Above par mixte frames?
03-21-10 | 10:00 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Oakland, CA
Above par mixte frames?
Hey all,
I've seen my fair share of run of the mill Raleigh, Peugeot and Centurion low end mixtes and I always love the style but there is hardly anything else impressive about them.
What can you guys recommend me in terms of a higher quality mixte frame
I'd like to pick up a higher quality vintage mixte frame to build up as a gift to my girlfriend. Happy to see that Soma and some other manufacturers are making new mixte frames but I'd rather have something genuinely vintage
Thanks in advance!
I've seen my fair share of run of the mill Raleigh, Peugeot and Centurion low end mixtes and I always love the style but there is hardly anything else impressive about them.
What can you guys recommend me in terms of a higher quality mixte frame
I'd like to pick up a higher quality vintage mixte frame to build up as a gift to my girlfriend. Happy to see that Soma and some other manufacturers are making new mixte frames but I'd rather have something genuinely vintage
Thanks in advance!
03-21-10 | 10:27 PM
#2
Rene Herse made many mixte bikes. IIRC Motobecane made a 531 framed mixte.
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Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
03-21-10 | 10:44 PM
#3
Señor Member
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Boston Burbs
Bikes: Bedford, IF, Hampsten, DeSalvo, Intense Carbine 27.5, Raleigh Sports, Bianchi C.u.S.S, Soma DC Disc, Bill Boston Tandem
Raleigh made a 531 super course mixte as well. I think there is a picture of one in the "show us your super course" thread floating around somewhere on the first page of threads.
03-21-10 | 10:48 PM
#4
Rustbelt Rider
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Canton, OH
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Yeah, Motobecane had a few I think. I know there is a Grand Jubilee mixte, I have seen one posted here before. I think Puch made one too, a sweet matte black Vent Noir. I had a Miyata 210 mixte once, not quite as impressive but definitely not bottom of the barrel either.
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03-22-10 | 06:55 AM
#7
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From: Lancaster County, PA
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Hetchins: https://www.hetchins.org/504mixte-02.htm
03-22-10 | 08:37 AM
#8
Biker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 370
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From: New Mexico
Bikes: Boone McReynolds, Centurion Pro Tour
I found a triple butted Lotus mixte in elegant condition not so long ago. I'd wager all of the biggies made a few mixtes in good tubing, its just that they are in limited numbers and less likely to circulate in the garage sale or other used markets.
03-22-10 | 08:42 AM
#9
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From: Kingwood, TX
Bikes: Road, Touring, BMX, Cruisers...
Mercian, if you can find one. These usually aren't in garage sales either (I've only ever seen one), but they are still made.
03-22-10 | 08:45 AM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,045
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From: Lancaster County, PA
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Mercian, if you can find one. These usually aren't in garage sales either (I've only ever seen one), but they are still made.
03-22-10 | 08:47 AM
#11
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
There was a beautiful Claud Butler Magestique on ebay just a few days ago...
This link may last for a few days.
This link may last for a few days.
03-22-10 | 09:11 AM
#12
03-22-10 | 09:46 AM
#13
03-22-10 | 09:53 AM
#14
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
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From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Another option worth mentioning is the Kettler Alu-Rad, an all aluminum bike made in Germany in the late 70's early 80's. They turn up on ebay occasionally (here's an example). They are pretty light, with a traditional mixte-frame made of aluminum.
03-22-10 | 11:01 AM
#15
03-22-10 | 11:17 AM
#16
03-25-10 | 07:38 AM
#17
Banned.
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03-25-10 | 07:09 PM
#19
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 469
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From: Cape Cod
Bikes: Lotus Odyssey - Shogun 400 - '75 Raleigh Tourist - Raleigh Grand Prix - Gitane Tour de France- Schwinn Le Tour - Univega Maxima Sport (winter bike) Trek 950
There's a Chrome moly DB Fuji mixte on today's Boston CL
03-25-10 | 08:40 PM
#20
Bianchi Goddess
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From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
what about this one? https://www.somafab.com/bvista.html I just wish it came in a color other than white
sorry the pics didn't load
sorry the pics didn't load
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
03-26-10 | 08:51 AM
#21
I'll toss in a couple more names; Holdsworth and Bob Jackson made 531 mixtes
and ask a trivia question:
What did the builders use on 531 mixtes to make the long "top tubes". Reynolds didn't draw special extra-long thin tubes of 531 just for mixtes, AFAIK.
So, is the set always a mix (with a couple non-531 tubes thrown in) or is the construction always a "hybrid mixte style" with a regular single down tube with a 2 more stays attached, or did they splice stays together to make the long tubes?
That Claude Butler (Holdsworthy, no doubt) sure seems to have a 531 decal on the forks, if nothing else.
edit: just looked at the eBay, pics, the decal says 531 frame tubes, so maybe that indicates a mix to include the 2 long ones made of something plain.
and ask a trivia question:
What did the builders use on 531 mixtes to make the long "top tubes". Reynolds didn't draw special extra-long thin tubes of 531 just for mixtes, AFAIK.
So, is the set always a mix (with a couple non-531 tubes thrown in) or is the construction always a "hybrid mixte style" with a regular single down tube with a 2 more stays attached, or did they splice stays together to make the long tubes?
That Claude Butler (Holdsworthy, no doubt) sure seems to have a 531 decal on the forks, if nothing else.
edit: just looked at the eBay, pics, the decal says 531 frame tubes, so maybe that indicates a mix to include the 2 long ones made of something plain.
Last edited by unworthy1; 03-26-10 at 08:55 AM.
03-26-10 | 08:58 AM
#22
Senior Member
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From: Chicago, the leafy NW side
Bikes: 1974 Motobecane Grand Record, 1987 Miyata Pro, 1988 Bob Jackson Lady Mixte (wife's), others in the family
The Claud Butler that was on eBay apparently didn't sell or even attract any bids, at $275 asking, and is now re-listed....with a higher opening. Interesting selling strategy. 
Seller has imperfect feedback and doesn't inspire confidence from his description, but if it was possible to pre-inspect and pick up the bike personally, it could be a good deal, for a small-builder bike.
https://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-SCHOOL-CLAUD...item414e1cf5cc
Most companies simply didn't make a mixte version of their bikes above the low-middle range. For example with Miyata the best mixte was the model 210. A mid to late 80s 210 would have a double or tripled butted cr-mo frame, 'managaloy' fork, cantilever brakes, a triple chainring, and might be as light as 25 lbs. Not exactly a racer but a nice bike. They don't turn up often, but something like that might be offered up cheap as 'an old women's 10-speed.'
Seller has imperfect feedback and doesn't inspire confidence from his description, but if it was possible to pre-inspect and pick up the bike personally, it could be a good deal, for a small-builder bike.
https://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-SCHOOL-CLAUD...item414e1cf5cc
Most companies simply didn't make a mixte version of their bikes above the low-middle range. For example with Miyata the best mixte was the model 210. A mid to late 80s 210 would have a double or tripled butted cr-mo frame, 'managaloy' fork, cantilever brakes, a triple chainring, and might be as light as 25 lbs. Not exactly a racer but a nice bike. They don't turn up often, but something like that might be offered up cheap as 'an old women's 10-speed.'
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03-26-10 | 09:11 AM
#23
Thrifty Bill
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,642
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From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
That Claude Butler is a very nice mixte. Buyer beware with that seller, he has enough marginal and negative feedback that I would really want to do a local pickup.
I look for bicycles pretty much every day. I have found five mixtes in the last two years (at reasonable prices). My Centurion is the best one I have found. A couple were high ten steel frames, one Carbolite 103, one generic cromoly, and the Centurion. Mixtes are really hot in my area. So if you see what you are looking for, I would be ready to pay a premium for it over a comparable road bike.
Other than that, what is your budget? My Centurion Lemans mixte is pretty decent (I am keeping it). It has Champion 5 Tange frame, has a frame mount for the RD. It started as a frameset find off Craigs List.
With the help of a donor bike, it ended up like this:
I look for bicycles pretty much every day. I have found five mixtes in the last two years (at reasonable prices). My Centurion is the best one I have found. A couple were high ten steel frames, one Carbolite 103, one generic cromoly, and the Centurion. Mixtes are really hot in my area. So if you see what you are looking for, I would be ready to pay a premium for it over a comparable road bike.
Other than that, what is your budget? My Centurion Lemans mixte is pretty decent (I am keeping it). It has Champion 5 Tange frame, has a frame mount for the RD. It started as a frameset find off Craigs List.
With the help of a donor bike, it ended up like this:
03-26-10 | 04:33 PM
#25
Senior Member
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From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
not for sale but check out the one cassave is building....you will cry
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ilding-a-Mixte
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ilding-a-Mixte
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