shrtdstncrdr

Ok. So I bought a Bianchi Astrale for my daughter some years back. A factory original right down to the wax paper/string covers on the seat springs. She's not into that bike preferring one she won a few years ago. She's happy, I'm happy. Except I still have a pretty nice old machine in the shed. It just needs a little updating for safety reasons (rims, cables and brakes) and adjustment.

I'm not a big guy. My wife and son are taller than I am. The Mixte fits me.

The other day I was in my shed and took a long look at that bike. The two top rails running from the handlebar to the rear axle would be a good platform for a touring bag. One which could hold quite a bit. Better, it would sit midship rather than fore or aft the frame. Plus, with two bars making the base for a carry bag, rather than the single top tube of a traditional womens' bicycle, it almost seems like the design was meant for mounting a touring style bag [there].

Is there something off with my line of thinking? The mixte frame seems like the right design to give extra touring carry capacity without adding weird balance issues.

Harv

elcruxio

What kind of bag are your going to mount there? basically a frame bag is the only thing I can see working since everything else will interfere with your pedaling.

shrtdstncrdr

There are lots of travel cases which I think could be made to fit between the rails, or even a small bit wider. The advantage would be the length of the bag being able to fit much more into it and the strength of the rails being able to support that extra size and weight. It would be possible to use more than one bag if the user wished. Water bottles could be mounted forward of the bag too, maybe. So long as they were outside the pedal stroke of the rider.

rex615

Does it look like this?

Tourist in MSN

For the size frame bag that you could use on most mixte frames, if that is the only bag you planned to carry you can't carry much. If it was me I would use a rack that clamps to the seatpost and then a racktop bag on that. That is what I use on my foldup bike.

I picked up a mixte frame that a neighbor put in the trash a few years ago. I think it had less than a couple hundred miles on it, but was 1980s vintage with a six speed freewheel. The age is probably why it was discarded. Works great on my trainer for exercise indoors. But, I needed to buy a much taller seatpost for it.

Squeezebox

Any chance an LHT or something similar wound be within your budget?

TomPalmer

The concern with a touring mixte is frame flexibility. If loaded heavy the handling could get squirely or maybe front end shimmy. Try it and see. Many bikes that some consider "too light" are great tourers. If the bike is comfortable for you, that is the key.
Go for it, you already have the bike.
Tom Palmer
Twin Lake MI

Happy Feet

Here's an old thread where I asked a similar question:

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/10...e-touring.html

shrtdstncrdr

Rex615, yes that's it. But without the fenders, chain guard, light or color. The one I have is blue. Other than that, it's the same bike.

Happy', good thread. Thanks, I read through it. I may just update the rims and such and be done with it. It would have to near perfect to be a successful build.

Thanks everyone

Harv

mstateglfr 

Yes, instead of a bike he already has and spending $200 or less to get it up to he wants, he should instead spend $1300 on a whim.
Brilliant.**



** = sarcasterisks

fietsbob

get a frame bag sewn if you want the space for stuff in the frame.

saddlesores

don't you mean an inferior steel whim?

Happy Feet

Why even suggest such a low quality bike? The only good thing is that you can get them welded anywhere.

Teamdarb

I do. But use it for all types of touring. Here it is converted from 27 to 26. Makes for a sweet low trail slug.

87 Bridgestone 300 Sport touring. Recently swapped the fork to less trail.

Teamdarb

Last weekend's trip to southern Florida, converted back to 27s.
Also, the Revelate Tangle fits well! Mine is a 19.5" frame.

Teamdarb

This is from last year on 26". Rode from Florida to Richmond for the World Bicycle race then to DC for the Pope.


I, also, have road race set up with 650s and aerobars. Sometimes I toss on 700x42 to get that extra distance advantage. These bikes are adaptable and soak up the bumps. If you learn to bind the frame up, it will shoot you out of a corner like a rubber band.

rex615

Sounds like a versatile bike.

Could you please explain what "to bind the frame up" means.

Happy Feet

Nice bike teamdarb!

shrtdstncrdr

Yes! I also would like to know what this binding is of which you speak.

By the way, what bars are you using in post #16 ?

Thanks for all the great pics too!

Harv