Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Should I buy this vintage frame?

I am debating buying this Zebrakenko frame, and need some quick advice, since it could be gone tomorrow. I have been borrowing a messenger friend's bike and fell in love with riding fixed (my only previous biking exp was with crappy mountain bikes). He offered to build me my own. I found this frame in my size at a reasonable price, I thought it would make a nice end product. It'll be used for short distance city riding. I don't see myself needing anything superfast or light, but I am kind of a weak armed girl, and I can't tell how much it weighs. Any suggestions would help a lot.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2928/ff003en9.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ff003en9.jpg)

buy it. it's a mixte. I <3 them.
of course, this depends what a "reasonable price" is.

If it fits you and it's what you want, then I say go for it.
Zebrankenko was a solid brand that made quality bikes
with good tubing, so if the frame's not dented, then it
should serve you well.

I saw one of those in the trash a few days ago! It was heavy but looked well-constructed.

go fixte mixte!

that is a very neat frame.

Thanks all, think I'll get it today then. :** I've been told that it's passed the tests for quality and dents (and it's $60.)

go for it. I've got a Raleigh Mixte I'm supposed to be converting for my sister but I'm laaaaazy.

don't get it....looks heavy

60 is a steal if it's your size and you're in love with it.

super cute frame.

Don't sell that frame short. I know lots of guys and girls who haul ass on some pretty below-spec bikes, at least by forum standards. hi-ten (read heavy) frames, flat pedals, junky parts sprouting like back hair on an Armenian wrestler. They can still go. Legs and lungs.

Heck yeah! I bought one like that for my honey.

She loves it! I love it more!

Being that it's a Zebrakenko, might it be made of a better tubeset than being credited for?

That one's a beaut! buy it!

The tubes are high tensile steel and that means they're thick walled and heavy. Shipping is $55, so you'll be paying $115 for a low end frame and fork. Zebrakenko is not on my list of quality Japanese frame builders. I do agree that it's pretty, though.

I paid less for this and it has Reynolds 531 main tubes and a lot of useable parts.
http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/1684/2440559900068014369S500x500Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2440559900068014369mbYohz)

Mixtes tend to be a little heavier, but unless you plan to haul a bike up a few flights of steps on a regular basis, that shouldn't be a deal-breaker. It's a pretty frame, and if it floats your boat, that's what counts. I would suggest a quick browse through craigslist; you might find a complete mixte for a lot less, esp when accounting for shipping (as Dirtdrop mentioned). But at some point, it's worth taking a little price hit rather than hunting around for another bike that you dig.

High tensile steel is the worst possible grade of steel for bike tubing. Avoid frames that say high tensile, hi 10 or have a four digit number beginning with 1. Look for chromoly or a four digit number beginning with 4 and the word butted. This eBay frame and fork with triple butted Valite tubing cost me $16.50 + $25.00 shipping:
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/7061/2414855690068014369S500x500Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2414855690068014369CRiJPB)

Wow, those mixtes are sweet Dirtdrop, I love them both. Er... so I didn't buy it, because after more consideration and research, I think I need a frame that's quite a bit smaller than that one, 48-50cm. Thanks for the advice, I'm learning a ton about what to look for from this forum. About craigslist.. right now I'm in OKC where people apparently don't use it much. It's weak.

Yeah, the under-loved craigslist can be a bummer. I just peeked at the OKC craigslist bike listings, and it looks like about the same number of listings we get in New Haven, where a couple of mixtes pop up every month. Of course, this town is full of hip college kids, and you may not want to wait around. You might also check with bike shops -- better shops around here have stashes of old frames that they keep out of sight.

In any event, I'd strongly recommend getting a bike locally. You can make sure it fits, and you avoid both the shipping cost and the bidding wars on eBay. And as I dispense that advice, I'll pretend I didn't pick up my last frame on eBay :)