#$*&
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne, Aus
Posts: 411
Bikes: Bates (of Coburg) track bike(60s/70s?), Malvern Star Ladies coronation (1953), SuperElliots pathracer (60s?), Repco pathracer (1964), Holland Ladies (50s?), Moa (50s?), Hillman Ladies (40s?), Batavia? (40s?), Malvern Star 2 star ladies (50s?)...etc.
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Mixtes are definitely stronger. Occassionally you will see step-throughs with a seat tube bent right at the point where the 'top' tube meets it. I haven't seen it on one like yours where the 'top' tube meets a little higher, but have seen quite a few on the older bikes with parallel tubes. I wouldn't expect a problem though, the tube bending is definitely the exception, not the rule.
For further reading, Peter Wiegle did a nice article on building ladies frames and the engineering behind them in one issue of Vintage Bicycle Quarterly. As with all articles in that excellent publication it is a very nice read. Back issues should be available. (I am not affiliated with the mag except that I very much look forward to receiving it every three months!!!!)
PS I am a 175lb Male who rides a 70's step through fixed gear on a daily basis without any problem. In fact, it's my favourite bike right now!