Classic & Vintage - A Little Help on a Surprise Build

I'm planning on doing a surprise build for my wife. She's got a pretty crappy bike, and I'm looking to build up a nice old mixte for her. I've got a couple options on the line, but the sizing is driving me nuts. I've never dealt with mixtes and they frighten me with their unfamiliarity. She's 5'5" with a 30" inseam, and my best pick right now is a 21" seat tube length Raleigh mixte. Will this work out to a 50-52cm on 700 rims? Should I use 650 to lower it or does it not matter because the former wheelset was 27"? I've also got a 19" seat tube Schwinn in the pool, but it includes nothing, and a nicer 47cm seat tube Nishiki which seems too small. Would either of these frames be better options? Any help is much appreciated.

The mixte would be great for making a nice upright bike for light riding. You can't beat a mixte for elegance. However the schwinn woulds like the perfect size. My girlfriend is 5'5" and rides 48-50cm frames because the TTs are too long on anything larger... a 50cm TT is ideal for her with a drop bar, with some uprights though that changes. Women tend to be longer in the torso and for this reason it's difficult to set up a vintage bike well for them. Thankfully women specific road bikes are available today... But I digress. the 21" mixte should be around 53-54cm which may be an alright fit with the seat quite low, then again my girlfriendf who is the same height as your wife would not be able to ride such a large frame.... she would have NO seatpost showing which isn't good. You'll have to throw some wheels on there and find out... remember changing wheels size may alloy her to put her feet on the ground more easily buy it will not change how the bike fits.

I'm planning on doing a surprise build for my wife. She's got a pretty crappy bike, and I'm looking to build up a nice old mixte for her. I've got a couple options on the line, but the sizing is driving me nuts. I've never dealt with mixtes and they frighten me with their unfamiliarity. She's 5'5" with a 30" inseam, and my best pick right now is a 21" seat tube length Raleigh mixte. Will this work out to a 50-52cm on 700 rims? Should I use 650 to lower it or does it not matter because the former wheelset was 27"? I've also got a 19" seat tube Schwinn in the pool, but it includes nothing, and a nicer 47cm seat tube Nishiki which seems too small. Would either of these frames be better options? Any help is much appreciated.

If it were me I'd check the Nishiki. Why? I'm 5'5" Tall and I ride a 47cm Specialized Sirrus.

My wife is 5' 8" and rides a 21" frame mixte (with 700c wheels), so I'd guess that would be too tall for your wife. Going from 27" to 650B will require an additional 23mm of brake reach, and that's hard to do. I'd also suggest trying the Nishiki.

Neal

I'm 5'6 and I ride a 56cm road bike. My mixte is 51cm and a little small for me, inseam is 30, but I like a "snug" standover. My wife is 5'4" and she fits the mixte perfect.

Thanks for all the advice folks. I was leaning towards the Nishiki when I stumbled on an ad today for a '76 Raleigh Mixte, 50cm, with all the original parts. I duly leaped upon on it and am happy to report it is currently residing in my living room. Now hopefully the wife actually likes it.....

Thanks again.