Originally Posted by
BobbyG
Due to hand issues when I was looking for a new commuter it had to be a drop-bar road bike. I tried a couple of mixtes and really couldn't feel a difference. I'm "only" 56, but on two of my bikes I carry my backpack on the back rack, so I can't swing my leg over the back to mount or dismount. And the top tube "seems" to be getting higher every year. My wife has a step-through comfort bike, and while the upright position, suspension and gearing are not my cup of tea, the bike is sturdy enough that I don't feel any penalty for the step through geometry. I'm not yet 60, but I have been thinking my next bike may be a mixte.
This is why I like my UO-8 beater. I have a rack and a full set of rear panniers, and I often mount by putting my leg over the top tube. My ideal frame size is 55cm C-T (the Bianchi and both Capos), but the Peugeot is one size smaller, a so-called 21" frame. The smaller frame is also helpful because Peugeot top tubes tend to run a bit long. I show a lot of (steel) seat post, but not enough to be at all risky.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069