Bianchigirll 

If that truly is a 23" frame I'd be very tempted even at that price. A big quality Mixte, even a faux one, is a rare find.

southpier

grateful* for all the input on this bike; thanks all 'round.

also that it is two hours away* and i haven't had time or energy to go look at it.

not the $$$, but the side profile, is the real turn off. the top tube hitting the intermediate stays just looks "odd" to me and counters the grace i think belongs to this style bike. the intersection of the 3 tubes is a swing and a miss after studying it from numerous angles.

Rivendell ( i think ), while producing excellent products, and a couple of other companies, has equally disturbing frame designs.

the SOMA Buena Vista frame carries what i interpret as a proper mixte frame design with twin tubes running from head tube past the seat tube on either side to the rear drop out brackets.

taking everything into account, i do think it's an excellent example at a fair price for the breed, but i'm going to hold off / wait until my Peugeot comes in!

and of course all of this is the opinion of the mayor of southpier, population = 1.

TugaDude

When a bike doesn't "speak to me", I tend to pass. Unless I am buying it at a bargain price in order to refurbish and resell. You probably are doing the right thing. Yes, certain design aspects can be polarizing. But it is also true that your taste can change too. Mine did. I never liked the look of many step-through and mixte bikes and now I have an appreciation for many of them. One company that is providing some similar bikes (although not at quite the same quality probably) to Rivendell is Velo Orange. At least some of the thinking is similar. This one is really drawing me in. And as I age, beginning to have more and more appeal! But seriously, it just looks good to me. And I like a lot of the choices in kit. Modern bits with a nod to the past.

zukahn1

These had fluted non standard top tube which was used by Moto and Bridestone. I myself don't like the wishbone internal brazed frames.

repechage

i would eyeball it as about a 53-54 cm.
I like it, thought the design was smart, ovalized tube at the mid stay junctions.

Sedgemop 

How about this one? (It's not mine.) Seems to have a lot going for it and it's been for sale for quite a while. I think I posted it to the Forum months ago.

Mercier Mixte

TugaDude

I would check what they mean by "fully tuned up and ready to ride". Easy to say, but does that mean all of the greasy bits have been cleaned and repacked? Or does that mean anything at all really. Look like friction shifting, so it should shift just fine regardless of what was supposedly done to it.

I bet it is a good riding bicycle but only if it fits. And for that you really need to go visit it. Make sure to check the seat post and stem to ensure they aren't stuck.

Price is toward the high water mark. Verify the condition and then decide what sort of deal it is. Hard to do from here.

MikeJeezy

$250-$300 if it inspires nostalgia in someone. A little less for just a collector IMO

southpier

that's the twin tube frame style i like and the chromed drop outs give me serious wood, but .... i'm in southern new england and postage would probably surpass bike price.

as a footnote, at first blush i thought Dad might have commandeered his daughter's bike and tried to make it fit with a bigger saddle. probably just the camera angle.

thanks for the consideration.

southpier

yeah. that's one of those "looks good from a galloping horse" descriptions everyone puts in their ad.

of course it might mean "fully tuned for our nation's bicentennial" for all i know.

Sedgemop 

Sure thing, man. Lemme know if you change your mind. I can stash it until you can get over here.

TugaDude

Just for fun I saw this on my local Craigslist today, listed at $120.00. Said to be a 22" frame. They came in both 19" and 22", so that is likely correct. Single top tube but otherwise very much a mixte design.

southpier

the nice mid-seatpost lug is an elegant touch.