Convertable??
 

the depths of my parents garage holds this bike (and other pieces of crap).
it's a bit small for me, but it's pink, and I'm semi-obsessed with that frame style.
does it look like it has any potential? I've never converted anything, or built anything for that matter. if I can't convert it, think it's worth fixing up with gears? could be the perfect (ok, not perfect) SKIRT BIKE, fixed gear or not (for some reason the idea of having a bike to ride specifically when I'm wearing a skirt appeals to me).
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...6108QbOXDJy2bW
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...6108QbOXDJy2bW

so, any suggestions?
anyone know anything about the frame/parts?
it's a Univega Safari 10. a quick google search shows up a couple forum ?s without answers, and a converted mens one on FGG.

also, this too was in the garage:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...6108QbOXDJy2bW

looks like a cheapy bike boom mixte
the crankset might be a pain, if you wanted to reuse it

but no reason you can't convert either of those..

the second one (nishiki ?) is probably higher quality

yeah, that bottom one is a nishiki. I know it's probably better than the Univega, but I just love that pink drop frame.

I don't mind not reusing the crankset. whatever I do with it will probably be with cheap/free parts from the bike co-op.

I should add that neither bike, especially the pink one, is in good shape at all. the drivetrain on the pink one barely moves.

i would totally use the mixte frame any way you can. here's my wife's:

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...otobecane1.jpg

(it now has a different wheelset, different pedals, and the grips were moved to the inside with black tape going up the horns, and a bar end lever. but that's the jam!)

it's her favorite bike.


you too can have a bike this hawt!

at the very least, make it a SS. cheaper.

sweet bike!
I'm definitely gonna do something with that thing. SS/FG/flip flop...I don't want to mess around with gears.
probably won't end up being my favorite bike seeing as it's a bit small for me, but might make a sweet skirt cruiser.
and now to figure out exactly how to do that somethting to that thing...

I love mixte's! I had a turqoise and white Univega that I rode until I got my newer bikes. It was a tad too small but I loved the unique frame design. I ended up giving it to my gf's mom but I would totally convert it to fixed gear if I still had it. I don't see why you'd have any issues with that pink one. What's it made out of? Chromoly or Hi-Ten?

I have no idea what it's made out of. probably can find out not too hard tho.

ps to blickblocks: ride tomorrow evening maybe? and/or maybe you can check out the frame if you want.

that's....


the fun part.

Sure! A couple of friends are coming over now to play drunken monopoly, we were supposed to go on a bike ride but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. I'll call you tomorrow.

I know!

sweet!

My ideal build list for that frame:
-IRO silver wheelset.
-IRO drivetrain.
-Gumwalls (a little on the fat side).
-Honjo fenders.
-Nitto B617.
-It's got rack mounts, so some sick racks.
-Brooks sprung saddle.
-Big, wheel generator powered, headlight.

CLASSY.

Fixte FTW?

ew. I hate that ****. "Town bike." Whatever.

I say keep it simple and sporty. Mavic/Formula wheelset, 23mm or 19mm tires, a fast looking saddle (keep it vegan!) and either the current bars or some nice bullhorns.

you wear skirts?

uh...yes.
is that weird?

no. It is not werid.

My girlfiend has a nice old raleigh that I want to do the exact same thing to. The wheels are knackered though so I am on the hunt for some cheap one. Will make it nice to ride as well with wheels that don't wobble. Do it and do it how you want town or sporty, if it's a second bike my vote would be town style, but it's not but do something with it.

haha, no. it seems like none of the girls I know wear skirts.

I'll have to check out some of those parts you guys suggested. I don't think I want a total townie, but we'll see. I'm still new at this, so should be interesting...

you've only seen me on bike rides, so of course I wasn't wearing skirts. but yeah, I wear them a lot.

I actually inherited that same Univega from my grandmother, only it's brown/tan. I think I may convert it to a SS for my lady friend. As it is now, it's heavy as all hell. Love the pink, btw.

My current conversion is the men's version of the bike, and works great. My girl and I could actually have matching bikes! Thanks Grandma!

it will work just fine take all the gears cables and derrailers off the cranset should be fine they look like old sugino maxys since your probably just starting out keep the front brake set up chang ethe saddle it looks like it could kill the female bits
other then that you may need a new bb and you might need to rebuild the old headset ont he bike it looks like it is probably old tange or suntour which most of those buggers are

good luck take care

ok, so I'm getting ready to load this thing up to take back to Philly and I have a question.
I started taking it apart and am wondering what to do with the wheels. the wheels that were on it were steel, so I took the aluminum front wheel off the Nishiki and will bring that.
now, about the rear wheel: I could take:
a)the 5-cog cassette steel thing the bike came with
b)the 6-cog cassette aluminum wheel from the Nishiki
c)nothing cus if I convert it I'll need a new wheel anyway

suggestions??

I know you said you're only used to FG but it would be super easy to throw the aluminum wheels from the Nishiki on the Univega and switch the freewheel cluster (not a cassette!) to a single freewheel, and just run it like that. If you're set on FG, get nice wheels and put your current fg wheelset on the Univega!

By the way, what are you doing with the Nishiki? And how'd your tattoo come out??

oops forgive my cassette/cluster confusion.

I think I'm gonna leave both rear wheels at home and find another wheel in Philly, be is used or new. Car is getting full!

Nishiki is staying here (for now). it's way small for me, so I don't think I have a need for it, but maybe some other time. or maybe you want to make it your project :-P

tattoo came out awesome (check it out in the "show and tell your ink" thread).
massive bruises are turning massive colors.
hope you're healing well.

resurrecting this thread because the mixte is finally in pieces and ready to get fixed up.
sooo, questions!

color??
1) get it powder coated (better quality but costs $)
2) paint it myself (never painted a bike before, but I'm assuming some sort of auto spray paint will do the job, tho I'm unsure of my skill at doing this)
if I do (1) or (2) I think I'll go for a lime green
3) some people seem to think the current color/decals are pretty cool (the name "safari 10," the AAA safety check sticker, the Shaker Heights, Ohio bike license...) and suggested I get the paint matched and just touch it up (with a brush, I guess) then clear coat it. again, unsure of my skill at this.

parts/wheels??
-I think I can handle most of the parts I need (will need stem, bars, possibly seatpost if I can find a longer one that fits, saddle, chain, etc), but I'm unsure what to do about wheels.
it's gonna be a single speed cruiser. do I get something with a flip flop hub and just use the freewheel side? any brand/retailer recommendations?

thanks!

Rocking, for sure.

BTW, there is a Mixte thread in Vintage, check it out. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ighlight=mixte

I'm totally trying to get one together for the wife, rocking townie ss.

My suggestion is to try to score a decent used alloy wheeset, and use a bmx freewheel. Or, there's a formula/sun wheelset on the cheap that'll look pretty good.