Classic & Vintage - Just got a mixte...new to C&V

Hi all. I've just gotten this Raleigh USA mixte that I want to fiddle around with and make a fun ride out of. I'm not looking to keep it in original condition (does that get me booted from here?!). My goals are to learn about fixing up bikes, have a little fun hobby and come out with a fun, ride-able bike.

I know there's a ton I can find on this board, but 2 quick questions to start: I don't have any tools yet. What would be a good starter kit that would include tools useful for the Raleigh. Is there a book you would recommend or should I stick to this site and other websites?

OK...one more question: What Would You Do with it??

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/1739003132_bd2aab7efb_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/1739002366_a45fdb6401_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/1739002106_e394220b19_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2411/1738154791_a9042fa249_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2267/1739002870_2828d78d1c_o.jpg

Phazer,

1) books etc. get an older repair manual (like the bicycling ones) which covers pre sti/ergo systems.
they show up on ebay frequently.
The park tool site (see below) has good repair tips, as does Sheldon Browns site
http://sheldonbrown.com/articles.html . Sheldon's site probably has more about vintage bikes
than Park.
2) tools. a good set of small sockets (metric) some cone wrenches, crank puller, bottom bracket pin tools
are a good start. You can check out park tool ( http://www.parktool.com/ ) for a good idea of
some basic tools (and some not so basic tools). Check out the prepackaged kits for an idea of
what you might need.

welcome to BF btw, we're always glad to lend a hand and advise.
As to what to do with it? let your imagination run wild, but for starters, ride it!

Marty

I know that my husband got me this:

http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=6&item=AK%2D37

for a Christmas present last year, and it pretty much fits the bill.

The Park website has some good tips for bike fixing, and also Sheldon Brown's site (there's a sticky in the Bicycle Mechanics forum for Captain Brown's site). Or, what lotek says!

Finally, enjoy!

Welcome to Bike Forums and the wonderful world of Classic & Vintage :D !

East Hill

I took the same exact Raleigh frame and modified it for my wife to look like this:

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/TABMixte1.jpg

It's a six-speed now with Planet Bike fenders, WALD front basket, and a few other commuting necessities.

Neal

Welcome to the 2nd best place on BF! :)

Where do you want to end up with the bike? Do you want a drop bar road bike, a riser bar hybrid, or a flat bar bomber? Close your eyes and open you mind, let the visualizations appear, keep your mind open to the field of all possibilities. You'll find your answer within.

As lotek mentioned the parktool ans sheldon's are excellent sites.

I have a Glenns Bicycle Repair book from the 1970s and a Bicycling Magazine Bicycle repair book from ~1990. For modern bikes I have Zinn's Art of Road Bike repair and Zinn's Art of Mountain Bike Repair. The current repair manuals tend to not have much discussion of vintage shifting and braking systems. Also, headsets have changed too.

Get a bike stand to go along with the tools. Blackburn, Minoura (spelling?) and Park all make stands. In addition to the Park tool set that East Hill posted, bike tool kits are available from Pedros, REI and online stores like Bike Nashbar. The Park tools are pretty much the industry standard and are very nicely made. Pedros tools are good also. My kit from REI uses thin, stamped metal but for the little that I do, it has been fine. But if you are going to work on bikes alot it may be worth spending the money on the more expensive sets.

Maureen

Wow. All very good advice. I have found very little about this actual model. It seems to be Raleigh USA I guess from the mid-80's. Other than curiosity I don't guess it matters that much. Neal, do you know much about it?

hmmm...I can tell that I've gotten myself into this for more than the $50 I paid for the bike. The tools are pricey. and a stand. Oh well, kind of like when I got into biking. The bike purchase was just the start.

BTW...thanks for the welcomes. I've been on BF for about 6 months now, but mainly in the Texas and Women's forums.

You don't 'need' a stand, I've been managing fine without one so far. But I'd wager they are nice to have.

A bike stand would be a good investment.I worked on bikes on the floor for years and then finally got one and it's way easier.
As for tools I think you should go down to your hardware store and see if they have any cheap socket sets.Sometimes you can pick one up for under $20.Now they're not very heavy duty but will work fine.Get a set of screw drivers(don't buy cheap ones) A set of metric and standard allen keys,A couple of large adjustable wrenches,a pair of locking pliers,and a hammer.
If you browse the threads you may find answers to questions relevent to your build.If not,don't be shy and ask.There's gotta be someone that's been through the same type of build.
Welcome to C&V and enjoy your Raleigh.
If it was me I would only replace what needed to be.I like my bikes original(yours looks very clean and original).Even if they are a little worn looking like this Raleigh.It's a 1971 Sport with a little rust and the paint is sun faded(to a really neat gold colour).
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s148/thebikeguyCCM/1971raleighsport-1.jpg
It's nothing fancy and probably not worth as much the way it is.But I only had to do minimal work to get it ridable and other than the tires(or should I say tyres)the bike is 100% original.It cruises along nicely and use this one as my grocery getter.But that's just me.
There's nothing wrong with building it to suit your tastes.Who knows,you may want to make a fixie out of it.That would be cool too!!You can build it however you like but the important thing is you built it.There's a certain pride to creating the "perfect bike".TBG

Wow. All very good advice. I have found very little about this actual model. It seems to be Raleigh USA I guess from the mid-80's. Other than curiosity I don't guess it matters that much. Neal, do you know much about it?


You can see the Marathon specs in these two pages from the 1985 Raleigh USA catalog:

http://retroraleighs.com/catalogs/1985/pages/3.html
http://retroraleighs.com/catalogs/1985/pages/11raleigh-marathon.html

That second page shows 27" wheels, but the frame I built up for my wife actually took 700c wheels, so it likely wasn't from that year. I haven't seen later catalogs, so I can't confirm.

Neal

You can find the year it was built by the date codes on some of the components(derailleur,brakes).Check out this site for info.www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm

I took the same exact Raleigh frame and modified it for my wife to look like this:

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/TABMixte1.jpg

It's a six-speed now with Planet Bike fenders, WALD front basket, and a few other commuting necessities.

Neal


This is my idea of an almost perfect city bike. good job! my only suggestions that would differ from this beautiful setup would be a singlespeed setup(perfect for waco, texas), upside down granny-bars, one brake, and keep those sweet wheel reflectors!!!! oh yeah and HUGE FLAMES. YES!!!!as for tools, it's a raleigh, all you need for tools are 2 hammers, one big, one bigger, a few adjustable wrenches a park 3way allen key #1 bike tool ever made. #1 is have fun with whatever you do with it and ride it

Thanks, Neal. I thought I had checked thru that...but there it was.

Good thoughts g-funk (hmm...except for maybe the flames). I'll have to look up 'granny bars.' Oh...and if your tongue is in your check when you say anything (like "keep those sweet wheel reflectors!!!!") you'll have to tell me, cuz I won't get it. :rolleyes: and good advice on the starter tools. Would a trainer work for a stand for now?

TBG - not sure about a fixie. maybe just a single-speed.

I need to get some tools and call in sick to work!

First thing to figure out: how to raise the seat post.

You can find the year it was built by the date codes on some of the components(derailleur,brakes).Check out this site for info.www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm


Better yet, post the serial number and we can probably date it that way. It would also be nice to know if there is a country of origin decal and what it says.

no I'm serious about those wheel reflectors, they are the sweetest. they make that bike look superfast. if you don't want them PM me and I'll give you my address because I want them. as far as the bars I like to run the north road style bars upside down for a more aggressive position and I think they look cool, kinda like the old clubman bikes. I think that was the birth of moustache bars.

Ah. Well, they were very carefully packaged with the bike. I'll keep them for now. I'll look into those bars...do you have a pic you can link to?

"I'm not looking to keep it in original condition"
Make it yours by judicious improvements. The hubs/wheelset and brakes/pads are a good place to start.
One of my favorite rides is this Motobecane Grand Jubile. I built it up from a mid 70s frame & fork. The Mavic hubs and New Old Stock Shimano 600 crank & derailleurs complement the Nervex lugs. Later, I added Giles Berthaud Stainless Steel fenders & a Brooks saddle. The latest modification was a Stronglight triple crankset with Lyotard platform pedals. Don

I know that my husband got me this:

http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=6&item=AK%2D37

for a Christmas present last year, and it pretty much fits the bill.

The Park website has some good tips for bike fixing, and also Sheldon Brown's site (there's a sticky in the Bicycle Mechanics forum for Captain Brown's site). Or, what lotek says!

Finally, enjoy!

Welcome to Bike Forums and the wonderful world of Classic & Vintage :D !

East Hill

Not to get too personal, but do you know how much that set cost? I might have to put it on my Christmas list depending on how much money is involved.

Thanks,
-Bill

How does a mixte ride compared with other frame designs? That bike looks really sharp from here.

OK...one more question: What Would You Do with it??

Doll it up with a Brooks saddle, gumwall tires, upright bars, and aluminum fenders!

http://piledrivermedia.com/files/moto_bike/IMG_4129.jpg

Not to get too personal, but do you know how much that set cost? I might have to put it on my Christmas list depending on how much money is involved.

Thanks,
-Bill

I believe that the set Mr. East Hill got was around $300--there are far cheaper sets, though. He got me that one because I have so many bikes, and figured I needed something heavy duty.

As to the ride of a mixte--the mixtes have a much more 'open' feel to them. Even though mine have drop handlebars, I don't bend over as much as on a diamond frame bike, so the riding style is a bit more upright. It's actually quite pleasant for my back. People have said that they flex more, but I have never noticed that. It's also nice not to have to worry about those top tubes during sudden stops :) .

East Hill

reply to question about trainer stand/bike stand.

Yes, one of those bike trainers will work to hold up the rear wheel also and if you have one I would start using that and spend the money on some basic tools. The trainer or stand is useful when you are trying to adjust the shifters and deraillers and brakes because it will hold the rear wheel up while you turn the crank with one hand and shift through the gears or apply the brakes with the other hand.

As for the price of tool kits, they vary. The cheaper one that I got from REI was less than $70, but as I mentioned above, the wrenches are made of thin stamped metal. On the other hand, the alan wrenches in the kit are fine. I bought the REI kit and then supplimented it with select tools from Park, as needed. Most repair manuals will have a list of tools in the front of the book that you can look through and buy as needed.

Ah. Well, they were very carefully packaged with the bike. I'll keep them for now. I'll look into those bars...do you have a pic you can link to?

every handle bar on this page, except the drop bars currently on your bike counts, in my messed up book, as granny bars.you can go to your local bike shop and ask for 3-speed style handlebars and they should be able to help. get aluminum ones not steel. you'll also need new brake lever or levers. I'd recommend going online and looking for weinmann or dia compe levers. like these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320153940601&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011 from my experience they stop good and look very retro and clean.

this is the style of cruiser/commuter I like, one has upright bars and the others are flipped over. both of these bikes need fenders like these:

http://www.velo-orange.com/veor46smfe.html

Mixte bikes are great for us geezers also. I had one for a while & the step thru design let me start riding again only a few days after some abdominal surgery. One of my co-workers spotted me riding around town while I was on sick leave "recovering" from the surgery, so I received a lot of ribbing when I returned to work. Don

A bike stand would be a good investment.I worked on bikes on the floor for years and then finally got one and it's way easier.

+1

I made do without a stand for a couple of years, not to mention proper tools. When I finally broke down and spent some of my hoarded flip money on a stand and some bike specific tools, my little world got a whole lot brighter in a hurry. :D I got by without one, but I'm a bike-fixin' demon with one. It makes things A LOT easier.

You gotta have a stand. And more importantly, you gotta choose wisely.... I went through 2 "bargain" Performance stands until I really broke down and bought a decent one. At least Performance accepted the return of their cheap stands cheerfully, but lesson learned - get a good one.

As far as tools - since I used to work exclusively on vintage bikes, I didn't buy a prepackaged tool "kit". I elected to buy tools onsie-twosie, as needed. BB tools, metric hex key set, offset box wrenches (8,9,10mm being most used), cone wrenches, freewheel removal tools, chain breaker, etc. I'm sure I spent a lot more that way, but it was spread out over a year or two.... :)

I'm just getting around to fiddling with the bike and notice he didn't send the reflectors in the picture that g-funk liked. Instead he sent these, still in the original shrink wrap:
http://www.cateye.co.jp/images/rr/rr55sw.jpg

I think I'll email him and call him on it (not sure why I'm assuming it's a him...apologies to both genders for any unintentional sexism).

I bought an inexpensive Peugeot mixte frame and used it to build a singlespeed for my wife. LINKY (http://gallery.mac.com/bbattle#100013&bgcolor=black) We ride around town on Sunday and now she can ride in style. Mixte means unisex in French and in Europe, men ride them, too. Was never intended to be a woman's frame.

Nitto and others make a popular "commuter" handlebar called the North Road. Soma makes a handlebar called the Sparrow and another similer to the North Road called the Oxford.

Of course, you'll need to ditch that old saddle and get a Brooks. A Carradice or Brooks saddle bag, some cork or leather handgrips, a nice bell and you're almost there.

First things first; get rid of the dork disk.


Unless you have no tools at the house at all, it's better to buy tools as you need them rather than getting a kit that will invariably have a lot of tools you already own. If you have a good rapport with your bike shop, you can often get one-time tool needs done there for free or burritos.


Have Fun!

I'm just getting around to fiddling with the bike and notice he didn't send the reflectors in the picture that g-funk liked. Instead he sent these, still in the original shrink wrap:
http://www.cateye.co.jp/images/rr/rr55sw.jpg

I think I'll email him and call him on it (not sure why I'm assuming it's a him...apologies to both genders for any unintentional sexism).


that is some bull shat! what a terd!!!!

i'm pissed! the nerve of that guy/chick. get 'em where does that dude live, lets call out the c&v posse on his ass!!!

Doll it up with a Brooks saddle, gumwall tires, upright bars, and aluminum fenders!

Maybe wood fenders?

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/11763/2414855690068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2414855690068014369CRiJPB)

Here's his answer (it is a he) Kind of passive/aggressive:

Sorry, the others broke when, the bike shop was packing it. They where old and brittle. I had them throw in a brand new pair at my cost.
I thought you'd appreciate a brand new pair. At least, I didn't send the broken ones. I can only hope those will suffice. Thanks, again. xxxx.


I wrote back and said 'no problem'. But I appreciate you guys having my back.

Wow...those wood fenders are way cool. Are they really wood? Aren't fenders for your 'rain bike'. I'm corn-fused.

yes they're really wood. Yes fenders are for the rain. But this way you have a better chance of the bike floating if you get in too deep of water!












(didn't say it was a good chance, just a better one!)

Thanks, Cuda, for that explanation. :rolleyes:

Did you come down to my fair city yesterday?

I did indeed. There are photos in a new thread here in C&V of the bikes that were out and about to be seen. I've actually been looking for an 'excuse' (aka: another good bike) to put a set of those wood fenders on. If nothing else I might swap-out brakes on my 'Cuda Mk.I and put a set of light colored wood fenders on that.

TBG - not sure about a fixie. maybe just a single-speed.



Get a flip-flop hub for the rear wheel. That way, you've got both fixed and free options for that singlespeed. I ride fixed a lot, even climb Monte Sano here in the Rocket City. But I flip the wheel over on the trip back down. Who wants to spin 200 rpm for three miles?

What's even cooler than those Plain-Jane white wheel reflectors? Motion-activated lights (http://store.tireflysonline.com/bicycles.html) in the shape of skulls that you screw onto your tube valves.

Or, if you've got the scratch, try some Hokey Spokes.

http://www.hokeyspokes.com/


Well, since this IS the Classic and Vintage forum, you could always put some baseball cards in your spokes or get one of those motorcycle noise makers (http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Noise-Maker-Bicycle-Horn/dp/B000PAJM0O) for your bike.

OK...now you guys are getting silly on me.

Here are a couple of things on the Raleigh that I'm not sure what they are...
This doo-bobby shown in the down position?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/1796084891_615b09597b.jpg

these wings on the brakes
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/1796085393_db5152825d.jpg

Thanks

Wow...those wood fenders are way cool. Are they really wood? Aren't fenders for your 'rain bike'. I'm corn-fused.

They're just for looks on my wife's bike. I can guarantee that she'll never ride it in the rain.

They're zebra wood and purple heart over laminated mahogany. A guy in Oregon makes them and sells them on eBay.

The "doo bobby" is a lock to keep the front wheel in place when parking the bike. Keeps the wheel from turning & letting the bike fall over. Turn the wheel aside, swing it farther down to the bottom of the down tube, return the wheel & swing it forward to clamp onto the tire.

edit: There is also a similar device that rides near the tire surface to clean off thorns & glass but I don't think that is what you have.

The "wings" on the brakes help guide the wheel into place when putting your bike back together after you fix your first flat. Don

It's not nice to mislead the noobs. Actually, those wings are a clear sign that your bike has gotten in to some Red Bull. ;) :)

hmmm...just saw your edit. I had just run across this guys tale of prettifying his mixte (http://community-2.webtv.net/velo-gallery/PeugeotMixteGallery/), and he calls it a tire saver (http://shutter14.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/08/006/6B/BB/61/C6/8Kgl6lXl8tbWVCLSMER-lmmZFwz9fKNq0300.jpg).

seriously...wings for guiding the tires in? would you guys let go of my leg?!

There are nicer vintage tire savers. I'm starting a collection:

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/24667/2256462930068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2256462930068014369FxHEFz)

The device you have on your downtube is called a "Klickstand".

okay. okay. I need a CV to English dictionary. I'll try to pedal faster so I can catch up.

Actually, I'm curious about those brake wings too since they are on the Shimano side pull brakes of a bike I just picked up. Are they really there just to make it easier to guide the tire back in?

Maureen

hmmm...just saw your edit. I had just run across this guys tale of prettifying his mixte (http://community-2.webtv.net/velo-gallery/PeugeotMixteGallery/), and he calls it a tire saver (http://shutter14.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/08/006/6B/BB/61/C6/8Kgl6lXl8tbWVCLSMER-lmmZFwz9fKNq0300.jpg).

Oh, Stronglight's mixte :D ! It's a beauty, it is.




seriously...wings for guiding the tires in? would you guys let go of my leg?!

That really was the idea. I've never found it helped me much, though :p .

East Hill

The brake pad wings most certainly ARE for guiding the wheel back on the frame after a wheel change. They are most useful in the middle of the Tour when the team car come flying up to the yellow jersey waiting for a wheel change to continue his chase up the alps. Otherwise, it does make it a little easier for the rest of us to get a wheel back on under less stressful moments. Most modern brakes still have these things, but slightly smaller than the 'original' editions.

The downtube thingy looks like a tire lock to me more than a lint catcher.

sometimes you're riding your bike to work, of course, and you get a flat. ****! You are freaking out, you have an appointment at 10, it's 9:45 your are 10 minutes away. Did I remember to put my pump back in my bag? Nice. you whip out your long 14mm/15mm combo box wrench get your wheel off (quick releases?c'mon) Sport levers. Goat Head. did I patch that tube? Is the tube in my bag a 27 or 26 inch? 27...money. pumppumppumppumppumppumppump. You whip that FAT BMX shain over your shimano 16T (not a whimp)freewheel and yank that wheel into the drops as your tire ever so slightly glances off the brake wing thingy and slides effortlessy into place. It's 9:52. PEDAL.

seriously, dump the wings. they suck, keep the tire lock thingy. at the least it will make it easier to tape your upside down granny bars.


East Hill Here's a picture

East Hill Here's a picture

Thank you very much :D .

One of these days you will have to get me some photos of Annadel. I used to run there back when I lived on Sacramento Avenue in Santa Rosa.

East Hill

nice. I live off summerfield, 2-3 blocks away. I bomb down sacramento on the way to work to stay off Hoen. that last one was buick meadow at about 8:00 this summer, and here are a few more. it is seriously the best mountain biking in the bay area. here is another shot of buick meadow, one of ledson marsh, one of the trail to my house, me boosting off a rock on s. burma trail(shot was taken a bit early). How's washington compare? I have friends on some island in seattle, I can't remember the name now, but I thought it was pretty cool. mercer island. that;'s it

edit: oops that's lake Islanjo, and here's one of Ivan Basso cresting Trinity Road to Napa in the Tour of California

^^^
I thought I had recognised Buick Meadow. My normal run used to take me around Lake Islanjo, and from there in whatever direction looked good for the day. I had not discovered the joys of cycling then--it would have been much harder deciding to leave if I had! There's nothing close to me that even approaches Annadel for mountain biking. Some of the places where we go looking for mushrooms (chanterelles, morels, pine, puffballs) are similar, but they are also seventy miles away :eek: !

I can fully understand taking SacAve instead of Hoen. Hoen was miserable when I was there, and that was quite a few years ago :D . There's some nice hills to climb on MI, your friends are fortunate to live there.

[and thank you very much for the photos!]

Sorry about the hijack!

East Hill