Originally Posted by
desertanimal
Fantastic. Thank you for the information. Southpawboston, you are exactly right. Although I love the mixte frames so much that I might even be willing to compromise on tire width a bit. It's only 5 miles from Arlington to Cambridge . . .
I'm now considering an Araya vista silver shadow mixte frame that's available in CL for $50. That's probably a bit high and maybe I can get him to come down a little. But the guy who has it thinks it will be able to take a wider tire. I'd have to build it up with used parts to keep the cost down. I can't really justify spending very much on a bike right now.
On the other hand, there's a tuned up and ready to ride chome moly Shogun mixte on CL for $100 that might fit me. But that one has 1 1/4" wheels and the guy says it won't go wider . . .
If you're in Cambridge, I might be able to help you out. I work in Cambridge and live in Somerville and would be happy to help you check out prospective bikes. The thing is, don't automatically write off 27" wheels. 27 x 1-1/4" tires are the widest currently available tires, but that's still a decent width of 32mm. A 32mm tire should provide a very comfortable ride, especially for a very short person who doesn't require a lot of tire pressure. But again, there will be more choices in the 700c standard, including tires known for being more supple and smooth rolling.