riva

Wow some way cool stuff in this old thread.. mini ironman? If anybody is looking for something affordable and really small.. there are 24" wheel mixtes around from the 80's Japan/Taiwan makers. Kind of heavy but great looks and you can lighten them up with improved parts. Great way to go on a tight budget. A couple weeks ago picked up a 24" wheel Centurion for $40.

velofinds

Glad to see new life being breathed into my old thread. For anyone who is curious, this is what we ended up getting -- a Peugeot 24" (girl's) Mixte:



Here it is as bought:



It fits the rider pretty much perfectly. Small frame 700c bikes ended up being too big, and I have a feeling a 650c bike would have been as well. 26" I'm not so sure and I continue to keep an eye out for any interesting 26" step-through frames (Colnago Donna? Herse or Singer Mixte? One can dream) to this day.

noglider 

@leegf, is that an IGH? Tell us more.

crank_addict

Spotted on fleabay but well worthy for show on this thread.

1982 Rossin Junior Road Bike 47cm / Columbus?? / Fiamme Red 650c / Campy NR + Cinelli + pantograph

redcaymatt

Hi, From what I read, they were (are) brothers. I don't know for sure.

velofinds

Hi Tom- no, just a single-speed.
@crank_addict, that is spectacular! I am in love.

Falcon3

There's a 80's Trek 520 touring in a 48cm on my local CL if youre looking for something like that.
https://spokane.craigslist.org/bik/5383800351.html

wide45

Just before Christmas I found a 20" Terry Symmetry with 650C wheels locally on CL. 631 butted steel with 9 speed Tiagra triple at a very nice price.

GF is 5'4" and likes it a lot.

velofinds

650c front and rear or just front?

Scooper

According to Sheldon's website the 20" Terry Symmetry has 650c front and rear.

noglider 

Surly makes some models with 26" wheels, and I think that means 559mm (MTB size). But that's not vintage. My 5'0" friend has a LHT like that.

RobbieTunes

The Symmetry is one approach by Terry. I still prefer the 700c/520c Terry design.
Full speed at the rear wheel, so to speak.
There is one on CL in VA for $100.
It has 1050 components, which are good.
It can easily be upgraded to modern stuff, which is good.
And it's an Ironman, which is better than dinner and a movie.

T-Mar

In the later 1980s, extra small frames became very popular due to the number of females participating in triathlon. Available bicycles 45cm or smaller , using a 700C/24" wheel combination included;

Raleigh Marathon (17")
Fuji 450SE (45cm)
Panasonic DX2400 (16.5")
Bianchi SX (17.5")
Shogun Samaurai (43cm)
Bridgestone 550 (45cm)
Novara Trionfo (17")
Lotus Elite (44cm)
KHS Triathlete Pro (17")
Stirling Custom Starland (16")
Terry Precision SS Series(16")
Serotta Petite Series |(44cm)
Marinoni Petite (43 cm)

Small 700C bicycles included:

Lotus Excelle (17")
Palto Alto 600 (44cm)

velofinds

@T-Mar, excellent post! Thanks.

noglider 

I agree that the original Terry design and the Centurion copy are excellent. My ex-wife had one of the first Terrys. (In fact, she probably still has it and probably still never rides it.) I flipped one of the Centurions. Before I sold it, my daughter fell in love with it, and she was sad when I sold it. Next time I saw one, I alerted her, and she bought it. Then she faced the fact that it's too small for her, as she's 5'5" tall. But oh! Her girlfriend is 5'0" so she is now the proud owner of a Terry-inspired Centurion Ironman!

Libertiness

Bless all of you with your pertinent advice! I found this old but handy thread while trying to evaluate older mixtes and step throughs on Craigslist & Ebay. As a 5' female, this is ever so helpful.

I am currently on the hunt for something a bit more classic than my steel-frame 80s Huffy step through. Don't get me wrong, the affordable ride is valuable in its own way and thank heavens the right size. But it would be nice to find something more classic and less in need of tinkering.

Barabaika

Like this? https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...lee-mixte.html

bargainguy

Years ago, I refurb'd this Miyata Pavea 55. Small frame 650c wheel bike with a triple crank - a well thought out component selection. Sweet ride.

top506

There's a decent Miyata Sport mixte out in the barn. Reall small, and full of C&V oddities like Shimano FFS. Could use new rubber all around. Yours for shipping.

Top

Libertiness

Ohhhh tempting. I have to ask - what is your opinion of the Shimano FFS? There's quite the debate on the forums over that system and I do not have any personal experience with one.

Libertiness

So petite and delightful! Also in superb shape with a number of quality components! Lucky lady!

fietsbob

+1) Terry,

She used a 24" front wheel to fit little women, big wheel in back for the gearing offered then.


...

ollo_ollo

Not mentioned yet is FELT which made a 44cm frame for some years, don't know if still made, but I have seen a few in the wild around the Pacific NW.

Schwinn also made several 24" road bikes over the years, but I think they all had "Hi Tension", mild steel frames and often chrome plated steel wheels. Still could easily put 24", alloy wheels on them for a low priced, small ride.

2 of my grand daughters are petite and a factor not mentioned is standard brake lever size vs small hands. Some of the Terry bikes do have smaller levers, (and shorter crank arms) but I have also seen them with full sized levers, so just something else to be aware of. Don edit: still avail in aluminum frame down to 43cm or 47cm...
https://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2016...VRW/VR60W.aspx

bargainguy

My advice on FFS - don't get involved with it.

Sheldon Brown called FFS "a solution in search of a problem." Found mostly on low-end bikes. Shifting while coasting is not something I need or want in a bike. If you also want a relatively light bike, look elsewhere, as this is not exactly a lightweight group.

brianinc-ville

There's another thread with a 24"-wheel Peugeot mixte right now...it's very nice! https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...lee-mixte.html