Classic & Vintage - Wife bike build

My wife has an old Raleigh 3sp that is pretty tank-like, so I want to get her something lighter and better handling. A mixte frame would be cool if I can find one on CL that isn't going for trumped-up-it's-Spring prices.

I do have one alternative I'm curious about. I have a small sized Specialized Hard Rock in the garage. If I swap out the tires for wide roadies, will that give a pretty good ride? I haven't been on a mountain bike since college - can't even remember how they handle on the road.

That sounds well worth trying at least as a short term solution while you look for a really nice mixte.

We have had several Hardrocks through the family. I have sold them, cleaned up, for as much as $140. One came to us with a nice 'city' setup including 1.5" tires which make it much more road-friendly.

I picked up a very beaten up Hardrock for $30, fixed and cleaned it up (half an hour with Scratch-X= double the value in looks) put Forte (Performance) 'Metro' 26 x 1.5s on, which were something like $10/ea on sale, and it felt very nice indeed. I was going to flip it but a family friend was looking for a bike so it went to her, and she has been using it as a commuter ever since.

Check Portland's CL- There was a Peugeot mixte on there today

Try it and see if she likes it or not. My bride has an MTB, a Hybrid, a Raleigh Twenty and two Raleigh Colts. The Colts are her favorite. I am upgrading one of them to alloy rims and some other lighter parts to make it nicer riding bike.

Aaron :)

My wife rode (when she rode) a Hard Rock for about 15 years. When we bought it, I immediately removed the knobby MTB tires and put some Specialized slicks on it (or maybe they're Avocets, it's downstairs in the apt bldg bike room). Anyway, she was quite happy with it, until I built her a Motobecane Grand Jubilee (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/760498-Repurposed-Motob%C3%A9cane-Grand-Jubil%C3%A9) with Pasela 35s, befendered -- it's clearly lighter, and she hasn't ridden the HR since. She's even riding a Brooks B17 (I put on a new Special, but she talked me into letting her have my broken-in Standard).

Search "mixte" on CL, there are several in and around Portland that look promising. Here's one of the more expensive ones:

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/2906623338.html

I have a blue Shogun mixte frame and fork that needs paint but would build up nice. Let me know if you're interested, I don't see myself getting to refurb it so I'd like to see it used

There's a very nice red Miyata 110 mixte from the 80's on eBay now for $125 + $69 shipping:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Miyata-Mixte-touring-bike-/220990174461?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item33740a74fd

That (Miyata) is one tall mixte-kind of rare I hear/is your wife tall?

I have a blue Shogun mixte frame and fork that needs paint but would build up nice. Let me know if you're interested, I don't see myself getting to refurb it so I'd like to see it used

PM Sent

Thanks guys. Well, I didn't intend this as a trolling for mixte thread. I've seen some decent old Raleigh and Pugs around, but I really don't want to deal with either's (Raleigh or France) proprietary measures. Japanese or 80's+ will be the way to go.

CW - I forgot about that Grand Jubilee - you told me about that one. I guess part of the equation is that I really would rather work on a road bike than a mountain bike for her. I'll give a couple weeks to looking for road projects and if nothing turns up, get the HR moving. (also, about to finish a Grand Record for meeself, mwahah!)

It's good to know that the MTB w/slicks is a popular option though.

Jebensch...we've had a few nicer Japanese mixtes on our CL lately...want me to send links? I remember one being a pretty sharp looking Fuji.

I'm a big believer in rigid MTBs with slicks as great town/utility city bikes...and even better with drops.