Gallery

	Click on the thumbnail to see the bigger picture Project Mixte 2007 Mixte 01 Here’s the donor bike, looking as sad as the moment I found it. Time to take the lamb to the slaughter!
	Mixte 02 Stripped down the frame was still very straight. It easy to see why these frames are so versatile for custom bike options.
	Mixte 03 An old clothes rail was part of the plan, with similar sized tubing to the frame and some useful curved sections.
	Mixte 04 After a serious hacking, the original frame consisted of just the twin crossbars and the seat (down) tube. I used some old front forks for the rear. I decided against the original ones that came with the Mixte as I had this pair of old Reynolds 531 touring forks which had a nicer long curve to them and would give the bike a lower profile. The castors where still attached from the clothes rail at this stage. I considered leaving them on to make up into some other feature, but decided that it was time to go and have a lie down!!

	Mixte 05 The bike roughly mocked up prior to final welding stages
	Mixte 06 And a working mock up prior to paint
	Mixte 07 The finished article. The paint is red flake over black which was done brilliantly by Phil Gay at Autocraft in Hull for the cost of one very nice Schwinn Cruiser . The seat was made from the foot rest (base) of an old scooter and appears to be made out of some form of resin. I shaped and glued a piece of stainless steel over the top and bolted through with some shiny coach bolts. It’s not as uncomfortable as you might think. I needed to add the rear mech parts to avoid the chain hitting the frame. The handlebars where from a cycle jumble and are from a Mk3 Raleigh Chopper. This project was all about keeping it cheap and re-using parts I had or could find. It cost me around £40 to complete (not including the paintwork, which Phil said should have cost around £95). Hope you like it!!