Dutch Bikes in Ballard carries these http://www.dutchbikeco.com/_product_...Mixte_Sky_Blue

Velouria tested the Belleville and blogged about it, and I also saw one (the same one) first hand at an LBS. Stay away, it's really poorly designed and poorly assembled. Sure, the price point is very aggressive and it *might* represent a good value to some people (the dynamo lighting is unheard of at this price point), but the bike itself is just so poorly executed that it's probably not worth the price to learn that you're not comfortable on it.

The supercourse Mixte would be really nice, and it definitely could be converted to an IGH later. The pics won't load for me at work, so it is hard for me to tell how much the bike would need to get it in tip top shape.

That said, the Creme Cafe Racer looks like a really sweet bike for $800.

Another thought would be a "non-racing" road bike, more of a randonneur or touring type bike with more upright riding position than your Panasonic.

I looked closely at these. They're fun, but I own a 3-speed bike, so they don't fill the bill. Pretty, though, and nice in person.

It's a good looking bike. Not sure why they chose radial lacing on the front wheel, though.

http://cremecycles.com/gallery/cafer..._pink_flat.jpg

http://web.me.com/ugyved/GarageSaleI...1303193743.jpg

That's what concerns me. The other areas seem to be in great condition:

http://web.me.com/ugyved/GarageSaleI...1303193849.jpg

http://web.me.com/ugyved/GarageSaleI...1303193743.jpg

I never noticed that. Does it matter in some way? It is odd that one wheel is laced one way, and the other is different.

^ No, I don't believe so. I just don't like the look of radial lacing and I like my pattern to match in the front and rear. I suspect they laced it this way as it can be done quicker, saving some labor costs.

I was going to say the same thing, for $800 I would go this route, but then again I can do all the labor myself. this is really nice I have to stop buying those bent English bikes and save for one of these

If I could do the labor, I'd be all over doing the labor, so to speak :).

I think the Creme is exceptionally cheap in the US right now. The sellers in Australia and other non-European places are charging twice what I would end up paying. I think I'd be getting a steal. But I'll wait to hear on opinions on the Super Course, which is a gorgeous bike and a Raleigh. But then I'd have to find a new name for The Raleigh!

Right now, I'm thinking the Creme bike is worth the try. The Raleigh is a 21". The Creme comes in 51cm and 55cm. I assume I would purchase a 55cm model, were it to come to that. Right?

At the very least, if you're considering a vintage mixte or the new Creme, find out what the geometries are. Try to figure out your optimal optimal seat tube and head tube lengths, and also what size tires either bike can fit. As a mostly city bike, we wanted cushy tires, which is the whole reason we went with the Soma: it can fit 42mm Hetres when using 650B wheels. But even keeping it 700C, it can accept 35mm wide tires with fenders. Are you okay with getting a vintage mixte if it can only take narrow road tires? The Raleigh is a very different bike than the Creme. It's really intended as a road bike.

That thought had occurred to me too, Southpaw. And to be honest, that rusty headtube really bothers me. It's really, really rusty. The shipping, as it's coming from Europe, is sort of pricing that bike out for me, given the headtube and the probability of needing new wheels.

The Creme is running Schwalbe Roadcruisers, 700c x 35mm. Obviously, these fit with the fenders. :)

The stated geometries on the Creme are:
Geometry: S / M / L
Seat tube 445 / 485 / 550
Top tube 536 / 545.5 / 559
Chainstay 455
Head angle 69.5 / 69.5 / 69.5
Seat angle 73

Anyone know how this compares to my 21" Raleigh, which is in the shop for two weeks and therefore not measurable? I tried to find the measurements online, but didn't turn anything up that meant anything to me. Can someone who understands these things do me a quick comparison? I'd really like a sense of what all this means, not just numbers. Is the bike going to be similar in fit, or very different?

This would be nice to fix up http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/2344044359.html

If that Creme comes with Schwalbe 35mm tires, that's a pretty good deal. Do they state the weight of the bike? It's beginning to look like a very good deal, indeed. The head angle is awfully lax, and I wonder how that will affect its front-loading ability (might really negatively impact it). But this is all speculation.

The Creme Cycle weighs 33lbs, roughly, with the optional cell phone charger (which I am NOT buying) but without the rack, which I am buying. So my guess is about 33lbs. Not light, certainly, but I bet the Raleigh currently way outweighs it. Once the rims are switched out, though, I bet the Raleigh will give the Creme a run for its money on weight, though I think the Creme would still be a bit lighter. I don't intend to haul tables like Daveyates, though you never know. My intention is to perhaps throw a bag or two on it. I would certainly want a rear rack, eventually. There are braze-ons for that, I see. And a bottle dyno. That's all I would add.

snarky I think that Super Course Mixte is a nice starting point. The first bike I really tarted up was a super course and I think they're real classy and ride better than their frame materials might suggest. I think you'd have no problem keeping it under 30 pounds. Plus that's Carlton badged which means it gets extra cool points as a Raleigh.

The wheels are Aluminum rims, as are the Normandy High Flange hubs.

I would not be concerned about the head tube...just a little patina.

Converting something like that into something similar to the Creme bike wouldn't take much. You've already got the majority of it and you'll need to come up with the Internal Gear hub Rear wheel (you can use the existing front) and its shifter, some fresh brake cables and a nicer saddle and a rack...and maybe some new grips if you don't dig the white plastic.

The existing crankset can be used with an IGH by just removing the extraneous chainring.

You could even recoup some of your money by selling the retrofriction DT shifters, and the derailleurs.

:lol:


Snarky, the Supercourse Mixte is no way so rare or special that it would justify getting it shipped from Hungary. I've seen at least one on CL here, and someone just recently ran a thread here about his. And there are plenty of other nice mixte style bikes around that might well fill your bill, with some work and creativity, for a lot less money than the Creme.

That Univega cited above could be a good starting place. Assuming it's not bent or rusted, $150 is a nice deal, and you could ride it as-is to test out the size and general suitability, then start looking at an IGH setup and other changes you might want to make. If it doesn't work out, sell it for what you paid for it and try something else.

It is really a shame you cannot do the work yourself, and that your husband's (?) talents and interests lie elsewhere. Fiddling with bikes is quite absorbing; maddening at times too, but you can just walk away from it when needed. If I was local up there I'd offer to work with you on such a project, payment in beer or in trade towards that amazing purple Panasonic. ;)

fify

To be honest i think $800 seems a lot to spend on a mixte but if you can't do the work yourself and are relying on a LBS to do the work then new or old your bike will be expensive. Why are you looking at internal gears instead of a derailleur? If you stick with a derailleured bike then you just need to find a nice pristine vintage one with 10 gears and you are done. I think if you can keep away from adding different gearing system and wheels and labour costs you should find one for a keen price.
I saw this claud butler mixte on another forum and wanted to buy it but he had just sold the frame only , for 60 euros!
It is full Reynolds 531 as well.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=199677

Okay, now I've got choice overload!

I like the Creme. I like the Super Course. I like the others I've been PMed about. I like them all! Aagggh!

If I'm going to get something, I'd like it to be special, in the way the Panasonic is. Univegas are a dime a dozen here.

I'm going to think about this. Please don't offer me any more options, because I can't consider any more, or I'll go crazy :). However, comments on the ones already offered are great. I have one more offer I've been PMed that I'm considering seriously, on a pretty vintage Peugeot mixte. Thoughts on a 70's Peugeot are fine, as well. It's in great condition.

I don't want to wait for something else to show up on CL. Seattle is a hot bike market, and mixtes are popular here. I want to buy a bike, not wait for the best mythical deal on a bike I haven't seen yet.

$399.99 plus $209.00 shipping for the Super Course mixte? That's too much in my book.

yeah I didn't look at the shipping price....agreed. very expensive.

My problem with most mixtes (new and old) is they're all so freaking small. My wife has said she wants to try bicycling with me again but really wants a "woman's frame" which is a challenge because she's 6'. She bought a x-mart schwinn mountain bike before we married and hates to ride it because it's too small (and just sucks). She's said she'll wait to get a new one until I build her one, but I'd like to get her something she could ride without breaking the bank. Right now it's on the back burner as we have a 2 month old that we really couldn't take with us on our bikes, but every time I go looking they're all just so small. That Creme is just about the biggest step through (or is it a true mixte?) at 55 cm.

Actually, does anyone know how I'd size her? I don't know how sizing for upright bikes goes (just that my 22.5" drop bar bike is way too small for me at 6'2, but that's apples to oranges).

Technically, a radially laced front wheel will be stiffer and less prone to side flex. Whether you would notice it or not is debatable. I noticed a difference on a road bike, especially when mashing a climb. The wheel stopped rubbing the brake pads on the power stroke :).

In this case, probably done as a cost consideration - my guess is that they are cheaper to mass-produce.

Linus also makes it in 8 Speed:

http://www.linusbike.com/models/mixte-8/

So the Dutch Bike LBS could order one for you...