Classic & Vintage - Univega Viva Sport mixte - bent stay?

I just picked up a Univega Viva Sport mixte for $50, probably an '84, to fix up for a friend. I noticed that the middle stay (three stays on a mixte, duh) is very slight curved on the right (drive) side and the left side is straight. The rest of the frame looks fine, the other rear stays are perfectly straight.

Is this frame messed up and not worth working on? Or is the slight curve normal and part of the design? It wouldn't seem that way but I wanted to know before I put any time into it. There is no evidence of a serious crash, the paint seems good and the bike would ride fine with some TLC. Plus I don't think anyone tried to spread the frame since the original 6-speed hub and freewheel seem to be there.

I fixed up a mixte Nishiki frame with a dented and slightly-bent middle tube. There was not compromise in the dropout spacing, and after almost a year of riding it, my friend's had no problems. As long as there's not cracks and nothing looks 'seriously compromised', I wouldn't worry about it.

With three sets of stays I wouldn't worry about it.

BTW I ride a Univega Arrow Pace mixte, check the link in my sig for a pic!

My friend just picked up a blue univega mixte - sounds just the same - mid eightys... We noticed that this mixte doesn't have traditional geometry - the top tubes are actually touching the seat tube, then flare way out to meet up on the stays.

We noticed the same bulge... then after trying to fix it (spent several hours), we realized that it was on the drive side, and the geometry probably required that bulge to accommodate an uninterrupted chainline. IMO, this thread confirms it, it's a design issue, for extra clearance for the chain.

Thanks for the thread...

They are made like that to clear the chain.

Many mixtes are like that.

they are made like that to clear the chain.

Many mixtes are like that.

+1