certainly a bit more Rivish than mine. Where's the basket from? On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 8:41 PM, Ryan Watson rswat...@nyx.net wrote: I spruced up this nice little Miyata: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7556...@n06/541257963 http://www.flickr.com/photos/7556...@n06/541257963 On Sep 1, 2009, at 20:35, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: It rides very well -- with the sprung saddle she get's a very smooth ride, even on rough city streets. Yes, the Le Tour series are quite nice, and this one was (from what I could glean online) made by Panasonic. There are still lots of them out there in garages and they pop up on Craigslist pretty frequently. They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? The original catalog page for the Le Tour Touriste can be seen here.http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1981_10.html The Mixte isn't prominent, but the lower left photo shows one. My only regret is that she will be too tall for it in another year or two and will need something else. And even though it will fit my son by then, he probably won't want what he calls a girls bike. On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 4:28 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixtehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Thanks John. That really turned out well. When I warned against Schwinn earlier, I was thinking of the old Chicago cruiser models with the one piece crank, and old north american standard stem and seat post sizing. The Le Tour - I believe there was another as well, conform more readily to modern parts. And it has the nice center seat tube join design. I bet it rides pretty well. On Sep 1, 5:07 pm, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: Another vote for the Schwinn idea -- I took this Craigslist special: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixtehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Birthday Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577051527/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577051527/ ...for my daughter. I wouldn't call it Riv'd Up so much as Velo Oranged Up but I think the outcomes might be similar. The frame was stripped powder-coated locally, and my total cost was less than $400 plus some parts (saddle, pedals, brake levers) I had around the garage. I didn't want to spend a ton as she's gonna outgrow it in another year or two, but she loves the bike and gets more compliments on it than I do on my Atlantis. Good luck! On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an errand bike - the ride will be less than ideal. I have seen a lot of people on these bikes. But with all my 165 lbs to carry around, those I have ridden just did not feel right at all. Maybe I am fussy. On Sep 1, 3:29 pm, RoadieRyan rya...@hotmail.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? A quick google search shows them between $375 and 475 for the Frameset. I don't have personal experience with them but it seems like a sweet frame and good bang for the buck. I am actually building up a Mixte for my wife right now from a older CroMo Schwinn that I actually found for free at the side of the road. After taking it all apart its going to need some lovin' but I can't argue with the price of the bike. In Seattle I frequently see Ladies 3 speeds for decent prices on Craigslist an older english ladies bike will be plenty strong (IMO) but not light. R On Sep 1, 12:41 pm, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once
[RBW] Re: Mixte Frames to Riv-up?
I got the basket from Jitensha studio. It's quite nice. Ryan On Sep 1, 2009, at 20:47, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: Nice! Certainly a bit more Rivish than mine. Where's the basket from? On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 8:41 PM, Ryan Watson rswat...@nyx.net wrote: I spruced up this nice little Miyata: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7556...@n06/541257963 On Sep 1, 2009, at 20:35, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: It rides very well -- with the sprung saddle she get's a very smooth ride, even on rough city streets. Yes, the Le Tour series are quite nice, and this one was (from what I could glean online) made by Panasonic. There are still lots of them out there in garages and they pop up on Craigslist pretty frequently. They are a step up from the World Tourist (made by Giant in Taiwan, I believe), and certainly lighter than the old Varsity bike, which may have still been cranked out in Chicago back then. Was that the one you were thinking of? The original catalog page for the Le Tour Touriste can be seen here. The Mixte isn't prominent, but the lower left photo shows one. My only regret is that she will be too tall for it in another year or two and will need something else. And even though it will fit my son by then, he probably won't want what he calls a girls bike. On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 4:28 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixtehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Thanks John. That really turned out well. When I warned against Schwinn earlier, I was thinking of the old Chicago cruiser models with the one piece crank, and old north american standard stem and seat post sizing. The Le Tour - I believe there was another as well, conform more readily to modern parts. And it has the nice center seat tube join design. I bet it rides pretty well. On Sep 1, 5:07 pm, John Aydelotte j.m.aydelo...@gmail.com wrote: Another vote for the Schwinn idea -- I took this Craigslist special: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour Mixtehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577031655/ ...which had a nice Japanese lugged frame, but otherwise rusty and/or broken components, and turned it into this: Birthday Mixte http://www.flickr.com/photos/aydelotte/2577051527/ ...for my daughter. I wouldn't call it Riv'd Up so much as Velo Oranged Up but I think the outcomes might be similar. The frame was stripped powder-coated locally, and my total cost was less than $400 plus some parts (saddle, pedals, brake levers) I had around the garage. I didn't want to spend a ton as she's gonna outgrow it in another year or two, but she loves the bike and gets more compliments on it than I do on my Atlantis. Good luck! On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? Certainly good looking bike, and I really like the fork. For whatever reason, Soma went with the double skinny tube design with only a brace attaching to the seat tube. If the rider is not a tiny little thing or carries any sort of loads - and a mixte is meant to be an errand bike - the ride will be less than ideal. I have seen a lot of people on these bikes. But with all my 165 lbs to carry around, those I have ridden just did not feel right at all. Maybe I am fussy. On Sep 1, 3:29 pm, RoadieRyan rya...@hotmail.com wrote: Its a middle ground between a Betty and a Beater but have you considered Soma's Buena vista? A quick google search shows them between $375 and 475 for the Frameset. I don't have personal experience with them but it seems like a sweet frame and good bang for the buck. I am actually building up a Mixte for my wife right now from a older CroMo Schwinn that I actually found for free at the side of the road. After taking it all apart its going to need some lovin' but I can't argue with the price of the bike. In Seattle I frequently see Ladies 3 speeds for decent prices on Craigslist an older english ladies bike will be plenty strong (IMO) but not light. R On Sep 1, 12:41 pm, JoelMatthews joelmatth...@mac.com wrote: - Rene Herse - Alex Singer - Jack Taylor Well, yeah, I'll concede those three ;) But the chances of finding a Herse or Singer on Craigslist or on eBay with a starting bid less than $1k are virtually nill. Jack Taylor does not have quite the cachet in the U.S. as its French counterparts (though indeed, it ought to), so you might get lucky. More once in a blue moon type of thing. There
