A thread for uncommon and above average mixtes and step throughs!
 

I'm currently working on an early 70's Nishiki step through. Equipped with decent sugino and suntour components, cool randonneur bars, wrap around seat stay and a chromed rear triangle and forks, it's a cool little bike! Odd for early 70's Nishiki. I'll get some pics of that up later (EDIT: Pics posted a few posts down), but in doing some research came across this gorgeous Cinelli step through in an older thread here.

So, let's use this thread to post pictures of both above average mixtes and step throughs as well as examples from companies we may not have even known made them! They don't have to be your own.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b3efaf0da2.jpg

This was my daughters Gardin until she outgrew it. Columbus Zeta tubes, light, pretty and responsive. Mix of Shimano, Excel-Rino, Modolo, 3TTT and Bluemels. I liked to ride it a lot.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ff66ca88d.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f06cfc74d6.jpg

Wildwood that lavendar one of your belongs here..... i like that one a lot

I found this one at the local co-op and managed to resist it for several visits, but decided to buy it as the cheapest source of 3-speed 700C wheels for my Raleigh Pro path racer build. Can't bring myself to hurt the little bike yet. It's a Condor of the Swiss (not the English brand) variety. Lots of nice little touches like the alloy chainguard...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5552471b91.jpg

Barrel adjuster for the gear cable...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a501f3aa6a.jpg

Integrated lock...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...72d0accce9.jpg

and DT spokes on a 3-speed.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f76504ff88.jpg

This is a Chiorda mixte (Berceau, actually) that I got as a frame and fork and built into an MTB for my then girlfriend (now wife) back in '83. Drum brakes, Peugeot-branded Stronglight 99 triple, MX bar, paint and braze-ons by Marinoni, the usual stuff. Still have the road fork, also in pink, so it can go back to road bike easily.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4fd4b87429.jpg

This is neat! Perfect kickoff. The placement and amount of chrome coverage on the chain stays is a nice touch.

Here are some photos of the above mentioned Nishiki as I found it, appears to be all original and in nice shape:


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...221b6a794.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1909fc556.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7044a90c5.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...772fb6260.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fdeb1ec2d.jpeg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...88fee3fbb.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6d96a666d.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1e60c3a3b.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f1439665d.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...38f5402e0.jpeg

That's as found, huh? Wow, what a pretty bike.

Velo Orange has this outrageously sweet Bertin Mixte in their shop lobby. More pics here.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11d3d4239a.png

Do thease count?
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...73d0405d39.jpg
Lady's Paramounts
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...63b18bfcbb.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4777ca51f8.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ac655d2ad6.jpg

Yep! I picked it up from the original owner for a small price. I've been sitting on it for awhile and finally just got the motivation to do something with it. Some might not be happy with this, but I decided to give it porteur bars, a b17 and make it single speed. I don't have a simple single speed townie type bike and this seems like a good candidate. I wasn't motivated to use it as is so I guess this is better than nothing! Definitely keeping all the original bits though in the event that I want to build it back up original.

I see these and I'm thinking how utterly practical these are. Wouldn't it be nice not throwing a leg over all the time? If us men could only get over ourselves, we would realize we've been doing it all wrong...

Whoa! They sure do :thumb:

Agreed! I'll be riding the Nishiki I posted for sure (with some serious alterations, as mentioned above, but still!)

Gosh that's pretty! Any idea if they have plans for it or does it hang out there for decoration?

Frejus as found after a quick bath.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6cd53557b6.jpg

My wife's 1987 Raleigh Granada.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-y...2/P1000412.JPG

The AustroDaimler Michelle is still a project for a non-riding wife (with a short history of riding in CAlifornia). It was to be part of a 'conversion therapy' program that is on the brink of cancellation for non-participation by supporting parties. The adult kids wilted at her initial protestations. :( If the Spring revival also fails, it is big enough to be a city rider for me, if we ever move to a city.

Every time i post a partially competed bike the 'rousters' come out of the woodwork. :wtf:

So you’re REALLY just gonna leave us hanging like that 😂

I went to look at one about 25 years ago but did not buy it, a yellow 22" ladies frame for $200. Didn't need it. Shoulda bought it.

The macho USA is pretty much the only country that can't get over this, nevermind these never were strictly women's bikes, "mixte" literally translates to "universal" and were originally utility and delivery bikes for butcher, baker, candlestick maker, etc. very practical by design, very maneuverable, loaded, riding on crappy streets and roads.

Many companies only made one version for all.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1c16a3a4d8.jpg
Ms Merziac's 78 Moto GT

Vitus tubing, forged DO's, nice Suntour group, this was a home run but needs to be converted to upright bars, the shifters have been moved to the stem since this pic. ;)

the black fenders are great on this.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9e204ef007.jpg
not sure what it is. It was for sale a few weeks ago. Its above average and kind off cool

Step Throughs vs Mixtes
 

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:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e0214a7b24.jpg

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! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

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.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...10d2331a08.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...371ae0066f.jpg

verktyg :50: