Thanks to a garage sale and a $20 bill, I purchased an old miyata mixte
for my wife. It can be seen at:
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1331029
What I can tell about it:
1) model: 215 ST
2) frame: triple butted chrome-molly miyata tubes
3) fork: mangna-light manganese steel
4) drivetrain: Shimano 6 speed SIS w/ downtube shifters, 50-40-28
triple crank, 14-28 freewheel
5) wheels: 27", with original "Miyata" tires, labeled as radials
6) bars and levers: Randoneer style bars, Dia-Compe "suicide" brake
levers
7) brakes: Dia-Compe wide profile cantilevers
Anyone know anything of the history of this bike, maybe the model year
from whence it springs?
To make this suitable for my wife, my plan is as follows:
First, upgrade the entire brake system - new cantilever brakes
(Tektro Oryx), so that they are easier to set up and adjust (I don't
like brakes without centering screws), new brake levers (Shimano
Exage), giving better ergonomics, not to mention nice clean cable
routing, and new cables. Any ideas as to how to deal with the nasty
rear brake cable routing (as seen in
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/999127/miyata_6.jpg and
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/999127/miyata_7.jpg)? On thought
is to run a noodle from the seat tuube cable stop braze and over the
current pulley, but I am really open to suggestions.
Second, substitute some parts for a better fit and/or safety. The
current seatpost is a tad short, and heavily guaged from being moved up
and down with a twisting motion, so it will be replaced. I will also
replace the stem with one that has more extension, to better fit my
wife.
Anything else that I should be aware of or worry about?
Later,
Mark