Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Gitane Mixte Conversion

My friend enjoys riding fixed gear bicycles (purely for the feel, not so concerned about what it looks like) but because she is about 5', she can hardly stand over the tiniest frame.
I wanted to convert a mixte bike for her so I checked Craigslist. Currently I have found this (http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/1549801333.html).

I don't know much about Gitane. I'm told it has horizontal dropouts. The down tube also says "Tubes super legers (translated to Super light tubing). Supposed to weigh mid 20s and in pretty good condition. Plus it's just $60.

Does anybody know anything about these bikes? Otherwise should I shop around for Peugeot or Motobecane Mixtes? If not, what do I [generally] really need to do to this bike? I sort of have the idea but I'm working on a budget so I'm hope to not have to replace everything mechanically.

I don't know much about Gitane. I'm told it has horizontal dropouts.

Gitane generally used pretty long drop outs. I'm sure if you bothered to just look at it in person, you'd know though.


The down tube also says "Tubes super legers (translated to Super light tubing). Supposed to weigh mid 20s and in pretty good condition. Plus it's just $60.
Offer them $50 and if they take it run off with the bike, that's a pretty decent deal.


Does anybody know anything about these bikes? Otherwise should I shop around for Peugeot or Motobecane Mixtes?
Gitane is a pretty typical french brand like Peugeot and Motobecane, the others have nothing different to offer you.


If not, what do I [generally] really need to do to this bike? I sort of have the idea but I'm working on a budget so I'm hope to not have to replace everything mechanically.

Mostly you'd be taking things off - removing the derailleurs, and related levers cables, etc.

You could buy a wheels set with a fixed hub, or just buy a hub and have a shop re-lace the rear wheel with it (if the bike has alloy wheels, this may be a good idea. If it has steel wheels, buy a new wheelset).

$60 seems a little pricy to me, a couple years ago the owner of a bike like this would have probably given you $10 for taking the bike off him. ;)
The bike looks nice enough for a conversion though.

One thing to consider though, standover height isn't the only problem for small people riding a bike. If your friend can't comfortably pedal while sitting on the bike she won't be happy with a mixte either.
I'm not sure how the size is calculated on a mixte, but it says "52cm", that could be too large I think.

My friend enjoys riding fixed gear bicycles (purely for the feel, not so concerned about what it looks like) but because she is about 5', she can hardly stand over the tiniest frame.
I wanted to convert a mixte bike for her so I checked Craigslist. Currently I have found this (http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/1549801333.html).

I don't know much about Gitane. I'm told it has horizontal dropouts. The down tube also says "Tubes super legers (translated to Super light tubing). Supposed to weigh mid 20s and in pretty good condition. Plus it's just $60.

Does anybody know anything about these bikes? Otherwise should I shop around for Peugeot or Motobecane Mixtes? If not, what do I [generally] really need to do to this bike? I sort of have the idea but I'm working on a budget so I'm hope to not have to replace everything mechanically.

That's not a bad deal; I'd go for it. Brakes and cranks are good quality; worth keeping on the bike or you can sell them online and get your money back for the bike.

I built a mixte ss for my wife. LINK (http://gallery.mac.com/bbattle#100013&bgcolor=black&view=grid)

I think mixtes look better with North Road or Porteur bars instead of drops. Your friend will probably appreciate them too since she's 5'.

I got an old Bridgestone Mixte from a friend and rebuilt it as a fixed gear for my wife. I did new paint, custom decals, new wheels, chain, cranks, bb, and i swapped the bars from drops to northroad [which reqired new grips and levers] but that was a styling preference. I know the people who've been around for a while are tired of seeing these pics but oh well-

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0773.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0790.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0782.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0788.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0789.jpg

As for that bike- For $50-60 if it looks good to you I don't see that as highway robbery. A bike is worth whatever someone will pay for it, no more, no less.

I'll never get tired of the TacoCycle offending someone.

Where I live, that'd be a great deal. That's a solid steel frame. Do it!

It looks like a fine bicycle, and for around these parts, it's a decent price. I would recommend looking for:

* Frame damage --- dings or bends in the tube. Make sure it hasn't been (obviously) crashed. Wrinkles in the paint are a tell tale sign.

* 700c wheels. If the bike already uses these, then you can easily recycle the brakes, assuming you get a new wheelset. Otherwise, check to see if there is more room to adjust the brakes so that they would reach a slightly smaller wheel (again, assuming you change out the wheels).

* If you can get her to go with you to check it out, have her sit on it. As another poster pointed out, just because you can step through the frame, it doesn't immediately follow that you can get the saddle to the correct height.

What's your total budget? Do you have tools to overhaul bottom brackets and headsets?
Also, you can cozy up to one of the local bike co-ops and get some tips, and potentially parts, from them.

That's a good deal, if it's in decent shape, I'd jump on it.

Gitane is a decent brand, so there's no need to wait around.

One thing you do need to know is that, depending on the year and country where the frame was made (Gitane is a French manufacturer, but I don't know if they made some of their frames in Asia), you may have a French threaded bottom bracket, which means you're going to have to pay a little more for a new one if you get a new crank during the fixed gear conversion.

Velo Orange makes one for $48 - http://www.velo-orange.com/grcrufrthbob.html



$60 seems a little pricy to me, a couple years ago the owner of a bike like this would have probably given you $10 for taking the bike off him. ;)
The bike looks nice enough for a conversion though.

Nonsense. Now that the cycling is having a resurgence, and the fixie craze is still going strong, mixtes are HUGELY desirable. Finding any true mixte for less than $100 is a good deal, and one in ready to ride shape for $60 is a STEAL, especially in SoCal. You could pretty much buy that bike, clean it up, and take some better pics, and sell it for $150-200 come spring.