Oh, the drama of bike lust!
I’ve said this before, but I’m looking for a solid bicycle that I can use for commuting. Not just any kind of commuter bike, but rather an upright model that looks beautiful, has at least eight gears, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. What is a young lady to do?
Quick walkthrough in case you need it: In contrast to the majority of bicycle frames, which have top tubes that are horizontal to the ground, the frame of a mixte road bike includes one or more top tubes that slope in a downhill direction (those are diamond frames). Mixtes have the benefit of being aesthetically pleasing and easy to mount because to their design. Because there is no need to bring your leg up and over the top of the frame, it might be referred to as a step-through frame.
Good Cyclist Should Know
The week before last, I had the opportunity to give an old step-through three-speed bicycle, which had been lovingly restored by a kind local resident. It looked beautiful and worked nicely, but just having three gears was not sufficient for the hills in Bozeman and for my ageing knees. Right away, I went for a test drive in a women’s Trek Allant. I fell in love with the comfort and the smooth-shifting, but the looks are just one small step away from the dated-looking comfort bikes that my parents (God bless ’em) are riding these days. I fell in love with the comfort and the smooth-shifting, but the looks are just one small step away from those dated-looking comfort bikes.
I don’t want to be you or anybody else; I want to be Audrey Hepburn. Check out that ride! I was going to mention Elmira Gulch, who was Dorothy’s witchy neighbour in The Wizard of Oz, but you beat me to it. Frame with a loop, as well as front and rear baskets In spite of the fact that she wasn’t into it, it’s very awesome.
After much too much time spent browsing the internet and swooning over various bicycles, I have once again come to the conclusion that I would want to convert a mixte frame into a commuter bicycle. After looking on Craigslist, I discovered an older Motobecane that seemed to have some potential. I just got an email from the owner informing me that she still has it, but she lives about an hour and a half away. I saw another one on eBay; it is a gorgeous colour, and it is in fantastic condition; but, I am not sure whether I have the guts to purchase a bike that I have never rode before.
My next obvious step in this socially networked environment was to tweet my yearning for what I could not have. After a few minutes had passed, I overheard someone mention that the Bike Kitchen located right here in town could have a couple of mixte frames. Is it possible? Would you believe it? Keep an eye out.
Other Mixtes That Make Me Swoon:
The color alone does me in. From Mixte Gallery.
Velouria’s beautiful makeover of an 80s Motobecane. From Lovely Bicycle!
NOTE: Here’s Wikipedia’s pronunciation guide for “mixte”: “A direct appropriation of the French word meaning ‘mixed’ or ‘unisex,’ ‘mixte’ is pronounced ‘MEExt’, although the usual North American bicycle industry pronunciation of this loan word is ‘MIX-ty’. Both pronunciations are widely used.”
