I think all the models you mention with extra seat stays going to the rear dropout are considered "actual" mixtes. (See Sheldon Brown <https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_m.html>*:.) I've always been curious about the etymology of this word as used to describe bicycles. In most translations, it is used in the sense of "unisex" or co-educational. Also dual purpose or hybrid, or combined. The English words "dual" , "twin" and "double" all translate as "double" in French. I guess you could translate it as a "mix of two steel tubes" but almost all uses of mixte, or the French phrase "structure mixte" refer to the mixing of two different things--concrete and cement, passengers and cargo, boys and girls. A cuisinière mixte can use two different fuels.
Years ago I came across a taxonomy chart of bicycle frame styles. I can no longer find it. But I do recall the mixte being defined as Sheldon does, the three seat stays, with two top tube variants, the single and double. A bike with the top tube angled toward the rear dropouts but with no extra seat stays was called, I believe, a Ladies Sport frame. Of course this definition would tend to negate the notion that "mixte" refers to a unisex coed style. So who knows. I'm going with "mixte' became a popular way for the public (mostly in France) to refer to this style of frame that could easily be ridden by both sexes, and that is what it became. But one known known is that a Clem L is a step through, and a mixte is not, anniversary edition or otherwise. Speaking of custom mixtes, Lovely Bicycle/aka Veloria/aka Constance's old Royal mixte <https://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Royal-H-Cycles-mixte-commuter-bicycle-650b-x-42mm-tire-53cm-seat-tube/153327419875> has been for sale on eBay for some time. Not a Leah approved colorway, however. Also different geo than a Rivendel mixte. Explained here: http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2010/11/mixte-vs-mixte-whats-difference.html * A style of lady's <https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_l.html#ladys> frame in which the "top tube <https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ta-o.html#toptube>" consists of a pair of small diameter tubes running more-or-less straight from the upper head lug <https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_l.html#lug>, past the seat tube <https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_sa-o.html#seattube>, and on to the rear fork ends <https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_e-f.html#forkend>. A mixte frame thus has 3 sets of rear stays, instead of the usual two. A variant on the mixte uses a single, full sized top tube running from the upper head tube to the seat tube, but retains the middle set of stays. A lady's type bike that lacks the middle pair of stays is not a mixte. On Monday, September 30, 2019 at 3:07:34 PM UTC-4, lconley wrote: > > What makes the Anniversary Mixte special is that it is an actual Mixte > with twin top tubes. As far as I know, this would be a first for a > non-custom Rivendell. I have a Betty Foy (now claimed by my wife - she > loves the hearts in the lugs and the paint), a Clementine, a Roscoe > Bubbe Medium Mountain Mixte, and am waiting on the Roscoe Baby and not one > of them is an actual Mixte. > formerly from Gainesville, FL, soon to be from Delray Beach, FL > > >>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/87323a32-61b6-42aa-a247-d7d43295eb63%40googlegroups.com.
