OT(ish): Is there such thing as a modern mixte touring bike?

[Scot Brooks]

As I've realized that my perfect Sam set-up is that of a basketted, every day city commuter and weekend day tourer, I've been thinking about a true camping/touring bike. An Atlantis is out of the budget and so is a Hunq, which is sad but true. I've found some great options that will fit the budget, and a couple that meet my requirements of tire clearance, low-rider-rackability, and 1" threaded fork. For those who are curious, the VO Polyvalent 700c "Campeur" and the ENE Ciclo Touring are at the top of the list.

In the spirit of keeping my mind open, I landed on the idea of a camping mixte. Does such a thing exist with stout-ish tubing, room for 700x38 tires with fenders, cantilever brakes, and mounts for a low-rider front rack? If it doesn't, I propose that there is certainly room in the world for such a thing. I'd love to have one.

[William]

Is the Betty disqualified?  Keven tours the heck out of a Betty.  I'm seriously in the market for a Betty myself.  Too expensive?

[Scot Brooks]

Hey William,
The Betty WOULD be in the mix, being that it's an absolutely extraordinary bicycle, but my budget would be almost entirely tapped. That, combined with the fact that I don't think low rider racks work with the Riv braze-ons. Another consideration is that I really want to give some business to one of Seattle's local shops who have gone way above and beyond for me on a couple of occasions.

[Lee Chae]

The Soma Buena Vista has the eyelets needed for racks and fenders, and is touted as having sports touring geometry. $500 for frame and fork:

http://store.somafab.com/sobuvifrfo.html

Best,
Lee
SF, CA

On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 2:23 PM, Scot Brooks <scothi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey William,
The Betty WOULD be in the mix, being that it's an absolutely extraordinary bicycle, but my budget would be almost entirely tapped. That, combined with the fact that I don't think low rider racks work with the Riv braze-ons. Another consideration is that I really want to give some business to one of Seattle's local shops who have gone way above and beyond for me on a couple of occasions.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/4Pi5cTA2CdYJ.

To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[Scot Brooks]

Hi Lee,
I eliminated the Buena Vista for tire clearance (can only fit 700x28 with fenders), and for the 1.125" headtube. Otherwise you're right, it's a sweet frame.

[Lee Chae]

Sorry, Scott. My bad for not seeing your 38mm tire width requirement. Outside of the head tube and brake-type issues, I do think the Buena Vistas can handle 650Bs if cush is what you are after.

Best,
Lee
SF, CA

On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 2:36 PM, Scot Brooks <scothi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Lee,
I eliminated the Buena Vista for tire clearance (can only fit 700x28 with fenders), and for the 1.125" headtube. Otherwise you're right, it's a sweet frame.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/qYECJbEvL0EJ.

[Scot Brooks]

Good point on the 650b Lee. I'd love to go that route, but I'm restricted in that I already have a nice set of 700c wheels ready for the build. Other than that, tires, dyno headlamp, fenders, stem, cassette, and pedals are already in my possession. It makes it so I have to work backwards a bit.

[Lee Chae]

I hate when reality dashes my daydreaming :) Good luck on the hunt.

Lee

On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 2:50 PM, Scot Brooks <scothi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Good point on the 650b Lee. I'd love to go that route, but I'm restricted in that I already have a nice set of 700c wheels ready for the build. Other than that, tires, dyno headlamp, fenders, stem, cassette, and pedals are already in my possession. It makes it so I have to work backwards a bit.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/Pu9NRZKrdLoJ.

[Beth H]

The KHS Urban Xpress/Mixte will give you most of what you're looking for in a built-up complete bike, except the lowrider rack eyelets and the drop bars (but you can swap those in yourself later), including a Cr-MO frame, room for 37's (with fenders!) and sensble gearing -- for only a little more than the Soma Buena Vista frameset.

Cheers --Beth in pdx

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

2012 specs indicate it has lowrider bosses... but also a 1.125" headset. Its threaded. Are there shims or something that would allow a 22.2mm quill to work in there?

The picture I saw makes me *really* appreciate round straight tubes.

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean
who used to dream of a Betty but now dreams of a Brompton... and later a Betty

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

First, I think it's funny that you request suggestions for a "modern" bike with a 1" threaded steerer. Outside this little bubble, 1" threaded forks are obsolete. Even the 1-1/8" threadless that replaced 1" threaded is on the wane for non-steel bikes in 2012.

Second, I have suggested many times to my friends at Surly that they make a mixte version of the LHT. I think it would be a hit if offered as a complete bike in a fun color.

[Scot Brooks]

A mixte LHT, now that would be sweet. By the way, my use of "modern" was a little goofy. I just meant "currently in production". Most of my motivation for the 1" steerer is that I just love the look, the other part is that I have a spare Technomic hanging around.

[Rob H.]

I believe Velo Orange is starting to design another Mixte bike. If
it's anything like the last one, it'll have a 1" threaded headset,
132.5mm rear spacing, and of course be a Cr-Mo frame, possibly lugged
with the double top tube (not the same as the Rivendell 2TT!). I'm
hoping they just give it a matte black color like the first
Polyvalent. I think that would look very good with the orange
lettering.

[scott]

Handsome She-Devil. Wrong headset. And you dont need low-rider mounts
to use a low-rider rack. Clamp it. Origin8 has a sub 200 dollar mixte
frame and fork called the Mixer that shops can get.
ALso, if you don't want to spend much money at all, your local
craigslist probably has 50 old mixtes on there right now (depending on
where you live). Many Raleigh's, Motobecane's (both french and english
threaded so beware), and every once in a while an elusive Trek 420
Mixte. You will be able to sqeeze some decent rubber on there. I put
37 pasela's and fenders on an ex-girlfriend's motobecane. Just a
thought.

> > A mixte LHT, now that would be sweet. By the way, my use of "modern" was a little goofy. I just meant "currently in production". Most of my motivation for the 1" steerer is that I just love the look, the other part is that I have a spare Technomic hanging around.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Linda G]

I'll put in a good word for the Velo Orange Mixte,which was only
available for a short time a few years ago, but I read on their blog
that they are considering another production run. It takes 700 C
wheels, has lugs, 1" threaded headset, 3 front fork braze-ons and
good tire clearance. I don't know the largest tire it will fit with
fenders. I have 32's plus fenders with a fair amount of extra room. I
thought it was the best choice when compared to the Betty Foy and
Buena Vista . Price was comparable to Buena Vista. In keeping with the
subject matter of this list, I bought mostly Rivendell parts for it.