Wife bike build
04-01-12, 02:17 PM
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Wife bike build
My wife has an old Raleigh 3sp that is pretty tank-like, so I want to get her something lighter and better handling. A mixte frame would be cool if I can find one on CL that isn't going for trumped-up-it's-Spring prices.
I do have one alternative I'm curious about. I have a small sized Specialized Hard Rock in the garage. If I swap out the tires for wide roadies, will that give a pretty good ride? I haven't been on a mountain bike since college - can't even remember how they handle on the road.
I do have one alternative I'm curious about. I have a small sized Specialized Hard Rock in the garage. If I swap out the tires for wide roadies, will that give a pretty good ride? I haven't been on a mountain bike since college - can't even remember how they handle on the road.
04-01-12, 02:25 PM
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That sounds well worth trying at least as a short term solution while you look for a really nice mixte.
We have had several Hardrocks through the family. I have sold them, cleaned up, for as much as $140. One came to us with a nice 'city' setup including 1.5" tires which make it much more road-friendly.
I picked up a very beaten up Hardrock for $30, fixed and cleaned it up (half an hour with Scratch-X= double the value in looks) put Forte (Performance) 'Metro' 26 x 1.5s on, which were something like $10/ea on sale, and it felt very nice indeed. I was going to flip it but a family friend was looking for a bike so it went to her, and she has been using it as a commuter ever since.
We have had several Hardrocks through the family. I have sold them, cleaned up, for as much as $140. One came to us with a nice 'city' setup including 1.5" tires which make it much more road-friendly.
I picked up a very beaten up Hardrock for $30, fixed and cleaned it up (half an hour with Scratch-X= double the value in looks) put Forte (Performance) 'Metro' 26 x 1.5s on, which were something like $10/ea on sale, and it felt very nice indeed. I was going to flip it but a family friend was looking for a bike so it went to her, and she has been using it as a commuter ever since.
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04-01-12, 04:31 PM
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Try it and see if she likes it or not. My bride has an MTB, a Hybrid, a Raleigh Twenty and two Raleigh Colts. The Colts are her favorite. I am upgrading one of them to alloy rims and some other lighter parts to make it nicer riding bike.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
04-01-12, 05:47 PM
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My wife rode (when she rode) a Hard Rock for about 15 years. When we bought it, I immediately removed the knobby MTB tires and put some Specialized slicks on it (or maybe they're Avocets, it's downstairs in the apt bldg bike room). Anyway, she was quite happy with it, until I built her a Motobecane Grand Jubilee with Pasela 35s, befendered -- it's clearly lighter, and she hasn't ridden the HR since. She's even riding a Brooks B17 (I put on a new Special, but she talked me into letting her have my broken-in Standard).
04-01-12, 06:09 PM
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Search "mixte" on CL, there are several in and around Portland that look promising. Here's one of the more expensive ones:
https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/2906623338.html
https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/2906623338.html
04-01-12, 06:49 PM
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I have a blue Shogun mixte frame and fork that needs paint but would build up nice. Let me know if you're interested, I don't see myself getting to refurb it so I'd like to see it used
04-01-12, 07:21 PM
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There's a very nice red Miyata 110 mixte from the 80's on eBay now for $125 + $69 shipping:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Miya...item33740a74fd
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Miya...item33740a74fd
04-01-12, 08:21 PM
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That (Miyata) is one tall mixte-kind of rare I hear/is your wife tall?
04-02-12, 06:56 AM
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Thanks guys. Well, I didn't intend this as a trolling for mixte thread. I've seen some decent old Raleigh and Pugs around, but I really don't want to deal with either's (Raleigh or France) proprietary measures. Japanese or 80's+ will be the way to go.
CW - I forgot about that Grand Jubilee - you told me about that one. I guess part of the equation is that I really would rather work on a road bike than a mountain bike for her. I'll give a couple weeks to looking for road projects and if nothing turns up, get the HR moving. (also, about to finish a Grand Record for meeself, mwahah!)
It's good to know that the MTB w/slicks is a popular option though.
04-02-12, 07:12 AM
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Jebensch...we've had a few nicer Japanese mixtes on our CL lately...want me to send links? I remember one being a pretty sharp looking Fuji.
I'm a big believer in rigid MTBs with slicks as great town/utility city bikes...and even better with drops.
I'm a big believer in rigid MTBs with slicks as great town/utility city bikes...and even better with drops.
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