Mixte problem.
 

So I found something out thats kinda interesting about mixte frames. maybe it's just the two I had but the tubes that support the head tube crush and bend pretty easy compaired to any other bike. I ran a test with two department store bikes that where in no way fixable or will ever be rideable and the forks brake before the steb through none mixte frame where is the mixte frame is destroyed and forks. has anyone els noticed this? I guess them two smal tubes aint ment for impact lol

Why I basicly brought this up because say if your fav bike is a mixte and you crash. it's a write off and and there goes fav bike.

There is one upside though. it bents easy but it also bends back easy like nothing ever hapened lol. depending on how hard you hit anyway.

Also I aint knocking mixtes I do like them. I just had to repair a frame on a mint condition one today

I would think that the top tubes on quality mixte frames are strong enough as they work together to combine their stregnth at the head tube junction as seat stays do on "mens frame" seat clusters. The triangulation of the long stays helps too with the connection to the seat tube as they pass it on their way to the head tube, so You're really looking at unbraced leagnths that don't get too long. I suspect that the tubes are of the same gauge that they might use for seatstays too and we know how strong those usually are, even in frames with "pencil" seat stays that are thinner through it's legnth than regular tapering seat stays on most bikes.
At one time, I actually wa thinking of putting a small 4 cycle motor on a mixte bicycle frame to make myself a small custom motorbike because the mixte frame seems to be very similar to some motorcycle perimeter type frames.

Chombi
84 Peugoet PSV

Mixte frame strength is generally very good.

are you talking about Mixtie frames or girls/ladies bikes? and of course your test was conducted with department store bikes. I am certain you would see similar results with mens department store bikes.

My mixte is awesome!!!

I've got a mixte problem, too - they don't seem to make them in 60cm+ sizes for cheeeep :(

+1 Given the quantity of nice vintage mixtes still on the road, I don't think there is a problem here.

One was a Peugeot other was a velo sport. I called it department store because they where all beat up and rusty and looked very crappy. this was their desitny! then I took all the good parts and the rest is off to bakers to be made into something nice! wich will proberly be junk because everything made now adays sucks.

GO VINTAGE BIKES! YOU ARE ALL AWESOME! Hurray caps!