Peugeot...Ycenna...Hercules...Soma; get 'em all. Girl, you're on Bike Forums. We understand.

I bought this mixte (technically, a sport, per the scan above) for my daughter. I still have not been able to identify the builder. It's a nicely made 531 double-butted frame & fork with Campagnolo dropouts. It came with an eclectic mix of parts and tubulars. It's currently got a coating of primer and awaiting new paint. I am hoping to find some time during the COVID lockdown to get it finished.

As received (don't mind the high seat post):


Naked pics:




Flickr album - Mystery Mixte: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmE4qpdQ

Such a beautiful bike! Are you painting it yourself? What paint are you using?

So here is me test-riding the Ycenna yesterday. It’s a great bike and super light but unfortunately clearly too small for me. I’ll continue searching!

Thanks. Yes, I'm repainting it myself. I'm using automotive paint. I let my daughter pick out the color. It's going to be a medium pearl blue.

I like the Ycenna, too. The leg extension looks good, but it seems a little cramped up top. Perhaps a longer stem and different handlebars would help. How did it feel?

Great picture! Have to agree that it looks a bit cramped. With flat bars and an even longer stem you might just get it to work, but a larger size would definitely be better. It still is a very nice bike, though. They didn't have one in a larger size, I presume?

This has my vote:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1990s-KOGA-...TK6nNMzGzOg%3D

I believe that is clearly a custom made frame. I seriously doubt it was made by a production factory. The tubulars and Universal 61 brakes date it to around 1970 give or take. Just as a reminder there weren't decent 700C clinchers until 1975 or a bit later and unless someone was willing to ride much heavier 27 X 1 1/4" wheels, tubulars were the only choice for a maximum ride. I don't know when Universal brakes became extinct but I mostly remember them on bicycles in the 60's.

While that is an outstanding mixte frame, the workmanship for a custom frame is only so so. I'm really curious now who made it. It is possible it was a European made custom frame made by one of the many small shops and imported to the US. Most American builders that started in the 70's were all racer types (only Albert Eisentraut was building in the 60's in the States). So that probably eliminates a majority of them as builders.

Doug Fattic Thanks for your feedback on my mystery frame. I really appreciate your input.

If you are interested, I started another thread about it when I first got the bike. I'd still love to be able to identify the builder, so please do let me know if you think of any other leads. (Btw, I originally thought it was French, but now I don't think it its. So, ignore the original thread title. There was some unusual threading issues. It looks like the BB may have been re-threaded, and possibly the steerer, too.)
Link: My Daughter is Spoiled! (French mixte content)

I found a frame which seems really good to me. It's a Koga Miyata - World Traveller Lady with Hardtlite FM-1 tubing (chromoly, tripple butted) in perfect size: 57cm. I also like the idea of buying just a frame and choosing components myself.

BUT there is one problem: it's a touring frame and the seller wrote me he recommends 700 x 32c or even 700 x 35c tires. I really wanted a bike with thinner tires like maximum 700 x 25c. Is it stupid, pointless or even impossible to put thinner rims and tires on this bike? I don't mind that the geometry of the bike is not like a racer, I don't need to ride super fast. I just really love elegance of thin-tire bikes and I imagine thin rims and tires are also a bit lighter than thick ones?

I found the bike in the Miyata catalogue and it seems to be the model from 1993. I attach a catalogue image below pictures of the actual frame.

And one more stupid question: does a touring bike like this even classify as a mixte? Or are mixtes always female versions of racing bikes?

Looking forward to reading your thoughts!

babie_lato

As I explained when I posted the chart with the different configurations, "mixte's" are originally universal utility bikes for any and all, they were designed for everybody, not as a women's bike.

Later high end one's are just that, high end mixte's not really racing bikes per say but when they got popular the companies jumped on the bandwagon and made very nice ones for those who wanted fancy, high end ones.

This frame is awesome, the seller is somewhat correct about the wheels as this one has posts for cantilever brakes and clearance for big tires and fenders, you might get away with 25's looking ok but if there's too much clearance it may not look right, this is also a stout frame and maybe on the heavy side negating the "magic" of lightweight tubing like 531. I would be inclined to go with this anyway and work through the process then you would be ready when you find a frame that you really want.

full disclosure: i am a miyata fan have 2 right now

I think this would be a great base....and you could do about anything with it. fenders/no fenders racks/no racks etc

I would not over worry about the size of the tires......a lot of people ride 28 on "race bikes" i do the key is getting a good quality tire....there are expensive but worth it. I have would suggest Continental gp5000 in 28 or 32.

and as quality mixte bikes in your size are rare and I think the colors are great I wold go for it

only thing I wold look at if it has a braze on shifter boss on the left side

I'd buy it. Not many that nice or in that size. Dependent upon the rims you purchase I'm sure you can use 25C however a 30C or 35C would probably be pretty fun for this bicycle. And you won't regret it for sure.

Good to remember that this is a heavy duty touring frame. I doubt it's super heavy though. But it will be a beautiful rider with neutral positioning. Meaning it may be nice with flat bars or sparrow bars or drop bars. Most touring bikes especially from that time are like that.

That Koga Miyata looks great. Why 700 x 25c tires? Larger tires are usually more practical, and offer a much smoother ride.

Her original posts had her finding a prime lightweight 531 or similar example from the heyday of fine mixte's.

Which of course could happen at any time as we know, but a watched pot......

"Mixte" describes the frame type with the twin lateral stays from head tube to rear axle, which this is. So yes, this is a mixte frame.

It is a rather sturdy one, though. Designed to carry loads while climbing mountains or crossing deserts. The Range Rover of mixtes. Nice, and extremely capable, but not particularly light or elegant.

Putting skinny racing tires on it would look funny to me.

babie_lato I know you're looking to restore/build the mixte yourself, but given what you're willing to spend have you looked around the various restoration shops? Many of these bikes can be had for a decent price, are mostly nicer bikes and professionally restored. I follow these on instagram and like what they post:

https://www.dynamocyclerepairs.com/
https://www.damsko.co/
https://ambikeco.com/
https://www.instagram.com/frenchwheels/
https://www.instagram.com/galaxybikes/?hl=en
https://vintageveloberlin.de/

Not what you came here for, I know, but if the search doesn't yield decent results soon and you just want to pull the trigger on something it's worth having a look at those.

Also, I understand the Peugeot hesitations, but as has been said here, they made some nice mixtes, they just aren't as common. And the low end ones are actually also pretty nice when you do away with a lot of the steel components and wheels and swap them for alloy. If you were to just start with a frame it could be worth it. Here's one I recently totally overhauled for my friend. Almost all of the entry level steel bits were replaced with nicer, but mostly period appropriate, alloy components and it's quite light and a beautiful ride. Granted, it being single speed did a lot for the weight.

I would say that's a great option and let me translate the bit below for you and give you a bit of background information:

This was (and still is) a pretty damn light bicycle with its steel chromoly splined triple butted frame.
As shown in the catalog it probably weighed somewhere between 13.3 Kg (29 lbs) to 15.9 Kg (35 lbs) and that's pretty light with fenders, racks, kickstand and dynamo system.
That estimate is based on the weight of the 1986 Traveller Lady and the 1994 GlobeTravellerLady. I've seen a similar weight progression for my SilverAce.
At the time the bike cost around Hfl. 2240,- and that's about € 1814.- ($1958.-) in today's money

Put some modern wheels on there with lightweight tyres and you can make a really light commuter. I wouldn't worry too much about the tyre width. I have a Dutch bike that I put 28mm tyres on and that looks just fine, even though I could probably fit 40mm tyres with fenders. Don't be afraid to put 32mm tyres on there either. If you don't go for too bulky one they can still look really sleek.

I've put semi-drops on a similar bike for my girlfriend and she flies.

Thank you so much @JaccoW for the translation, that's really kind of you!

Thank you @polymorphself for the links. Yes, I'm checking some shops with restored bikes too, but didn't know those ones, they are amazing!

@brian3069 700 x 25c tires is mostly because of the aesthetics. I just love how sleek they look.

@merziac Hmmm yeah maybe I should stop thinking of trying to make out of this Miyata something that it is not... And if thin tires are my priority I should continue to look for a racing type mixte...

But did Miyata make any good racing type mixes at all? Or should I rather look among the French ones?

From the pages you posted I like this bike a lot and it's a good size (54cm).

I know RIH bikes were mostly made with Reynolds 531 tubes but this one doesn't have any stickers. And I found an old post on this forum with an identical bike and someone saying it is hi-ten, so if it's true it's not so good right (at least in comparison to chromoly) right?

As someone who has long been on a vision quest for a taller, decent-quality mixte, I'd say go for that Koga-Miyata. Beautiful frame there. You could compromise on the tire thing--I was a 25c diehard for a long time, but I went to 28c on most of my bikes and haven't looked back. Aesthetically they don't look that much bigger than a 25c, and they don't feel unweildy or noticeably heavier in any way. Get some good pads for those cantis--can't go wrong with Kool Stops--and you're good to go. Look forward to see what you end up with, at any rate.

That is right, as I explained before, hi-ten is decent quality but not as good as chrome-moly and definitely not as good as double butted (triple and quad butted are essentially the same as double butted). I wouldn't get a 54cm if I was you, I'd hold out for a 57 because you are a pretty tall gal. The main problem with people not enjoying cycling is because they are not fit properly on their bicycle and the reason they aren't fit properly is because the dimensions of the frame don't allow it. If you don't get the right size, you have bought the wrong bike no matter how wonderful it is otherwise.

I'd get that Miyata. They are outstanding quality and it is your size. Getting the right bicycle is usually a journey for most of us and we don't get to the destination on our 1st bike. There are always some compromises buying any kind of production frame. There is a good chance it will work out nicely for you but if it doesn't you can take the experiences you learned and get something better the next time and sell what you had.

Fashions in tires have changed and fast riders have gone from wanting narrow 23/25mm tires to wider tires now. Even the pros want wider tires. The important thing is getting a very good quality tire and a 28 will be provide a bit more plush ride and look right on that Miyaya.

I've visited the RIH factory in Holland. The owner was very nice to me and provided me with some frame parts for the charity bicycle project we do in Ukraine. They quit making steel frames in the Netherlands because they could bring in aluminum frames from China at a much cheaper price. Don't confuse the 2 RIH companies in Holland. One is a custom maker in Amerserdam (I think) and the other is a production company in another part of the country.

babie_lato I wouldn't go for a smaller frame either, but that's my 2 cents.

When you get to repainting the frame, you might be able to get new stickers from Unlimited Colors (Koga-Miyata) or RIH or whatever other brand you might come across.

I found a complete 1992 Koga-Miyata Traveller in the same size over here.
In terms of price range: RandonneurExtra > WorldTraveller > Traveller

just looked again...and I understand what confused me on the only right hand shifter boss on the koga miyata..I am pretty sure .it is a boss for the lever that engages the generator.

just for fun I looked at a US spec Miyata catalog I had a link to (1989) the top end steel race bike the Team was listed as 21.4 pounds, the 1000LT touring was listed at 25.2 or so

go for the miyata (and visit your parents )

Fixed that for you.