I'd like to build a nice step through for my significant other. She is not doing huge distances, but rides very regularly for short commutes and errands. Ideally I'd like to use a belt drive with IGH and nice mechanical disc brakes. This means having to mod an existing frame most likely.

Candidates:

Riv Clem Smith "L": https://www.rivbike.com/products/cle...style-frameset
Nicest looking, and lowest step through. But built to haul load, which could mean stiffer/heavier than needed. Also expensive.

Soma Buena Vista: Buena Vista Frame Set | SOMA Fabrications
This has light and supple Tange Prestige tubing, but the classic mixte style doesn't really do it for me.

New Albion Starling: Starling (Frame/Fork) ? New Albion Cycles
This could be a compromise. Not very expensive too, so the money can be spent on the frame mods.

Vintage Mixte: same as Buena Vista, but heavier.

Custom: this would really stretch the budget, and I'm not sure all the custom builders can achieve the curvy look on the main tubes that make the Riv look oh so swish.

I would highly recommend NOT trying to modify a frame to take disc brakes. That's asking for trouble. Is your SO ever riding in the rain? For short, fair weather commutes and errands, disc brakes really are a novelty only. Rim brakes will be more than adequate.

There are a number of bikes in this list that meet your specs, but I'm not sure if you would be able to get some of these, depending on your location.

A Complete List of Womens Touring Bikes: Step Through & Mixte - CyclingAbout

Have you considered the SLADDA? It already has a unisex frame, has disc brakes and an uncomplicated gearing setup and is well within your budget.

I second the Ikea bike.

Since most of your braking comes from the front brake, you could opt for a disc brake up front and a rim brake in back, or get an IGH with a drum brake. That way, you don't have to modify a frame, just find an appropriate disc compatible fork. I don't have any experience with belt drives, so I can't comment on them.

As it happens, I just completed a build for my S.O. by modernizing a vintage mixte. I did a write-up here (it's the second bike in the post):

ROAM: Winter Projects

Yup. Give her a box of bike parts and vague instructions. No test ride. She'll love it! Now, back to the real world. Try out your local bike shop (or LBS, if you prefer acronyms).

Should be easy to assemble with basic tools. If you aren't mechanically inclined, have the Ikea bike shipped to your LBS and a mechanic will build it - for a fee. Still tons better than WallyWorld junk.

Why would she do it? The OP would be doing it. Sounds like the OP is more keen on the idea than his DW.

Maybe, but just a hint . . . involve your DW* in the decision from the start. Otherwise, I can see this going south in a hurry. Go shopping at a store and have your DW* try out some bikes.

*Don't even want to guess at that one

+1 on this.

I like the look of the vintage twin-tube mixtes, or the Soma Buena Vista, and I'd love to build one up for my wife, but when I asked her what she thought, she said they looked stupid.

So, glad I asked before I spent a bunch of $$$ for something she would never ride.

DW=Dear Wife.

Yeah, I know. My own DW has a 1980's Miele mixte with crappy side-pull single-pivot brakes, heavy wheels and a seat that's just about to crumble into pieces. I keep offering to get her a new/upgraded/'better' bike. She refuses.

All these bikes seem to have regular chains, not belt drive.

Unless you just want to replace a front fork with one that accepts disk brakes, I'm skeptical of modifying the frame. If you have experience and enjoy making frames you can modify it yourself; otherwise I think you will get a better and cheaper frame buying one built belt drive. (From your comment on her riding, I don't know if this is important to her, or to you.)

Thanks everyone. Good points about frame mods, but off the peg frames that are not of the tank city bike variety and meet the requirements seem to be few and far between.

We live in a rainy climate, and there's lots of salt in winter. The chain goes dry and corrodes quickly, and there's always some road muck on the rims that causes poor braking. IGH+Belt and disc should keep the maintenance low. Personally I find the BB7 to modulate very well, and you get a bit of braking with very little input. That should be good for her. Maybe I'll get her a Spyre or a Paul's. Front disc + rear drum might be a possibility.

PS: Yes she is closely involved in speccing out the bike. Seems there are no decent mid-range step throughs available (nice frame in the mid-high 3 figure range + good parts). If you go custom, you're in the middle 4 figures range quickly.

PPS: She is actually better at Ikea than me. I'm not huuge with instructions. Maybe that's why I have a basement compartment full of spare parts I'll never use.

Velo Orange posted on their blog a while back that they are thinking about doing a mixte version of the Polyvalent with disc brakes. If they do, I'll be all over it.

Modifying a frame for disc brakes is the least of the issues. If you want a belt drive you have to have a removable chain or seat stay of some sort to install the 1 piece belt. It also needs a horizontal dropout to allow adjustment. Unless you want to spend a bunch of money on that type of frame modification it is best to buy a belt specific frame if you want a belt drive. None of the frames shown are belt compatible.

Another thing to think about: You didn't mention what kind of IGH you want to use. If it's a Rohloff combined with a belt drive, I think Rohloff has some fairly exacting standards as far as frame specifications that it requires for the hub to be used with a belt drive, or they won't warranty it. I think Rohloff has a list of approved frames, but custom builders have to check with them to make sure their frames meet the requirements. Splitting a seat stay on an existing bike will likely not be approved, I'm guessing.

My wife was involved with her bike choice, but we ended up getting one from BikesDirect, I put it together myself, and shortly thereafter replaced the POS crankset and horrid brake pads that it came with. She doesn't ride much, but when she does ride, she enjoys the bike.

Here is what I went through while considering a mixte for myself a few years ago. I ended up with a Soma Buena Vista using a Nuvinci N360 drivetrain. It makes a great commuter with a VO Porteur rack and hammered fenders. I used 650b wheels to fit 35-40mm tires and ride it year round here in Michigan.



Marc

My son has a new Albion privateer with the tange infinity tubing. You could do much worse in the frame department. I also think caliper brakes are fine. I ride year round with them. A set of dual pivots will stop harder than your tires can deal with in the rain anyway. The extra stopping power of the disc is waisted in my opinion.

Yeah I'm actually heavily pondering a Starling for the missus, and a Homebrew for myself.

Has anyone found a website with frame/complete prices for New Albion?

It's a sub-brand of Soma: New Albion Privateer Frame

I don't think they have a specific fork for it; just use one of the other Soma forks.

Thanks!

Hi! I helped my daughter, then age 11, to choose a mixte bike off Craigslist. I offered to buy her a brand new bike of her own choosing, or I would help her fix up an older one. She chose option two. We found a small adult frame Centurion and cleaned it up, replacing: the bar, grips, bell, levers, tires and tubes, metal valve caps, cables and housings, bottle cage, pedals, saddle and rack. She is now nearly 14 and still commutes one mile to school most days with her bike, rain or shine. Her mixte is now just her "school bike" but gets a lot of use. She also has a newer mountain bike for adventure rides.

The mixte frame keeps her clothes clean. She didn't want "girlie". While the bike is ordinary, she is gorgeous riding it and it suits her.

I think your idea of the mixte frame for your significant other is a great one, based on our experience.

I'll attach a short walk around video of Samira's bike.