Which mixte to pick
 

A bike shop with a huge inventory of used bikes is hunting down a mixte frame for me. I'll end up paying a pretty penny for it but there isn't anything where I'm at.

The options are as follows:

Fuji flair
Gitane
Chiorda (see attached pic. Not that one, just the frame in chewy condition).
Fuji Gran tour old enough to have script lettering

Were you picking a frame for aesthetics, and classic factor, which would you go with?

What's the difference between the Fuji Flair and the Grand tour(er)?

I'm on my way to Sheldon Brown to read about the idiosyncrasies of old Italian frames but in the mean time, if somebody wants to say anything about that please go ahead.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=194751

The Flair would be preferable to the Gran Tourer

http://classicfuji.com/Flair_1987_Page.htm

http://classicfuji.com/1977_10_GranT...ixte_PageB.htm

For pinache, I would go for the Gitane depending on the model.

cant you pick up something on craigs - where do you live?

+1 Look harder, and buy a complete bike. French bikes have some unique challenges, so I would look at Japanese models first. I have bought and sold several mixtes in the last couple of years, while they are uncommon, they are out there. I picked one up off ebay about a month ago at a very attractive price.

Misawa Japan. I even posted on Craigslist Japan asking for one but it doesn't really have that much traffic.

Over here it is strange; You would think that in a country with as many bikes as in Japan there would be a ton of used bike stores but utility bikes are cheap and when they break, they just buy a new one. Between they being so efficient at recycling bikes (as in tossed in the spring big-item recycling piles), and that they don't particularly like second-hand items, most end up tossed away before they get a chance to become vintage.

Save The Mixtes!
 

The Japanese export many of their used cars, usually in ultra clean condition because they what new. I love the Japanese mixtes, I only wish they where built taller (most are 19 1/2in frames). They copied the french and made it as good if not better. I have a 1984 Trek mixte (single lower bar) that was built for Trek in Japan. I live in central Florida and nice clean Japanese and Peugeot mixtes are still available, but many are listed as girls bikes and bargain priced. I wish I could save them from people who buy them and abuse them just because they found a cheap used bike.

If you can find a Bridgestone, that would be fantastic. Lugged steel, and stiff as a steeple under my 225 lbs. Reasonable weight with full fenders and good components.

Go to this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...happy-place%29

Lots of conversations and many photos of great mixte bikes.

Be a bit patient, and hunt. A bit of work may be required, but a nice mixte is wonderful. Pay attention to size and fit.

Good luck!

It's really hard to say without knowing your criteria.

The yellow mixte in your picture has curved stays, which makes the step-over height a lot lower and could be more convenient for you. Is that an important factor? In general though, I'd suggest that you try the bike rather than just go based on how it looks in pictures and reads on paper; mixtes can handle very differently. This post might also be helpful.

I should have said that this Mixte is for my girl. 19" is probably going to be a tad big but hopefully will work.

I pulled the trigger on the Fuji Flair; lugged double butted chro-mo steel with built-in derailleur hanger. Price was what you would expect from a retailer, but waaaay less than a brand-new mixte frame. The paint is supposed to be in near-new condition.

This is going to be a townie bike; fairly upright sitting position with porteur handlebars, spring leather seat, and porteur front rack. The drivetrain is going to be front 30/46, 11/30 rear, 650B/32mm tires.