I am wondering if a bike needs to have two small tubes originating from the head tube to the rear in order to be classified as a Mixte. Some that I have seen have a single tube until it meets the seat tube where it splits at a lug into two tubes all the way to the rear. I am in favor of calling both styles Mixte, but I would like to hear other opinions.

I think it's the basic geometry that counts,so a forked tube would count as a mixte. But, I do think the twin tubes look much more elegant.

I was looking at a Bridgestone Carmel that someone had parked at a coffee shop today. It was a bike that I would buy in an instant.

A Mixte,




A very nice Mixte

The "top tube" of a mixte angles down from head tube, past seat tube, down to the rear dropouts. It doesn't matter if it's a single tube like the one you saw or a double tube. People seem to prefer the double tube, and those are the ones I have. However I've seen "women's" sport or mountian bikes like the one you saw.

I prefer the double tubes all the way, but the bike I saw was very nice. I didn't meet the owner (in and out for a cup). I thought a summer school coed at first, but there was no one there under fifty at the time - they were all kids. BTW, I retired last Wednesday.

Is this term ever applied to modern bikes? I prefer that term over womens' bikes simply because I have read here that this style is also preferred by men who have difficulty straddling a mens' bike. I notice that on modern bikes the "top" tube doesn't extend to the back dropout.

I hate the word Mixte, shouldn't it just be Mixed?

I think the term "mixte" is USA. In Europe the double tope tube is commonly referred to as an Unix Bicycle. In other words for both genders as a transportation commuter for people dress for work or play.

Unix sounds too close to Eunuch and that makes me uncomfortable.

Yes. There are some brands that sell Mixtes. Soma has one.

Not hard and fast, but here's Wikepedia:

Mixte[edit]


One particular type of step-through frame is called a mixte. In a mixte frame, the top tube of the traditional diamond frame is replaced with a pair of smaller tubes (lateral tubes, or lats) running from the top of the head tube all the way back to the rear axle, connecting at the seat tube on the way. The normal seat stays and chain stays are retained. This provides the lower standover height of a step-through frame bicycle while avoiding some of the additional stresses the step-through frame bicycle places on the seat tube.
Mixte (pronounced [mikst]) is a direct appropriation of the French word meaning "mixed" or "unisex". The usual North American bicycle industry pronunciation of this loan word is /ˈmɪkstiː/.[9]
A variant on the mixte uses a single, full sized top tube running from the upper head tube to the seat tube, but retains the middle set of stays.[9] The FNCRM (Fédération Nationale du Commerce et de la Réparation du Cycle et du Motocycle) calls this style a sport. [10]
Other named French styles of step-through frames, in addition to mixte and sport, include berceau, Anglais, jumele, col de cygne and double col de cygne.

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Yes, quite. Unfortunately, everyone would pronounce it mix'-dee.

I pronounce it "throatwarbler-mangrove."

or No Mixte?

"A variant on the mixte uses a single, full sized top tube running from the upper head tube to the seat tube, but retains the middle set of stays."

This is one of those words like patina or forte that are so commonly mispronounced that you sound foolish if you pronounce them correctly.
Sometimes, it's best to go along and get along.

Unix make me think of the niche mainframe operating system. I wouldn't want that either. lol Maybe I need to look into a mixte while I could still get one. I may want one about the time I turn 100 and will not be so happy throwing my leg over the bar.

While those are interesting frames, I would not consider them mixte frames, since they are missing the third set of stays.

I don't know what that frame style would be called.

Mixte is a French word. It means coed when referring to a secondary school.

They're fugly whatever they're called. Same with the men's model. Yet I like the GT triple triangle stay setup.

See, more proof it shouldn't be used for describing a "double mid tubed diamond frame with top tub delete".

Single top tube and triple stays. Still a mixte?



Top

Yes. This one is my Daughter's Le Tour mixte.

Most purists would say, NO, they're not mixte's. According to the Wikipedia page they're 'sport' frames. Wikipedia isn't always right, most of the bicycle pages are simple one person's opinion and lack a factual foundation.

The purists are wrong.

This Suteki is her other mixte.