A thread for uncommon and above average mixtes and step throughs!
03-15-20 | 06:09 AM
#26
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,795
Likes: 7,023
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
In a similar vein, mrs non-fixie's Blouson. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and made by Bridgestone. Some more details here. Not a lightweight by any measure, but mrs non-fixie has successfully 'glided' to work on it a couple of times.
03-15-20 | 10:02 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,427
Likes: 8,348
From: Seattle area
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
i will respect the ThreadStarter.
but this 81/82 AustroDaimler Michelle is a lowly HiTen frame.
it has been misplaced, underwanted and orphaned. I am in the midst of trying to find it a place in the familys group (the wife has preliminarily rejected it).
Pictured saddle height would be mine. Unsure of stem/bars, but here is an upright position with Nittos tall&short stem and Origin 8 Tiki bar.
Never really had an upright bike as an adult, so uncharted territory for me. Has floppy handling at slow speed given large wheelbase.
I have a silver rear rack that could go on it, black fenders, too. This is a bike for 27" wheels. I won't invest in wide 700c tires.
edit: i should mention this bike, less a few bits came to me thru a Forum member west of Chicago -- thanks, trying to do it justice.
and a schmidgen of little box lining on the seat tube. Lipstick for a pretty lady. Puch2500 f&f.
very clean, garage queen.
edit: all metal Simplex RD
but this 81/82 AustroDaimler Michelle is a lowly HiTen frame.
it has been misplaced, underwanted and orphaned. I am in the midst of trying to find it a place in the familys group (the wife has preliminarily rejected it).
Pictured saddle height would be mine. Unsure of stem/bars, but here is an upright position with Nittos tall&short stem and Origin 8 Tiki bar.
Never really had an upright bike as an adult, so uncharted territory for me. Has floppy handling at slow speed given large wheelbase.
I have a silver rear rack that could go on it, black fenders, too. This is a bike for 27" wheels. I won't invest in wide 700c tires.
edit: i should mention this bike, less a few bits came to me thru a Forum member west of Chicago -- thanks, trying to do it justice.
and a schmidgen of little box lining on the seat tube. Lipstick for a pretty lady. Puch2500 f&f.
very clean, garage queen.
edit: all metal Simplex RD
Last edited by Wildwood; 03-15-20 at 07:03 PM.
03-15-20 | 12:21 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 286
From: Chicago, the leafy NW side
Bikes: 1974 Motobecane Grand Record, 1987 Miyata Pro, 1988 Bob Jackson Lady Mixte (wife's), others in the family
Wife's Bob Jackson 'Lady Mixte' c early 80s, nearing completion. The frame came from Miami Jim here and I built it up for my wife's birthday, though it wasn't actually done for some time. Somehow she was nonplussed when I showed her the bare frame!
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03-15-20 | 06:31 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,201
Likes: 9,590
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Most of the bikes pictured above are various styles of "step through" frames not "Mixtes".
We were told by a reliable source back in the 70's that Mixte frames were developed for the French army BITD because one size fit most and they could carry a lot of weight. Never saw a confirmation of this.
Not a Mixte but a French Army Machine Gun Bike:
We sold Gitanes and Bertins in the 70's. Most French mixtes frames were made in 50cm, 54cm, and 57cm sizes. The 57cm frames had what was the equivalent of very long top tubes at least 60cm.
Oddly enough, most of the Mixtes we sold were purchased by older men who couldn't swing their legs over a diamond frame.
We were located a few blocks from a university campus. Most of the young women that needed a smaller frame size like that afforded by a Mixte were highly insulted when we showed them a bike that they could actually ride because they were blinded by the then developing women's movement ideology. They wanted a "boy's" bike, not a "girls" bike!
I put this flicker album together a number of years ago for an online discussion about mixtes:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/282672...57624757110832
In the mid 70's we had Andre Bertin build us 48cm frames with a low standover height that took sewups or 700x20c wheels for just customers who required smaller sized frames. Unlike most small frames that handled like wheelbarrows, these rode and handled like larger sized bikes.
verktyg
We were told by a reliable source back in the 70's that Mixte frames were developed for the French army BITD because one size fit most and they could carry a lot of weight. Never saw a confirmation of this.
Not a Mixte but a French Army Machine Gun Bike:
We sold Gitanes and Bertins in the 70's. Most French mixtes frames were made in 50cm, 54cm, and 57cm sizes. The 57cm frames had what was the equivalent of very long top tubes at least 60cm.
Oddly enough, most of the Mixtes we sold were purchased by older men who couldn't swing their legs over a diamond frame.
We were located a few blocks from a university campus. Most of the young women that needed a smaller frame size like that afforded by a Mixte were highly insulted when we showed them a bike that they could actually ride because they were blinded by the then developing women's movement ideology. They wanted a "boy's" bike, not a "girls" bike!
I put this flicker album together a number of years ago for an online discussion about mixtes:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/282672...57624757110832
In the mid 70's we had Andre Bertin build us 48cm frames with a low standover height that took sewups or 700x20c wheels for just customers who required smaller sized frames. Unlike most small frames that handled like wheelbarrows, these rode and handled like larger sized bikes.
verktyg
True that, here's a guide to suss it out, the OP did ask for step thru's as well.
03-15-20 | 06:48 PM
#33
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 3,825
From: Richmond, Virginia
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT, Jeunet mixte
03-16-20 | 07:03 AM
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,427
Likes: 8,348
From: Seattle area
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
(in another attempt to get her back on 2 wheels ). But having failed in the past, this effort had to have an alternative plan -- for me! 
So, presto chango = old man's mixte. But new to upright riding, so having component/positioning debate. edit: i mentioned my desires in this Forum last summer, and a Chicago area member had such a bike with a few things missing.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
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Last edited by Wildwood; 03-16-20 at 07:20 AM.
03-16-20 | 04:02 PM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 74
Likes: 15
From: Paris
Bikes: Old Simon bike that I just bought on a whim.
Simon French berceau style bicycle
[MENTION=399166]thumpism[/MENTION] encouraged me to post pictures of my junk shop bike project here, so I am. The make is Simon, based in Troyes in France. The date appears to be around 1984.
I am a complete novice but I loved the shape and the attention to detail. Even the original dynamo lights still work.
Enjoy
Gill
Wingnuts
Front brakes.
Gears to be repaired
I am a complete novice but I loved the shape and the attention to detail. Even the original dynamo lights still work.
Enjoy
Gill
Wingnuts
Front brakes.
Gears to be repaired
03-16-20 | 04:44 PM
#36
Patina Avoider
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 1,089
From: Maryland, USA
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Vitus
Is that a bike, or a Mobius strip with a derailleur attached?
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Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 198? Vitus 979. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 198? Vitus 979. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
03-16-20 | 04:46 PM
#37
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,795
Likes: 7,023
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Probably the nicest frame in mrs non-fixie's stable. Early eighties DeVos, built with Super Vitus tubing. Light and stiff and well-liked by its owner. Got a good workout last year too.
Prepped for the RetroRonde and Eroica Limburg, with 30mm Challenge Strada Bianca tires for the cobbles in Belgium and the rough stuff in Limburg:
With 28mm Paselas and fenders for a touring vacation in Tuscany:
Prepped for the RetroRonde and Eroica Limburg, with 30mm Challenge Strada Bianca tires for the cobbles in Belgium and the rough stuff in Limburg:
With 28mm Paselas and fenders for a touring vacation in Tuscany:
03-16-20 | 06:25 PM
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 810
From: St Cloud Fl.
Bikes: Only my riders left...
Great old Motobecane Mixte that I took out of a summer home basement...not ridden for so many years...my family rode the crap out of this bike...one day I noticed that the paint just started to fleck off and a beautiful chrome frame was emerging...we never hurried the inevitable along...I may at some time...
A great riding old bike...
A great riding old bike...
03-17-20 | 03:31 AM
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 687
Likes: 114
From: north NJ
Bikes: Miyata 710, Univega Viva Sport, Centurion LeMans, Peugeot U09
These 2 are my wife's. The Motobecane is a low level Nomade Sprint, but in a unique color. I believe a 1974. I upgraded with alloy rims, 12-speed gearing and new derailleurs. Rides very well. The Centurion is a 1984, one of the few mixtes made with downtube shifters. Cleaned up and serviced, its s great bike. Down the road I will probably add new brake hoods to both and maybe alloy bars/stem for the Moto.
Last edited by kross57; 03-17-20 at 04:00 AM.
03-17-20 | 06:28 PM
#42
Hoards Thumbshifters
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 430
From: Signal Mountain, TN
Bikes: '23 Black Mtn MC, '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750
I'm kind of proud of the one I made for my wife.
Mongoose Dynametric 325
Mongoose Dynametric 325
03-18-20 | 03:50 PM
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,427
Likes: 8,348
From: Seattle area
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
03-20-20 | 04:08 AM
#44
Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 28
Likes: 22
From: Zürich
Bikes: Peugeot PR65
07-17-20 | 01:47 AM
#46
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,500
Likes: 1,532
From: Tucson, AZ
I suppose I should update this thread I started with the final product of the bike I initially mentioned in the OP. I put these photos in a few other threads but since this one popped back up...
07-17-20 | 02:54 AM
#47
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,795
Likes: 7,023
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Nice to see this thread back on page one!
I guess this would fit here as well. Not a step-through in the strictest sense, but designed for people who wanted the riding qualities of a double diamond frame as well as a lower stand-over height. With those same people in mind the frame was also made a little shorter than the average double diamond frame.
Designed in the seventies by the then twenty-something Francis Quillon for Albert Metayer's Méral brand and patented, so it couldn't be copied by other manufacturers.
I guess this would fit here as well. Not a step-through in the strictest sense, but designed for people who wanted the riding qualities of a double diamond frame as well as a lower stand-over height. With those same people in mind the frame was also made a little shorter than the average double diamond frame.
Designed in the seventies by the then twenty-something Francis Quillon for Albert Metayer's Méral brand and patented, so it couldn't be copied by other manufacturers.
07-17-20 | 09:34 AM
#48
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,063
Likes: 4,956
From: Point Reyes Station, California
Bikes: Indeed!
[MENTION=177076]orcas island[/MENTION] has a beautiful Follis Berceau. Last I knew it was for sale; but if he still has it perhaps he could post a couple of photos here.
Brent
Brent
07-17-20 | 02:41 PM
#50
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,795
Likes: 7,023
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
polymorphself, that Nishiki turned out really well! I like the finish and the paint on that bike. Really classy. Getting rid of the spoke protector and reflectors was a wise decision, as it helps focus on the bike itself and and highlight the beautiful details. Well done!