OrangeHorse

My Peugeot mixte is 56 cm and I am also 5'7 (and a woman) and it fits me just fine.

Since you are on a tight budget, I will say that you might want to be a little wary of old French bikes. For instance, after I bought mine I discovered that it had an AVA "death stem" (very typical on these French bikes - high or lower end) and it is recommended that they be replaced due to failure. Of course, older French components also have different sizing making it difficult to find replacements on the cheap.

My husband is now calling my $50 Pug "the moneypit" in a not so affectionate way.

oddjob2

Thrifty Bill you're typically 110% on target!

However, if a woman has her heart and wallet set on a mixte bicycle, attempting to talk her out of it is like trying to tell a woman with a closet full of Jimmy Choo shoes to buy NineWest! Fuggedaboutit!

Fashion trumps practicality almost every time.


There are some truths and some folklore about French bikes, but having turned over a bunch of them during the last two years, with some exceeding 35 years of age I haven't seen any particular or recurring issues first hand to back up these myths. I realize there are more experienced artisans on this forum who hopefully add their knowledge and experience to this discussion.

No doubt replacement parts can be expensive, but that's true for all vintage bikes with European hardware. Items like seat posts, stems, French threaded cups, and Helicomatic hubs can be pricey, but failure of these items are extremely rare with normal maintenance. Fortunately, the consumables like bearings, brake shoes, cables, housing, etc., are generic to every bike and cheap.

The OP's market, Portland, is a highly active market with a lot of sources to keep both the costs of maintenance, upgrades, and used parts reasonable and available.

cooperryder

I can't quite tell from the pics but it looks like the Sportour model I picked up for the missus about a year & a half or so ago.

I completely disassembled & built it back up for her changing out many of the parts and she put about 2200 miles on it since July 2011. Tubing sticker shows it to be double butted CroMo. I think I came up with it being a 1983 or 84 model.

It weighed in at about 28 pounds as built up now. Can double check on that if that would help.

thirrdplanet

Thanks for the info! I feel like I shouldn't look at mixtes, especially in my market because I don't have my heart set on one.

Any opinions on an 82 (I believe) grey Motobecane Jubilee sport. It's listed 100 OBO so I could get it in between 80-100. Seems like a deal AND it has been listed for almost a week. So surprising. The seller says it is in good rideable condition and that he has replaced both the wheels. Suntour components, downtube shifters, aluminum hubs, and Fourreaux Vitus 888 fork. Seems like a great deal and from what I can see, it probably weighs ~23 pounds. He says he is 5'10 but wouldn't want to be any taller for the bike. I am 5'7". Anyone know of the sizes available? I am hoping for a 21' frame.

As for aesthetic condition, it needs new bar tape and he is going to take off tape from the frame. One of my specifications is to not have a beautiful bike so it won't get stolen in college. I am sort of guessing this is why it is priced low. Anyone have opinions on this bike?

thirrdplanet

Didn't see the whole second page of comments! Thanks for all the info. There are about 100 shops in portland and so I am sure most of them would be able to help with old parts. Or at least one. I am going to check out this Moto at 7! Super excited and it seems like a good deal from what I posted above. Anyone disagree or agree?

wrk101

Jubile Sport should be long gone at that price. If not, get over there now. I sold a pristine, ready to ride, 1982 Jubile Sport for $265, in my average market. Mine was a beautiful metallic green.

I can't imagine it lasting a day, a week? What's wrong with it? Well, I saw the ad, I could pick at it: wheels don't match, whats going on with the tape on the frame, needs service, etc., but at $100, it sure looks like a deal to me.

I sometimes troll through ads a couple of pages from the front. Occasionally, a bike will not get noticed, and once its off the first page or two, buyers ASSUME the bike is sold. I've found some good deals that way. Most of the time, I get no response, or a "its sold response", but sometimes, its still available. And the seller is not getting any email on it by then, so they can be ready to deal.

As far as what to look for, list is too long, and I do not want to type that much. At the $100 price point, you should not expect perfection. OK, the basics: make sure seat post and stem are not stuck, look for rust, take it for a ride.

See Randy Jawa's "my ten speeds" website for tips. Again, some defects are to be expected. Pristine, defect free, in Portland = $300.

Mine had Suntour BL (blueline) derailleurs, that are quite nice.

thirrdplanet

I thought so too! Which is why I am surprised it has slipped through. Probably because they didn't post the model and the photo isn't stellar. I have an appointment to see it at 7. Any tips for judging the quality it is in?

cyclotoine

This totally depends on whether you intend to use a drop bar or convert to upright. If you are converting to uprights then sure, buy the biggest frame, since they are designed for drops you should be fine for reach once converted. If you are going to keep the drop bar then buy the right size! or you will be stretched out and uncomfortable.

Disclaimer: people come in all kinds of body types and sensitivity tolerances. Some people ride super stretched out and say they are happy with their fit. I look at them and think it is amazing. To means reach is more important than handlebar height.

oddjob2

Just call the lady and tell your on your way to buy it!!!!!!


https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/bik/3160769111.html

If you don't like buy it anyway and double your $$$.



Raleigh Technium Road Bike for $195

https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/bik/3160686657.html

Jeff Wills

That's on my side of the Columbia... dang it, I have too many projects as it is!

thirrdplanet

Missed the mixte. Just goes to show you portland's market.

Very true about the shoes thing with most girls! However, I am quite practical. Just bought the jubilee sport! I am actually super excited. Cosmetically, the bike is nothing beautiful. The guy took the tape off for me. On the frame, their are some scratches and worn areas. However, the bike is working wonderfully. And it is light too! Compared to my sister's motobecane grand touring mixte, mine is a waaaay lighter. Since the guy lived about 5 minutes from my house, I just biked home (all the way uphill). I offered 90 bucks and he said great! I am going to have to get used to the down turned handle bars and down tube shifting but other than that I am pretty stoked. I am so confused how this bike didn't get picked up before me. I will have a blast riding it!

oddjob2

The Nishiki Mixte for $80 would have sold fast in any blue state!

Good luch with your MB. By the time you put a rack and fenders on it, it will be as heavy as your sister's. But the Jubilee is a very nice frame. IF you feel you have to reach too far for the brakes, you may be able to move the saddle forward on its rails or find a stem with a shorter reach.

OrangeHorse

Congrats! Enjoy your new bike!

thirrdplanet

I am considering shortening the stem because my arms are pretty straight while riding. I measured the stem on my bike and it is 120 mm I believe. The one on my sister's is around 80-90 on her grand touring motobecane. She might let me switch them when we take them to the bike store. If she doesn't, what would you guys recommend to shortening the stem? How short is too short? Any other fixes? I am sure the bike store will help me fit it better of course. Besides that, I have no idea if my stem or hers is higher quality. I think the brand on mine is nitto and hers started with a P i believe.

Besides that, my gears are being a little finicky. Should I get these checked out? I read on my college website that the bike co op on campus fixes bikes for free. Should I just hold out for that or get it fixed now? When I say finicky I mean that it takes quite a considerable effort to shift down (to make it easier to peddle) and then it is switching on it's own to a higher gear. Is this serious or does it just need an adjustment?

oddjob2

If you're in Portland, find the downtown Bike Coop, they'll have all the used stems you need at bargain prices.

Sounds like you just need a small adjustable wrench and some pliers to tighten up the right side cable at the derailleur. Also, make sure the nut holding the right shifter is tight so the lever doesn't slide on its own.

mainstreetexile 

Regarding the finicky gears, it sounds like there is a lot of friction in downshifting, so the best bet would probably be to replace the shifter cables and any housing. On older bikes, the shifter cables can get rusted inside the housing and get sticky. If you have downtube shifters, there probably isn't that much housing to get stuck, so it may be the little bit that goes to the rear derailleur, or it may possibly be getting extra friction around the bottom bracket area so check where it's routed there.

French bikes can sometimes have weird sizes for stems (going into the headset/head tube) and for handlebar clamp areas. In the 80s, a lot of them switched over to standard components though. If yours is a nitto it may be standard, I don't know if they made any in french sizes. I love short and tall stems for comfortable city or touring style riding. The nitto technomic is a good bet for a classy looking, short, tall stem, but there are lots of other options out there.

Also, where are the pictures of your bike??

thirrdplanet

The man at the store today fixed my gear but said some of the cables might need to be fixed and stuff. I decided to hold off to fix that to see if the college bike store can for free. If not, I will have him do it.

As for the stem, they gave me a few options. They said a 90mm stem would probably work well but mentioned some sort of type of stem where it is in 2 pieces. They said the stem quill size is standard at 22.2 but the handlebar clamp is 25.4 which I guess is a little big. He mentioned some sort of adaptor as well as a stem. One part was 15 and the stem was 30. I decided not to switch it for the moment to see if I could find parts cheaper that are used. Would you recommend city bike co-op? This is what they mentioned. What about the two part system? How is it better/different?

And I will post pictures once my bike is all fixed and pretty!

oddjob2

If you're concerned about pretty, stick with a one piece stem. Fer sure on the coop.

michael k

If City bikes dont have any check Community cycling center on alberta too.

thirrdplanet

I definitely would prefer one piece I think. Any good brands or materials? I will definitely check out those two places. Would they install the new stem for free or would I have to pay additional?

When I went to velo cult, their one piece stem ran 70 dollars I think. I'd like to try and get it as cheap as possible obviously. Will the one piece be more expensive than the two?

OrangeHorse

Check out Kalloy quill stems. I just got a 100mm for my mixte. It has a small but ugly logo on it which came off easily with nail polish remover. Only 10-12 bucks and they seem pretty solid.

(Here's a link, but they don't seem to have 90mm in stock. They have 80 and 100 though.)
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...s.php?id=22187

thirrdplanet

I want to be super super clear about what type of stem I need. Could someone describe the difference between quill and threadless? I am confused what type I need or what is the difference. I just want to make sure I don't buy the wrong type. I definitely need the 25.4 size right? The guy at the store wrote down
1" threaded ----> 1 1/8" threadless adapter

I don't know what that means...

OrangeHorse

Threadless stems are not pretty. I'd get the quill stem for your bike.

Was the guy saying that the 25.4 clamp (a modern size) is too big for your existing handlebars? Are your bars a French size 25mm? Some people use a shim to make the French size fit.

thirrdplanet

He said the size where the stem fits in is normal but the size where the handlebars fit in is the old french size. He said I could use something to make a bigger stem fit but he doesn't recommend it at all. So I think all this info leads me to the conclusion they are a french size 25mm. Does that mean it will be impossible to find a quill stem the right size? I have no idea why he would have wrote down the 25.4 size...

OrangeHorse

Yes, it will be hard to find a stem that has a 22.2 steerer size with a 25mm handlebar clamp. But I don't think you'll find a threadless stem with a 25mm clamp either. (Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)