Question on a Mixte frame
 

I've been on the hunt for a decent frame to build from. I keep going back looking to this REW Reynolds mixte except it's a 50cm frame and the rider is 5'5"ish.

Would this be on the larger end for fit? I'm just not sure about Mixte frame sizes.

Also, any thoughts on what that little nub is on the seat tube near the BB?

I messaged the seller with other Q's just waiting to hear back.

Frame might actually be a bit small. Find out how long the effective top tube is - if it is 53 cm + or - a cm you should be able to adjust the bike to fit the rider.

The “nub” on the seat tube appears to be a cable stop for a front derailleur (may not be needed based on model of FD used). I like the pulley for the rear brake as well.

This bike appears to have Phil Wood hubs. At least the front one. And I don't see any rust on the steel piece that connects the flanges. Buy it now!

If it doesn't fit you can always do something. If it does fit you have a nice frame and good wheels. Find a crank and a sealed bearing bottom bracket. I would think this would be English. Stem, handlebars, brake levers and seat. These will be personal choices anyway.

Of the top of my head, I would think that a woman of 5'-5" would fit this bike. But people come in all different proportions so giving correct answer will be difficult.

Mixtes are some of the most adjustable bike frames around, with the right stem I bet that could work. When I ride a mixtes I usually ride smaller than a standard diamond frame.

Something is just not making sense here. There should be a cable stop on the seat tube if a pulley was being used. I'm guessing that the loop on the seat stay's is the original cs. Seems like it would be a tight loop around the seat area. :foo:

The ad description is a little vague other than english threading and wheel spacing.

I'm not sure if you are aware of this but REW Reynolds is a top to the line British brand. They were usually made by Woodrup in Leeds. And sometimes painted by Ellis Briggs in Shipley West Yorkshire where I learned to build frames 50 years ago. This is a no brainer to buy it ASAP. I would greatly prefer this bike to one of the French production Mixtes.

On a mixte you don't have to worry about stand over height so what you want to do is get a stem that can place the handlebars at the same height as the saddle. Often Mixte frames were designed to use with upright handlebars. This often involves a stem that does not point down but rather up. Zoom makes adjustable angle stems that aren't that expensive and can fine tune the fit.

Yeah the rear brake cabling looks a bit weird. I am not seeing a cable stop on the seat tube under the pulley wheel. On the other hand there is a cable stop in the traditional place on the seat stays over the rear brake. I am guess the original intent was to have the rear brake cable travel down the diagonal top tube, and then up the seat tube, and then make a sharp, near-u-turn towards the cable stop over the brakes.

Not that it makes a difference just curious, but would you consider this frame mid or upper mid-level? It does have Reynolds tubing and campy drops. Other examples I've seen have the decorative nervex lugs and Camy headset. With the other components as I understand it were as ordered/selected also.

My other hesitation is not really knowing it's real value but it does seem like their asking price is on the higher end.

I'd consider that a top end frame.

It’s certainly on the higher end of mixtes I’ve seen. I would have preferred the brake bridge to be in the middle to avoid the cable route this one requires. Maybe there a good reason for it.

On size, I think it’s small for 5’5” but could work depending on the cockpit. A drop bar set up could be made to work IMO but I think an upright bar could make it feel too small.

I'm assuming this is in Portland. It cannot last long with the bike culture there. I'm figuring it was built by a well respected frame builder and the rear brake cable routing is what they felt best met the needs for the bike and caliper being used. All mixte caliper setups involve compromises. Brake cable housing point up allowing water to enter or the arms of the caliper can catch your leg.

If it were me, I'd be on my way. Dinner can wait. Celebratory Taco's on the way home.

The frame doesn't need a cable stop, as the pulley probably lost its adjustable barrel stop. That'll set you back maybe a dollar. As Doug Fattic stated, this is indeed a high end frame among the British marques.
Phil

This is not a mid level or upper mid level frame. It is an upper level frame. I would vastly prefer this one. The cost is on the higher side because it was custom made and not a production frame like the French ones. The only Mixte you could find that is better is a custom made one from someone like JP Weigle. Those are very expensive. Just for context, i'm a custom builder and have visited REW Reynolds in England and been to Woodrups where they were made. And of course I saw them in the raw when they were being painted at Ellis Briggs where I learned to build.

What I think is going on with the rear brake cable is that there is a pully up on the seat lug where the routing from the BB turns to met the rear brake. I can't tell from the picture but I think there is cable tunnel on the other side. At one time I can see the cable stop between the seat stays that is no longer used.

If you brought it to my shop in Michigan (which is too far away for you to do), I would would put the rider on one of my stationary fitting bikes and find her best seat, handlebar, pedal position and recreate it on this bike with an appropreprate stem. . .

My LaPierre has a different rear caliper set up. It's mounted on the seat tube down by the double angled top tube. There's a brake mount back there behind the tube.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...56657b4273.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5cd335766b.jpg

This is one of the nicer mixte frames I have seen. If it was a 53-54cm, or even up to 56cm, I would be tempted, even though I already have a nice mixte. Mine is a 56cm, traditionally, too big for me. AS stated above, no worries regarding standover, so with a Velo-Orange Left bank handlebar and 8 to 100 mm stem, the fit is spot on for me.
The framsets make for very versatile bicycles. My Madison Revel Mixte, 531 Reynolds, was designed for 27" wheels, with 700C wheels there is plenty of room for tire up to actual 38mm width. It has become, maybe, my favorite everyday ride.
I seriously believe, if you are in the market for a mixte frame set, this R E W Reynolds would be top of the line for mixte frame set quality. Not definitive, but I believe the size would match up fine for a person 5 feet 5 inches tall.
The only drawback is see, is the horizontal rear drop outs. That can be negated with good internal cam qr skewers.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c433e31fbb.jpg
I usually ride 53-54cm. This is 56cm, with the upright set up, it fit is wonderful, the ride is "oh so" smooth. It now has silver wheels for the classic look.

You do not state the asking price. The above Madison Revel, '77 or '78, I purchased last year, price including shipping from London, Eng to Delaware, was $165 usd.

I love mixtes and this one would be VERY tempting especially if those are Phil hub(s). Cable routing is a very minor obstacle.

But you can clearly see brake cable stops along the sloping top tube. I think originally the cable was routed in this Z-routing:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sQsAA...o/s-l1600.webp
At some point it was changed to the pulley wheel arrangement. Like the other poster said, there is a built in cable stop on that pulley bracket. I see one of these on Ebay:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9JgAA...p/s-l1600.webp

Doing a Random googley image search didn't help. Zooming in on the few pics of frames that had a pulley they all had a cable stop brazed to the seat tube.
An image from the Ad, appears that a cable stop ferrule (like pictured above) is m.i.a.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...07c38e60a3.jpg

Doug,
I really appreciate your feedback/responses and someone like you who has ties to the brand only makes it 10x cooler.

also, while searching for information on this frame/maker your name came up multiple times. :thumb:

Take care.

I think you should set aside the pulley wheel and use the seat tube cable stops like the original builder intended. It looks goofy with both the pulley wheel and ST cable stop.

Soooo, it sold, hoping that is you, cable thing while perplexing is a small issue at the end of the day as already stated.

Did it come with the wheels, hopefully so?

This is fantastic as Mr. Fattic says, mixte's are so cool and hold a very important place in history, both cycling and originally life and commerce in general.

The "universal" design made it suitable for just about any task.

Butcher, baker, candlestick maker, postman, Dr., lawyer, constable Chief. ;)

We have several, a couple frames and several step throughs.

Yes, it was I :thumb:

No wheels. :(

I've had 4 mixte's in total in the past. They were either too big/small, high tensile tubing or had weird French sizing. :twitchy: Mostly all 3 lol

Well I would have beat them to death with that, one of my top pet peeves, DON'T SHOW IT IF IT'S NOT INCLUDED!!!

Bait and switch, false advertising, sketchy selling, etc, etc. EF THAT. :troll:

Especially Brooks, take it off, when I see one it better be included.

Not taking the dropout screws out or screwing them all the way in so they don't get "screwed" is the other one, how can it be so hard not to ef them up.

Glad you stepped up and hope you can make it work, its a killer git regardless. :thumb:

Well done Kevin!

One more option for the rear brake. I have a Peugeot mixte that uses a rear sidepull brake that is designed to accept the cable from the bottom, not the top. This photo shows the cable run with the stop at the bottom, at least. The cable bolts at the upper arm.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c12de8f49.jpeg