That is exactly what I meant about the Dutch. For tje average commuter there is no male or female bike, but a bike as a commuting device. Anything which is sturdy, faster than walking, even carry stuff and easier to mount fits the bill. And dont get me wrong there is nothing bad with that.

Schwinn called that "ladyback" in typical 70's US gender speak, it was an option on Paramount's.

So as stated here already, "mixte" literally translates to universal, men. women and children, originally for butcher, baker, candlestick maker, Dr. Lawyer, Policeman/Chief and anybody else.

Many early companies only made mixte's, one for all.

and while we're here, "mixte' technically is the specific twin tube running from the HT to the RDO. ;)


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3489108744.jpg

Thanks merziac (I know the tag won't work). I was often wondering why mixte is called mixte yet I was also lazy to ever look it up - or ask AI for the newer gen- . Makes sense. So also sport and berceaus are variants of mixtes with different comfort level when it comes to board/disembark? Sorry if the question is stupid but originally Im supposed to be an "ignorant italian road bike lover", its just life which made me ride everything else which had 2 wheels and a handlebar. Or for the other 2 styles the top tubes were not welded to seatpost? Any ofher differences besided different/curved top tubes?

Good find on the tandem! We had a Gitane years ago and made some changes but did not use it much.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ae0d216968.jpg

You're welcome. ;)

Um, maybe, not sure. I think all versions have whatever tubes attached to the ST. There are also minor differences between the same style from different builder/makers, lugged, not lugged, etc.

Our mid-‘80s Motobecane Interclub is configured this way, too.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4dbf442c3.jpeg

Again, the French pioneered and embraced this.

Gitane and Motobecane seemed to really lean in as we see many most of them built this way.

I'm a gluten for punishment, so I brought this project 1972 Schwinn Town and Country Tri-Wheeler home. Pretty rough, but has good bones and I love a challenge and I've never had a bike with a parking brake Serial number BH091258. 3 speed Sturmy Archer version.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c8ce4e355b.jpg

Trike!
 

Sweet! I love those things. Overhaul and clean and you'll be the envy of the neighborhood. Wonder if you can find some cool streamers.

Yes! Already searching for some. This is going to take awhile to redo. The basket was missing, so I might need to come up with something custom.

Sekine Medialle with a mixed bag of parts & interesting set-up
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ea9c314623.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...89662d5411.jpg
I will make a thread for this one

Wald #157, the essential paperboy basket and probably OEM on your trike, should still be available.

https://waldsports.com/store/front-b...livery-basket/

Can't believe the price these days and I really can't believe the company is now Wald Sports.

Me and them go way back.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e0d3b8f083.jpg

Very nice. Thanks for the link. that will be a go to when I get further into the resto.

A couple of years ago I bought 2 Sekine bikes. One was too big and I sold it; I still have the other. I really like this not too common but well made bike.

I believe Sekine catalogs are still online somewhere. The link I have gives me a "privacy warning" so I didn't test it.

Good luck if you will be refurbishing / rebuilding it.

Despite my vow to stop buying old mountain bikes, I came home with this frame & fork:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f62eca12c.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f90fa494.jpeg

A 1989 (I believe) Nishiki Cascade. Who could resist a Richard Cunningham designed, straight bladed, wishbone stay-ed, pearlescent grey Nishiki?



Yeah, me neither.

Town & Country
 

Those fenders look great. I wonder if they are stainless steel. There is rust on the other chrome bits like rims and stem. So, that is a possibility. Since these trikes take up a lot of space they often live outside.

I worked in a bike shop that had trikes on a regular basis. I came to appreciate that the Town & Country's were the trike to get, if that is what you wanted/needed. The Town & Country has a differential, which can be a good thing. I was young and found out that if you turned fast, the inside wheel lifts, and the pedals will spin as the wheel that is in the air gets the drive. But for most of the time the differential is a plus. The other trikes had one wheel drive which was ok, but if you accelerated or braked there was a bit of torque steer.

And then there is Schwinn's sturdiness. It is just built better than other trikes.

I keep an eye out for one in my price range (free or near free) and condition (derelict with a good frame and trike parts). I figure it might make a good grocery getter/errand bike. My wife says she'll divorce me if I ride a trike. We'll see how this goes.

Baskets are often lost or damaged on these trikes. I like @Thumpism's idea of getting a Wald basket and he is probably right about the size. I though I would make a basket out of wood or aluminum. That is when the time comes.

I wouldn't mind seeing updates on this trike as it progresses. I know this is not the core of what us C&V'er like to see, but it is Classic and Vintage.

Added another Trek to the fleet. It’s hard to pass up on a vintage Trek at a good price. I planned on doing a complete custom build, but everything was in better condition than expected. I did swap the wheels, shifters and saddle to my liking though. I’ll pick up some tires tomorrow when the bike shop opens back up. Initially I was going to use the Helicomatic wheels that was on there. Assuming they were 27” wheels I bought new tires yesterday only to find out they were 700c. Now that I know the calipers will fit I can use a better wheelset.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bc69d38ae.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4368bda93.jpeg

I was worried about the fenders also, but it had spent some time outside before I got it and they are holding up well. I will need to get some practice building wheels. They have numerous broken spokes and I think the rust is too bad on them. This might get a full teardown and repaint just to do it justice. Probably a winter project. I might start a new thread for the resto. It's going to be fun.

I just acquired an early '70s Jeunet 22" mixte, a little something for my future use when I can no longer swing a leg over my existing bikes. It might sit around for years before I really need it but leg pains recently made me start the search, just in case. I was hoping to find something a little more mainstream but this little thing is pretty cool

Here it is as I found it in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a3c1aea1e2.jpg

Nothing fancy, but a size I can live with and I have plenty of parts to choose from to upgrade it.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c4bf4500f.jpg

It's complete and mostly straight, with a slight rearward bump to the fork. Wheels are good but I'll swap in 700C for fatter tires and those Mafacs will adjust to reach the new rims. Simplex shifters and derailleurs will be replaced and a taller stem will be required. There's no hurry to do this, but eventually the stepthrough feature will be very helpful.

Jeunet
 

We had a green one, the same size, at our local COOP. It was very clean. Check the effective top tube. I noticed that it was 57cm. It would have been a great fit for me but I passed because my n+1 is a baker's dozen. And, I already have a Nishiki Olympic 12 project. I am looking forward to the day when I start working on it.

I just have to say that "gluten for punishment" is a wonderful autocorrect construction.

It would be a nice play on words if applied to a gluten-intolerant person who kept eating regular bread--and suffering through the resulting digestive problems--in consequence of finding it too appealing to refuse.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4da2855e0d.jpg
1987 Schwinn Prologue Road. Shimano 105

An elderly man came into my shop and asked if I would like to have this. He purchased it brand new, and doesn't ride anymore.
I took this snapshot right after he left. I already have it down to a frame and fork. It's in really good condition. Very little rust anyplace, almost none.
Date code places completion on Wednesday March 18, 1987. Built in Japan. Tange Prestige frame tubing and fork.
Going to be a fun spare time project!

Only the top-of-the-line 555RSL frames were built in England for Raleigh USA. I and my team mates at the time had those RSL frames, and I was working at the local dealer then.
555RSL was a re-branded 531P tubeset. The P stood for Professional. RSL stood for Raleigh Super Light.
555 with no SL or RSL designation was a rebranded 501 Cro-Moly tubeset.

There was some sort of legal reason for all of that.
Raleigh USA was a separate entity from TI-Raleigh (England).
I think in later years, Raleigh USA may have sold some Tange Cro-Moly and Ishiwata Chro-Moly frames with the 555 designation as well.
Eventually they were finally permitted to use the Reynolds frame decals for Reynolds tubesets.

Also 22", same as the seat tube length. Is your co-op bike gone? If this were a higher level bike I'd want it to be in better overall condition but since it's primarily a testbed I'm not so concerned with its looks.

Poliquin?

This was a trash pick for me. I gave up $20 for it. My apologies for the NDS image. But its got 105 (1050) cranks, brakes and RD, with 600 Ultegra (6400) FD. Looks like Sora brifters. Ritchey rear wheel. It looks like carbon tubes and carbon lugs with a black finish toward the center of the tubes and a purplish-blue at the lugs. Two Poliquin stickers per side (one on the downtube and one on the seat stay). No other stickers on the bike.

Its worth the $20 for the parts alone, but I am wondering if anyone has ever heard/seen one of these bikes before, because I sure as heck haven't.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dd702c0417.jpg