I just refurbished a Miyata triple butted mixte frame for my wife who also wouldn't ride a diamond frame.

I used some spare components with an 8 speed cassette on velocity rims and ultegra 600 hubs, 8 speed flat bar brifters, a compact crank, a Brook B67S seat SKS plastic shortie fenders and a Rivendell sourced brass bell. She is not a biker but rode it 25 miles on a bike trail with me Sunday and loved it. She felt secure without the bar and the bike all up is probably under 27 pounds. That isn't any flyweight but it is the same as my Bridgestone RBT. The only change I will make is to replace the compact crank with a trekking triple.

My plan is to tear it down this winter, powder coat it and reassemble, add a good looking bag and make some leather grips as a holiday present.

I rode the thing and it is a great bike to ride. I'm going to stash away a large mixte if I see one for me as my last bike 20 years from now. If you are near Boston 2 Peugeot mixtes followed me home last week.

I'd say go mixte!