Buying a Raleigh mixte for day to day use

[Niki12]

Hello, I've already posted this in the bike buying section, and it was suggested I try soliciting here.
Repost below:

I'm looking for some advice on a bike I've found for sale locally, and whether it would be a good choice for me.

The bike is a Raleigh mixte, in a cool orange color (the most important part, clearly). The asking price is 150 Swiss Francs. A new cheap bike at wal-mart equivalent will cost me around 300, 400 for a version with battery operated lights/fenders, I'd prefer to get something with some personality anyway. The bike appears to be in very good condition, with the paint not chipped or anything. I haven't seen it in person, all I have is the image on the ad- which hopefully is included below.

I am 5 feet tall. So, I'm really short, and I'm only willing to buy a bike that will be comfortable for me to ride (this will be my main transportation/mostly-city bike). I live in an extremely flat town situated in a valley in the Alps (a somewhat humorous juxtaposition of really steep mountains surround, but no hilly terrain whatsoever where my day-to-day is)

So the first question is what kind of information would someone who knows something about bikes be able to tell me about this one? Raleigh I know is a well-respected brand. But based on looking at it, approximately how old is it? At that time, were the mixte frames from Raleigh being manufactured in a size that would accommodate my short stature (this is *really* what I'm trying to get at)? I wrote to the seller and included a link to epicycle explaining how to measure a mixte, so hopefully they will write back I will get concrete information. Based on the (hopefully) included picture, might this bicycle be small enough for me?

Then, assuming that is fine, how difficult would it be to upgrade various pieces. I know I could change those stupid grips with the finger ridges (I hate those). I'd like to add a dynamo hub, and lights- lights are required by law here for riding in the street, the dynamo hub is a nicety that I would very much like. If I eventually wanted to switch out things like the gearing, or the pedal apparatus (I think that's the "crankset", but I'm not an expert), or modernize the brakes would that be easy to find affordable parts for this bike?

In the reply I got on the bike buying section they said it makes a difference in terms on adaptability if the bike was made in Nottingham. If I go view the bike, how could I check this, and there special marks somewhere on the bike that would make it easy to tell?

Any other caveats, or special advices?

Thanks in advance

 

[Cycleops]

This Raleigh would almost certainly have been made in Nottingham, although some who is more knowledgable than me can help here. I would say it is probably from late seventies/early eighties at a guess, although I am no expert on Raleighs. It looks to be one from the budget end of the range with steel chainset and chromed metal rims. I am guessing that the bars may have been changed as it looks like originally it may have had drops. Can't tell from your pic how much use it may have had but looks in reasonable condition. Just so you are aware the brakes won't stop you in the wet! (Chrome rims) and not too well in the dry. You can get pads which should help out. As for changing the brakes it probably wouldn't help much. It would be possible to rebuild the wheel to accommodate a hub dynamo but might be costly.

The bike looks to be about a 20" frame so I don't know if this will be ok for you. Old bikes can be a money pit if the components are badly worn, unfortunately I can't see if the freewheel or chainset are worn from the pic without close ups. To check the head bearings hold the front brake on and push the bars back and forth to feel for any play. Check the spokes are tight and the rims run true. How much is 150 Swiss francs in euros say?

Could be a nice project but be prepared to spend a bit, and yes parts are no problem.

 

[Niki12]

Hmm, I'm not a fan of chrome rims. Would it be possible to swap out the wheels for new ones? I can get a new 28" front wheel with dynamo for 50-100 Francs (I imagine there is some kind of quality difference to justify the price points), would it be as easy as just swapping that out, or is there a secret incompatibility?

As far as the back wheel goes, could I ride around with new front and the old back wheel for a while? Even if it might look/feel a little strange, it wouldn't do any damage? And to replace that one I'd need to have someone move the gear apparatus to a new wheel? Or could I buy a new wheel with new bits at that time? I'd actually like something like a 3-speed internal hub, but it's not a deal breaker if I can't have that. It's 5 gears currently (not internal), which is fine, and as long as all the pieces work nicely could stay for a while.

The bike says it has been recently serviced and is in excellent condition (I've emailed the seller to ask them to measure the size, waiting to hear back). According to the ebicycles website that converts mixte frame to rider height 20" is about the upper limit of what might fit me. If I schedule a visit I'll obviously be able to figure out if it fits, but it's about an hour away by train, so I'm trying to figure out if it's worth the trip.

150 CHF is I dunno maybe €100 or so.

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate the advice on the headset. I'm trying to avoid buying something I'll regret, but I don't mind putting some money into a bike to get it nice. I'm hoping to keep total initial expenses under 500CHF, and preferably under 400.

 

[Cycleops]

I am only guessing the rims are chrome, plus they look like it from the photo and that is what a bike of this type would have had.

You could swap out just the front wheel for a 28" if you have enough clearance under the mudguards, somebody on here who has done that could probably advise. I am guessing you have 27" wheels there. When you come to change the rear you need one which takes a freewheel rather than a free hub, which most bikes have now. If you can only get a freehub wheel you will need a new cassette(gear block). You will find the derailleur gears work fine and are more efficient than a hub gear system.

If the head bearings are worn it's not a big or expensive task to replace. You also need to wiggle the cranks from side to side to check for wear in the bottom bracket. Again this is not too expensive to replace.

The seat looks to be at its lowest point so how about asking how tall the current rider is? It is possible to reverse the seat mount to lower the seat a little further. Ideally your leg should be straight when on the saddle with your foot on the pedal at its lowest point.

Good luck!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Nice looking bike!!

 

[uphillstruggler]

a bit off thread but I picked one of these up from the tip just as the guy was throwing it away - gave it to a mate who is in the process of refurbing it for his wife to use as a very capable pub bike

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

View attachment 43918
a bit off thread but I picked one of these up from the tip just as the guy was throwing it away - gave it to a mate who is in the process of refurbing it for his wife to use as a very capable pub bike

All we ever get at the tip here are 'Appalling Apollos' and their kind.