Heatherbikes

Hi, I have been looking for a higher end mixte or ladies frame road bike. I am tired of riding lower end(but cute) vintage bikes and modern 4130 tubing bikes that are too heavy for little pixie sized people.
I would happily accept a diamond frame road bike, but would have to have a standover height of 28.5 inches max, and that seems hard to come by. Anything tiny is snapped up faster than the speed of light. My best fitting bikes are my lady frame raleigh and my super bad low end gitane mixte. I feel better on a slightly larger mixte/lady frame than on a child's sized regular frame.
I had bianchi/italian fever, but was told that most bianchi mixtes are low/mid range. I still would like a mid range one. A raleigh super course mixte or similar would be great, or perhaps a raleigh road mixte/ladies bike from the 80's etc.. Or a Mercian Mixte heavenly.....something reynolds 531 and up.
and anything with sweet Columbus tubing etc..
I live near Vancouver Canada, so would really like to find something local, regional, but would be open to shipping headaches too. I am looking for a bike in ready to ride condition, good to excellent condition with no mysterious problems.
Thanks.

KonAaron Snake 

I hate to say this, but it's going to be tricky I think. I'd suggest WTB ads on CL. One member here has a Paramount 531 step through frame.

I think you might want to start thinking custom if it's an expense you can make.

elguicho 

Check out cl on Madison, WI. Someone was selling a lady's paramount there. Good luck.

wrk101

Small mixte frame, high end, and local. You could luck into one, but I look every day, and have found exactly one high end mixte in three years, and it was 120 miles away (and someone else beat me to it).

Mixtes are relatively hard to find, and 99% of them were low end. Good luck!!

KonAaron Snake 

+1 - I've found one 531 mixte in about 3 years - and it was gone FAST, at a high price.

Velognome 

I don't know if this is small enough, but I think this is close to what you are looking for though it needs some work which sounds like you could have done 'in house':

JACK TAYLOR WOMEN’S FRAME 1964
Seat Tube (ctt): 21in (53cm)
Top Tube (ctc): 22.5in (57cm)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: 27in
Frame tubing: Reynolds 531 double butted
Jack Taylor womens frames are not at all common. This one dating from 1964 needs a full renovation – the paint is in poor condition and one of the front cantilever brake pivots has broken off. £225

The frame is on Hilarystone.com. With shipping I think you'd be around $550 to get it into the States. My experience with Hilary has been A+.

KonAaron Snake 

WOW - talk about a great alternative!!

cb400bill

While not easy to find, nicer drop tube bikes are out there. Here is a Reynolds 531 framed 1987 Raleigh Granada that I picked up for my wife off from CL. If needed a total overhaul but now rides quite nicely.

rookgirl

I too have very short legs (mine are even shorter than yours, I think). I'd also like a mixte, but have been really lusting after a diamond frame. A 48cm one fits me ok and they do come up now and again. In fact, I have a Bianchi on the way which will be 48 or 50 cms and I hope it will work for me. Honestly, I think you just have to keep looking obsessively until what you want comes up at the right price (it did for me, but I had to pull a favour to get it as this bike is 8 hrs drive away).

Terry bicycles were also suggested to me, though they are out of my prce range (even the older ones). But worth checking out. Some of the frames are truly tiny.

There's a 48cm road bike in a thrift store near me at the moment for $130. I didn't pay too much attention to it as it wasn't as compelling as the Bianchi, but I think it was of ok quality.

jacksbike

I have also been looking for a nicer mixtie road bike for my wife, without much luck, for about 2 years. I have seen some Motobecanes-perhaps Super Mirage-but they are either 21" frame sizes or in rotten condition. I have been trying to find either a Raleigh Super Course ladies or a Trek 420L, which was only made for 1 year. For now, we have a Puch Japanese made mixtie frameset that I have installed lightweight aluminum alloy qr wheels and converted to a triple. My wife is happy with the bike, but I would still like to find something lighter in weight, and preferably European. Like wrk101 I just keep searching and feel that eventually I will find something better. Keep looking !

Heatherbikes

That Raleigh Granada is perfect! I have been looking on craigslist daily for quite some time now. I've looked at bikes on cl for the last few years, but never any luck, although my husband bought 2 bikes off cl. There are plenty of low to mid range mixtes, but I've got that covered. One problem is I live in a ferry dependent community, so even if a bike comes up, I cannot just drop everything and go into the city. Even if I am the first person to respond and the buyer says they will wait, they never do, or the usual craigslist flakefest ensues. I also check ebay all the time. That's why I thought I would try here.
I was told to also look for a motobecane super mirage along with some of what I listed.
Rookgirl: Congrats on snagging a bianchi, I hope it fits, they tend to be on the tall side, but I like that the italian geometry is shortish on the top tube which is good for women in general and shorties like us.
I have looked at terrys on ebay and some of them are really tiny with small wheels and stuff. Some have been beautiful, but the bidding gets fierce.
With a mixte you can at least pretend you are adult sized!

I would be willing to build up a frame, or overhaul a bike over time, but I already have a trek 420 frame out back waiting for a rebuild. It's mid range true temper but seems like it would be a fast light ride. It would cost more to rebuild than to buy a second hand vintage bike ready to go. The 420 has handlebars, seatpost and did have wheels, but my husband put them on a bike. With the wheels the standover height was too high so have to decide if I want to do a 650b rebuild or pass it on.

I cannot afford to have a bike custom built.

wrk101

When you are in a position where you can't move lightning fast on C/L. you need to consider another strategy.

Such strategies include having friends and family in other cities that can pounce for you (you spot the deal, they snap it up for you). Then you watch their C/L instead of yours.

Or watch ebay, have a friend south of the border be your ship to address, and go pick it up (many ebayers won't ship to Canada).

Or word of mouth, flyers, newsletters, see Randy's site for tips.

Since that Trek 420 is too big, you really might be in the Terry size area. Realize that many of the Japanese manufacturers made knockoffs of the Terry design: Nishiki, Miyata, and several others. Those other brands tend to sell for less than a Terry.

KonAaron Snake 

I think it would be helpful if you gave us a price range that you're looking to pay. Do you need steal of the century or are you able to pay something more like market value?

Johnny Alien

https://www.somafab.com/bvista.html

photogravity

I don't know if you're up for a more modern bike (obviously you're here on the C&V forums so probably not), but I have a 2006 Trek 520 with a 49cm frame that is WAAAY too small for me it is in nearly mint condition. In case you didn't know, 2006 was the last year Trek steel frames were made in the USA making it the last of the Mohicans, so to speak. If you're interested PM me.

Heatherbikes

Thanks photogravity, but as I said, I have a 49cm trek 420 frame that I have to build up. it's lugged! I can barely stand over it, but it's doable. I did not know trek was still building in the USA up until 2006!
Johnny Alien: Thanks for the suggestion, but I said earlier that I am not interested in a modern steel bike with 4130 tubing. I had considered the buena vista, but would have still been looking for a higher end mixte/ladies/tiny road bike. I have a modern 4130 tubing bike which I intend to sell as soon as I get something else. It is too heavy. I was told by someone who knows bikes that smaller frames should be made with lighter tubing and designed with the small size in mind. Modern production bicycle designers/manufacturers do not consider the difference between a 46 and a 56 cm frame too much. A larger 4130 frame is probably perfect for an average sized person, but for a petit person, heavier tubing lumped into a tiny frame means the bike is extra heavy, hard to ride etc..
I have been riding my entire adult life almost daily not to mention through my teens and chidhood which makes for at least 32 years of riding. Only very briefly have I ridden a bike that was fast, smooth, like lightening. My husband barely pedals his snazzy vintage italian road bike and is miles ahead while I pedal like a hamster and wondered why I can't keep up on my bike that cost $$$ and is new.

I look at japanese bikes too, and am aware that some companies did make some higher end mixtes. Occasionally smaller miyata 610s come along...
I used to have a po box in the states and my boyfriend at the time would go and pick stuff up, but that was ages ago, and no longer know anyone who could do that....so until I get my passport renewed, Canada friendly it is. Something in BC would be perfect.
I will try a wtb posting on cl.
I do not have a price range in my head right now, more hoping that somebody will have what I am looking for and we can figure out what is the fair value/asking price etc.. There was just a mercian on ebay that sold. The components and parts were a bit of mash up and it was possible to buy the frame for $400 and was thinking about it, but someone bought the bike for $550. A deal would be nice of course, but hard to tell. People ask way too much for bikes on CL-especially in Canada I think.
Thanks for your suggestions!

alr

I saw a Raleigh Super Course mixte in pretty crummy condition for $100 on Seattle CL recently. They pop up there with some regularity. Usually they are selling with all original parts, cottered cranks and all, so those would probably require some upgrading. If another one comes around, I could help facilitate a purchase. I come up to Vancouver, BC from time to time, or I could ship.

I bought a Vitus 888 tubed Motobecane Grand Touring mixte to replace my Motobecane Super Mirage mixte. I will be selling the super mirage fairly soon, but its tubing is nothing special, though it is a nice riding, fairly light bicycle.

Something to watch for is that not all mixtes are super small. Some of the Raleigh Super courses are on the larger side (21 or so inches?). So they can also have a pretty long effective top tube.

KonAaron Snake 

I don't really think a straight gauge 531 Super Course is going to be too much different from 4130 personally.

ColonelJLloyd 

I agree with Aaron. 99% of people couldn't tell the difference, especially on such a small frame. Don't get hung up on tubing.

buldogge

The triple butted Univega Mixtes are pretty decent...Here's my wife's:

Chris Pringle

If you want a fast and light mixte, you're going to need to build your bike from the ground up carefully choosing the components. As others have mentioned, a custom bike might be your best bet. You will be much happier at the end of the day. For a much lighter frame, you may also consider going aluminum. Koga-Miyata has a triple-butted aluminum frame mixte that they have especially designed for trekking, so it's sturdy. It is possible that you may be able to special order the frame only, which they have in 47 cm. The biggest expense will be in using the lightest components you can afford.

*Scuba 

Would something like a Terry style bike work for you, smaller front wheel?

Here is a posting from the lower mainland.
https://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rd...507425380.html


https://s1018.photobucket.com/albums/...t=CIMG0007.jpg

Heatherbikes

In terms of tubing, from what I understand, it is not necessarily about just the weight, but about the quality and the smaller tubing making for a lighter, more flexible ride. For smaller riders, it can start to make more of a difference on a small frame than an average sized rider would feel on the same bike their size. I only know from experience riding my 4130 bike and other bikes over the years that I feel like I am spending a lot of energy fighting the frame rather than riding it.
I am not interested in aluminum, have run away screaming from aluminum. I am not exactly looking for the lightest bike out there, but a combination of lightness, strength and responsiveness. The kind of thing people wax poetic about in blogs and forums about their lovely special bikes.
Air, yes, a 21 inch mixte would be fine. I have a raleigh and a gitane that are more than 50 cm. I love the fit of those bikes which is why I would rather have a mixte over a teeny diamond frame. I was lead to believe the motobecanes grand jubilees were made with nice tubing....not really? and the whole french parts thing scares me.

Well, I can see why people have been searching 2, 3 years(myself included) for this perfect bike for the ladies that insist on it.

lumpydog

This might be some help- maybe not, was looking through eBay, found a Chiorda(not sure what it is, something Italian) What info is out there, it is fully Campy equipped which according to sources I've been reading(some on this site) that would make it a higher end for this brand. Bianchi supposedly bought the name later down the road? Says it's a 51cm(19 inch) and it needs some cleaning, but it is an option. It's just a few miles from me, I can probably go look in person if it sounds like something you could use.
Not sure about posting item numbers, if it's frowned upon here- but just search the name, take a look and let me know

KonAaron Snake 

This is the bike he means, and it looks, well - WEIRD.

https://cgi.ebay.com/Mixte-Vintange-I...#ht_500wt_1216


I really don't think a 4130 frame and a straight gauge 531 are that different in term of properties, weight, quality...etc. If you're talking 531 double butted, maybe - but straight gauge is pretty similar to 4130 IMO. If you're talking about 531 double butted, you're back to the Paramount and I can't think of too many others. As you know, a road bike in that size is going to be tough - though I have seen them.

There is a Nishiki Mixte abandoned in my parking garage with Tange tubing, but I can't get it