mickey85

As reported in the "Catch of the Day" thread, I found a Raleigh mixte in a bike pike and nabbed it for $10. It's a Taiwan bike, SN # M01220514. Looking on Cudak's website, does that mean that it's a 1980 model? Regardless, the idea was to build a city bike that had some gears to it, and was a good commuter for the faster days, yet days I didn't feel like drop bars.

As it sits, it's done. The only things left to do to it are to put on a new crankset (sugino road double) once I get my cotter press to knock this bottom end off, and get the thing a decent front wheel. This one is flat spotted from something, and although true and rideable, the bump bump bump that it does is rather obnoxious after a few miles.

So far, I've replaced the wheels with aluminum (the rear is new), replaced the brake pads, put on fenders (yes, there are fenders in that last shot ), replaced the stem shifters with better-quality stem shifters, and swapped out the bars for upright bars and city-style brake levers from an el-cheapo Murray 3 speed.

BTW, anyone want a Murray 3 speed? Newer Shimano hub, steel rims and everything else goes with it - just not the brake levers or handlebars. I'll give the damn thing away.

ETA: Excuse the garbage photos, but the only thing I have to go with is my cell phone, and that thing is on its last legs...

auchencrow

I am very partial to drop bars, but have to concede that the bars you chose look right at home on your Mixte.

. . . Raleigh + Black + Mixte = Always a classy looking machine!

mickey85

Don't get me wrong, I love me some drops (currently of the 7 bikes hanging in the shop, only two do NOT have drops, this is one of them), but my second choice has to be North Roads - I REALLY like them from a comfort perspective.

As far as the black - I like black, but I don't know if it's what I"m wanting with this thing. I'm thinking of painting the head tube cream, then the rest of it some rather mellow color, like forest green or a midnight blue...

irwin7638

Love it! I'm still working on the one I found this past summer. I plan to be riding mine by spring!

auchencrow

You alternate color choices (if not black) are still very British, and would look great too.

Bionicycle

That’s pretty much what I was going for when I built my Mixte… a semi-fast, upright, commuter/city bike/ utility bike. I thought the Mixte frame was pretty much the perfect compromise frame for all of the above. Besides I just think that Mixte frames have a large amount of cool factor built into them from the get go.

BTW… I do really like the handle bars you used on your Mixte… Something like that may be an option, if and when I get tired of the wide cruiser bars I have on mine.