Ms. Ann Thorpe

Per my thread "should i be even be considering an old roadie," I've got an appointment to look at a Fuji gran tourer mixte tomorrow morning. Priced at $75, and it's so close, I could practically walk to get it. Nice old burgundy thing. I'm beginning to notice that most older road bikes and mixtes in my small frame size aren't exactly the best any brand had to offer--and I guess this fuji is no different. It looks all original, possibly right down to the saddle. And from the photo, it looks like it might be in fairly nice shape. Assuming I like the way it feels, any reason why I shouldn't take it? Seems like if I'm lucky enough to find something better, I could sell it for as much as the current asking price come spring. And if I like it, I guess I could always buy it some nicer wheels, right? Worth it as the bike I'll want to ride further than my super-heavy, basket-packed Raleigh city bike, without expecting it to be as good as my current modern road bike?

rotharpunc

its worth having a look, can you post pics or a link to the CL ad?

Ms. Ann Thorpe

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/bik/4162106753.html
the maroon fuji.

OTS 

Not sure it this is what you are going to check out but it must be close.
https://www.classicfuji.com/GranToure..._1980_Page.htm

If it it close I can't imagine it won't work for you.
Followed your previous thread and i think this will work.
Worse case scenario you sell it this spring.

good Luck and hope you like it and it works for you.

Rick

CMC SanDiego

That looks like a fine bike, and should ride nicely. My daughter rides a Bridgestone 300 mixte which has about the same level of components the Fuji appears to have. She loves her bike and can keep up with my son and I with no problem on our rides on nicer/lighter framed roadbikes.

rotharpunc

looks OK for what you seem to be looking for, check it out and if it fits well and you like the way it rides then go for it.

oddjob2

I just refurbed one for a friend earlier this month to ride in Central Park Manhattan with her children. Bought BIN on ebay rather than craigslist, the only right sized mixte nearby at the time. It was pretty rough, but cleaned up well and rides fine. I put Velo-Orange tourist bars, a new stem and new brake levers on it. Go for it and enjoy!

The before pic. Forgot to take afters, sorry.

Ms. Ann Thorpe

So, $63 and two fun-sized Hershey bars later, and after a brief encounter with a guy who seemed to be both deaf and mute (but willing to sign my highly informal receipt), I've got myself an old Fuji mixte.

You guys have taught me some things. It's mere high-ten steel, with stamped dropouts, chromed steel rims and turkey levers (which I don't mind--short hands), but it was only about two miles away, and it feels pretty good for something that cost less than a decent pair of shoes. And, well, I think it's pretty--I like the old Olympiade graphics stamped into the handlebar chrome, and I like the quilted Fuji seat (though it looks cheap--will probably feel the same). Plus, there don't seem to be a lot of high-quality old road bikes out there for those of us with 28" inseams. I think for now, this might fit the bill. And it also gives me the option of putting the old wire baskets on the Fuji and making it the errand/utility bike and stripping down/drop-barring the old Raleigh, which is possibly still the higher-end of the two bikes. I'll have to ride Old Red a bit more and see how it goes. I'm not discounting the idea that I might find something better somewhere along the way.

There are plenty of scrapes and nicks in the Fuji's paint, but the frame seems free of rust. Do you guys clear-coat this kind of thing, or what? The tires seem old but uncracked. Wondering if I should just go ahead and ride them until they fail, or replace.

OTS 

I think tires and tubes are an inexpensive investment in a trouble free ride.
A nice new pair of 27 inch Paselas would work great.

Ms. Ann Thorpe

OTS--thanks for the tip.

oddjob2

Tires and tubes can be had for about $40, mail order, not including installation.

https://www.amazon.com/Panaracer-Pase.../dp/B001CN6NMS

or shop niagaracycle.com directly.

Paint, you can touch up with clear or colored nail polish. Or just wax the frame to defer further rusting.

I'd suggest some modern bar tape, like Fitzik, for comfort, under $20.

Ms. Ann Thorpe

Nail polish--that I've got! Might even match...

michael k

Just out of curiousity Ms. Ann. Is it Cro-Mo frame?

The link OTS posted in reply #4 lists as such.

A fine bike regardless!

oddjob2

Gran Tourer is high tensile frame, Gran Tourer SE, like the silver bike above, is chromoly.

Ms. Ann Thorpe

From my reading, the older ones like mine--late 1970s?--with "gran tourer" in script are high tensile, and they started making them in cro moly maybe in '81 or '82, with those models easily distinguished by "gran tourer" in block letters. So I didn't get a really good one, but I think it will be useful to me. Still easier to carry up the stairs than the Raleigh in its present form, but not as easily as the Specialized, which I can easily lift over my shoulder one-handed.

cycle_maven

Yeah, chro-moly/schmo-moly. Your hi-tensile frame weighs maybe 4 ounces more than a chro-moly one. The most important things are that:

1) Its a mixte, and mixte's are kewl.
2) You like it and you'll ride it.

+1 about the handlebar tape and tires...

Ms. Ann Thorpe

Yeah, that tape--maybe it's even original. But it is pretty thin. I've gotten used to the cushier stuff on my newer bike. Planet Bike's looks fine to me--anyone got any favorites?

oddjob2

Fitzik tape

Pars 

Cinelli cork. Tried the Fizik microtex but didn't like it, though I don't wear gloves. Stays clean though (in white). In fact you can have the white Fizik (installed, but only used for about a month) if you want to try it for cheap.