Mixte frame conversions...
 

I'm converting a Motobecane Super Mirage for my son; he wants to ride fixed with me, which I think is uber cool. And at 17 there's not much he wants to do with dad anymore so I'm jumping on it.

I have a number of frames but this Motobecane seems to be his size. Further, its rear spacing matches the rear spacing of the Kilo TT stock wheels (110 or 120 or something like that) which I also already have. With a bit of bottom bracket fiddling it looks like it'll have a pretty right-on chainline, and he'll be running 42/16 on 170mm Sugino cranks (to be replaced with 165s as soon as I get some to make up for the 27"/700c wheel issues.)

Anyway, my question is with the mixte type frame. I'm sure C&V might be able to answer this better, but if I mentioned converting it they'd probably go all wonky on me. What was their purpose? Mixtes were unisex, right? They weren't, like, "girls bikes" or anything, were they? Did the "top tube" design make for a stronger frame or something?

Any info y'all got would be great. Thanks!

Depends on who you ask. In this case you should probably ask your 17 year old son.

If I were 17, I would not be all up on the unisex-iness of mixtes.

There's a couple of "fixtes" here ridden by guys. I built a pink one for my wife. Personally, I think mixtes look best with commuter/north road bars instead of drops.

Check out this thread in the C & V for some cool mixte bikes. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=227038

http://shutter03.pictures.aol.com/da...BGtdqf0258.jpg

Wow, man wins "Hipster of the Year" riding a mixte.

I just chedked his website, and that bike is called the "Ms. Michaels" and it includes a flower-vase braze-on. So I don't think it's very unisex.

http://www.ahearnecycles.com/pages/maggiemixte.html


It is very nice though.

lols this thread.

That makes no sense. "LOL at this thread" works, as does "I'm LOLing at this thread". Eventually, sp00ki, you'll learn how to effectively communicate via the written word. Until that time, I'm glad I'm providing you some entertainment as I educate you.

You never answered my question about the next game convention. Are you going to go? I could run a sweet adventure for you. It's OK that you want to play a hot elf chick in a chainmail bikini; I don't judge.

:lol:

i'm pretty comfortable in saying that mixtes are for girls

There's nothing inherently "girl" about a mixte. The drop tt is pretty convenient if you're on and off the bike a lot, and Rivendell even produces (or did?) a men's mixte. Good choice for a city bike.

That's all fine and good on the practical side. If my kid were 17, I wouldn't give him a mixte, because a lot of folks consider them "girl" frames. If he were a 6'2" badass that enjoyed bucking the system, I'd let him ride it and subvert the dominant paradigm. But thinking back to my own high school days, I don't think I would have appreciated the extra grief.

Ok, so, mixtes are usually considered "girl" frames. Probably not the best bike upon which to shove a 17 year old boy.

So I need a new frame. Bugger.

I think I'll still build the bike so he'll have something to mess around on at least, learning trackstands and skids and all the other "tricks" he sees me do, and then swap everything over to a more masculine frame when I find one.

just pick up a bikes islant kilo frame and have him ride that


perfectly masculine and cheap

I'll probably wind up doing something like that. I was hoping to keep expenses down; I have enough crap in my garage to build several bikes, but only that frame in his size. :)

Hell, if you've already got that mixte built up, see what you can get for it on eBay/CL. I bet you can ride the tail end of the fixxxie/retro wave to insane profits with that setup, and you can roll it into something 17-yr-old-friendly. Or sell the bb cups alone for crazy cash (I'm assuming they're French or Swiss?).

I am 100% not sure yet.

I know the headset and stem size are *NOT* French or Swiss sizes. Tonight I'm going to bust into the BB so I can make chainline adjustments; if it is French and/or Swiss, your idea might not be a bad one. :)

I don't think mixte is exclusively a girl's bike, but it definitely isn't a teenage guy's bike. Maybe you could ride the mixte and let him ride your Kilo?

If you dont want it
 

If you decide to get rid of that frame, I might can take it off your hands. P.M. me if you decide to sell it please.
_Morgan

only in America

Probably not.

Well. I finished the bike. Er, sort of. Minor tweaks and whatnot, but largely this is it:

http://www.iefixed.com/tim/iamtim_mixte.jpg

Needs a new seat post, seat post binder, the pedals need an overhaul, the rear tire is kinda skidded out, and the cranks are too long. But that's it: a Motobecane Super Mirage mixte with a Kilo TT wheelset running a Dura Ace 16t cog. It's got Sugino cranks with a 42 tooth chainring and Suntour track pedals. The Kilo TT stock stem -- a Zoom -- holds up a set of chopped Weyless XC20 risers with (not shown in pic) Swobo grips. Finally it's got a Bontrager Race Lux saddle.

The funniest part? My son fully digs it. He's out riding it in the street outside our house (it's 10:00pm) and just called me to get on my bike and ride with him. So... late!

EDIT: Incorrectly listed the chainring as 44t when it's really a 42t.

Nice, i would totally ride that, I think the gun metal gives it the masculinity those frames are in need of.
have fun tearing it up with your son.

It rides very smoothly. I was impressed. I'm just glad the boy likes it. :)

Wow fukken A - it looks great and he's out riding it - that's great!

Good job Tim!

Be prepared to "share" your Kilo once in a while if he rides with "dudes" but it looks like a good thing overall.

Where I live, a 17 year old guy on a fixte mixte, with good taste in music, would probably get all the 19 year old cute indie hipsterette ladies. Especially with a front basket...

I originally was going the follow "silly iamtim, mixtes are for chicks theme". I converted a effeminate blue one for my girl (SS) but I would not be embarrassed on the pictured ride.

If your son is chill with it that's what matters.

That's pretty slick, and the color and the bars definitely keep it off the ladies team. Nice work.

Just teach him to say, "It's not a girls' bike, it's a mixte, duh," with withering condescension.