What would you do?
 

I'm contemplating my next build...

Last winter, I bought a Raleigh Rapide mixte for a steal of a deal. It had really heavy steel components that I stripped. I installed North Roads bars and a coaster brake set of 590X38 rims, but am feeling a new build to make it something kinda special. Even with the hi-ten frame, it's a fairly light bike, and I was thinking of ditching derailers completely for either a flip-flop hub, or a Sturmey AW laced into alloy 27" or 700c wheels (would probably go with 27" because there's a LOT of clearance, and standard mixte-style calipers won't fit 700c).

Ultimately, what I'd like is to get rid of the black paint in favor of some powder blue or deep green powder coat with gold-lined lugs, alloy fenders, upright bars (thinking Velo Orange Porteur bars), inverse levers, and a polished crankset.

I'm stuck on the wheel choice though. I already have a fixed gear, and a Raleigh 3 speed (well, Phillips), so either way, the bike would be kinda redundant. I'd like to build a light-ish bike for country cruising though. The hills around here aren't so bad that my 48X17 fixed leaves me stranded, but I'd prefer not to be standing at every other hill as the current fixed makes me. I'd probably go with 46X18 fixed, or 46X17 3 speed...

So, which would you prefer, if it was your bike?

I'd like it to be something like this:

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g.../Raleigh_1.jpg

but in Mixte form.

I turned my Rapide into a fixie.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ite/fixie4.jpg

Hills are not foreign to me, I live in 'The Mountain State", and I use a 42-16 gearing.

They are rather cheap bikes, but the frame is well built (except for a BB issue with mine).

Don't get me wrong, they're no lightweight, but they're still worth a build up.

Oh, I know it's worth the buildup, but my question is, on relatively flat terrain, and with uprights, what would you prefer - a 3 speed, or a fixed/singlespeed flip flop?

I'd also like to go kinda fat on the tires - I'm thinking Schwalbe marathons...

I would say go with the 3 speed. They were very dependable as long as oil was kept in the hub and even then they would still roll just not shift until oil was put back in, and it will give you gear choices should you ever need it.

This is my Hercules(rebadged Raleigh). Fixed running 46x17 and it's nice as my town is loaded with overpasses and I never have to stand up to pedal up them.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/100_6214.jpg
I'd do the green as it's a British bike with lots of polished bits and maybe a flipflop hub with fixed/freewheel setup. Or...or even better do a Bendix two speed kickback and lace it to some 700c rims. I'm building my wifes Bottecchia mixte up in the same style. I picked up some cork grips and nothing new was giving it that nice classic look.

I'd consider the kickback...it would give the brake-less look as well, having a coaster hub. I have one now with a sachs kickback, and find it kind of a pain in the butt (just don't stop in 1st gear!), but think it might be nice for a bike like this...