Originally Posted by
Velocivixen
I have a 1987 Miyata One Twelve mixte with brazed on downtube shifters. Decided to try drop bars (let's not get into the aesthetics of upright vs drop on mixes
). I have the Nitto Deluxe stem, Soma Highway One short reach/shallow drop bars. I bought NOS Shimano brake levers that were originally on this bike, along with red, clear old fashioned brake housing. See original catalog photo here:
Miyata Bicycle Catalogs: Miyata Alumithech & Miyata Catalog 1987
They show the right brake cable loop way up then down between the split top tube. This looks odd on a mixte. Advice? Thoughts? I'm trying to stay "era respectful".
Thanks.
That's the way you do it. There should be a cable guide brazed between the twin laterals for the cable to go through. It looks good to me.
The thing I never liked was the loop and pulley system. Added friction, squishy feeling.
Your 112 has a loop in the rear, a great improvement (not your bike, but similar):
Best, thought, is direct with no loop, but this requires the brakes to be mounted on a bridge attached to the twin laterals, which you don't have. Oddly enough, it seems that the french "invented" the mixte, and typically would put a pair of centerpull MAFAC Racers there, with the straddle cabble going around the seat tube, which I think looks pretty damn cool.
A modern example from SOMA
For some reason I just love the lines of a mixte. I see one and imagine a fresh, still warm baguette attached to the back, riding to an impromptu picnic on a grassy field.
