A beautiful mixte?

[bikinchris]

I have a customer who is asking about a Mixte frame for his bride.
So can you give me recommendations for a beautiful mixte frame? I know about most of the normal mixtes from Rivendell, SOMA etc. I am looking for something with lugs. I don't have an unlimited budget.

[Eric Estlund]

Not a problem.

[chancerider]

Waterford can make one.

Waterford - Custom Bicycles and Frames

[MisterDangerPants]

I recently posted this Sweetpea mixte in the Women Framebuilders thread. It was a big decade birthday present and she really still really digs it.

[AngryScientist]

I recently posted this Sweetpea mixte in the Women Framebuilders thread. It was a big decade birthday present and she really still really digs it.

Big +1 to this, that's a really sweet frame, IMO.

[false_aesthetic]

/\

Makes no difference to me but both Eric and Natalie were the first two people to come to mind.

[d_douglas]

Sycip did one for my lady - it turned out great, but was TIGd. Lugs are a whole other ball game on this type of frame. I think Rivendell for 'mass-produced' or if you want to go crazy, call Eric E - he's a mad scientist and would figure it all out for you!

It's a great gift, in my opinion ;)

DD

[CWinters]

Hello there,

If your customer is looking for a traditional mixte (=stays extending all the way to the rear dropouts) and he wants it to be fully lugged, there are not that many options. The lugsets are no longer made, so the builder would have to either find some NOS, make their own, or modify diamond frame lugs. Excluding builders with multi-year waitlists, some names of those willing/able to do this that come to mind are: Bilenky, MAP Cycles, and in your neck of the woods possibly Gregory Townsend. I know Belladonna Cycles made one recently. Great to know that Winter Bicycles can do it, too. I have a project of my own going in collaboration with Royal H. Cycles, but that bike will be very particular.

If the customer is flexible on the mixte definition, the Waterford example posted above is great, and Mercian Cycles in the UK make something similar (Miss Mercian).

Of course if lugs aren't an absolute must, then the options really open up, but you specifically stated lugs so I'll leave it at that.

[d_douglas]

Yeah, I specifically wanted the bi-tubed dropped TT going right to the dropouts, so I wanted the traditional look. The Waterford is nice, but the TT isn't my thing.

If I were to do it again, I'd call Eric. Another builder I contacted was Capricorn cycles - they could do it. Oh, I think it was TIGd though...

[Eric Estlund]

There are LOTS of variations on the step through- including the mixte. No wrong way to do it, but making sure what the customer is inclined for is really important. I have two step thoughts on the docket currently- one I would call a more French mixte style, the other an older English step through. That second set of stays does have some interesting considerations with modern drive trains, too.

Custom lugs are a lot of fun with this sort of project. They can take a unique bike that much further, either with a simple and refined shape, or something more dramatic.

[MisterDangerPants]

You could also pick up a 1960s/1970s Raleigh mixte. Those are super cool.

[Saab2000]

A buddy of mine got a Rivendell for his wife. The attention to detail on the construction and the build is amazing. Everything is right on it from the cable length to the fender installation to the tire labels. It is a perfect example of its kind. I have no idea of the cost of the bike but it is a fun machine.

[j44ke]

Yipsan makes a mixte. His sunflower bike won NAHBS a while back.

Fast Boy makes a nice one too. FAST BOY CYCLES | eunice's 650b mixte

[alexstar]

Waterford made a BEAUTIFUL step-through for a guy here in Alameda. I bet they'd do a Mixte for you.

[Gradient]

Spousal Unit is now saying that the old steel 14" mtb frame has got to go, or at least stay on the mag trainer. She wants something more elegant but "don't spend any money on it!". In my searches, I came across these, half of which have been suggested, here. At least a good catalog of design styles for a Mixte frame: Best Mixte Bikes: 2010 | VeloTraffic

I was interested in the velo organge, but they are now sold-out/discountinued.

[CWinters]

I have ridden all of the bikes featured in the VeloTraffic article except for the Masi. One thing I can say is that the mixte styling alone says nothing about how a bike will handle. Some of these are designed to handle distance and hills (the Riv, VO, Soma and Handsome), others are decidedly not.

Another brand coming out with a mixte is Pashley; they unveiled it at Interbike. Fully lugged, UK made, IGH. No idea how it handles yet.

[Vancouverdave]

I think I've seen a nice step-through Pereira, too.

[JoB]

maybe you can specify what 'not unlimited' means? That said/maybe besides the point, I have checked out the Mixtes on the Winter cycles web site and, oh my, nice.

As an another aside, I have lived in Copenhagen Denmark for the past two months now and by far the nicest mass-produced commuters are Specialized (Globe brand), Trek, and Batavus. Bikes are pretty much commodities here and I have not seen anything nice and custom.

I have a customer who is asking about a Mixte frame for his bride.
So can you give me recommendations for a beautiful mixte frame? I know about most of the normal mixtes from Rivendell, SOMA etc. I am looking for something with lugs. I don't have an unlimited budget.

[bikinchris]

Thanks for all of the comments. Some great suggestions and great bikes. It looks like in his budget, the Sweet Pea comes closest to what he likes and in his price range. Extra points for women making a womens bike in his wife's opinion.

But I will point him to this thread and see what he says.


Yes, a $2600 frame was out of the question.