I started this blog to show off the steel frame single-speed/fixie bikes I built or converted. Back then I could actually turn the flip/flop hub wheel around and ride them as fixed gear bikes.

I enjoy riding and building one-gear bikes so much that I kept on building them even after I had plenty, selling or donating the surplus.

I built this ‘Chicago’ Schwinn World, from Taiwan, single-speed conversion for my neighbor and pal Ted, and recently got it back along with a 1970s Peugeot I’d also converted and sold him.

In exchange for a nice, hardly used Sony keyboard. By my estimate keyboards are 375% harder to learn to play badly than learning to badly play a bass guitar.

This 1973 ‘Mixte’ frame style steel Peugeot I also built from the flea market frame up using quality components. Wheels and tires are modern 700C with reflective sidewalls.

Shimano 600 crankset and chainring, top of the line.

The Mixte frame was, I believe, an attempt to make a universal step-through frame for men, woman and children. It’s a taller reach than a ‘girl’s bike’ parallel tube frame but shorter than the ‘men’s bike’ horizontal top tube.

The whole idea was obsoleted when nearly all bikes adopted slanted down top tubes like the Mixte, albeit without the 3rd tube in back. Still, it was a different look and it does ease mounting and dismounting, besides looking cool.

Besides the Takara, my other bike is also a single-speed, a 1980s red Peugeot, so I don’t really need a 3rd or 4th single-speed. But after riding the Schwinn World I like it too much to sell it. Lightweight and a good fit.

The white Peugeot Mixte frame is a tad bit short for me, and a bit heavier because of the extra tube. But I can’t yet bring myself to put this 1970s beauty back on Craigslist or to donate it.

There’s just something sexy about French bikes. So I’ll keep it hanging in my garage and admire it a bit longer. No hurry.

Unless noted, all text and images by todgermanica.com.