Evans mixte 531 frame & fork, 50cm.

As it says, an FW Evans 531 mixte from the 80’s. Probably built by Dave Clarke. When I got this it needed a new down tube and a couple of minor repairs, and I also had the dropouts replaced with some nice cast Columbus ones, all done by Darren Barber at Phoenix Hotworks. It’s been rattlecanned for protection but obviously needs a complete respray. All threads are good and it comes with a budget headset. It’s for 700c wheels and caliper brakes (they originally came with Weinman centre-pulls, but long-drop Tektros will fit).

Size - ST = 50cm centre to top.
Effective top tube = 51cm c-c.

The repair cost £150 which was more than the frame cost (!) but it was meant for my wife - sadly it never got finished and she’s still on her Trek T10.

I’d like to get back the cost of repair, so £150 anyone? Or offers if I’m way out with pricing here. Collection in CR7 or can deliver within reason.

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@broken_777

Thanks for thinking of me but not keen on paying £150 for this turd lol
People are joking with prices lately

Sold a CB mixte 531 in 50cm on here for £35 a few weeks ago, just for reference...

Like I said, the repairs alone cost £150. The frame cost me £120 before I realised the DT had failed. What do you think it’s worth?

In this state I'd say £50, needs a respray and you can get a full mixte in 531 for less than this frame with work done will be costing you. Not best time and not best place at the moment. Stick it on Evilbay and let market decide...

Eek. I clearly paid way over the odds then, tho it was about three years ago. Oh well. Cheers for the heads up.

Hi do you know what the dropouts say? Also do you know anything about Dave clarke as a frame builder? Possibly interested. thanks. I think fw evans sometimes used holdsworth, roberts, Saracen or some other individual builder in the 80s.

Also do you know if this could be used for touring? Thanks

Dave Clark was the chief frame builder for Holdsworth in the 1980's.
It will be a nice frame, especially with the better rear dropouts.
Nice opportunity to add any extra brazeons you might want and have it painted in a colour of your choice.
Small mixte frames can be tricky to find,l wish I had seen Sergioldn's for £35.
In theory diamond frames are more stable if you are heavily loaded,in practice this will be fine for lightweight touring.
My daughters used a v.simiar Raleigh frame for many years to tour with us until they graduated to a standard frame and passed the mixte onto the next one.
Worth considering if you can pick it for less than £150.

Ok thanks I’ll think about it a bit more and let you know. I was thinking of getting this for a friend. Looks like a nice frame

Small mixte frames can be tricky to find

True, took me a while to find one for my mum.

Hiya

The dropouts are Columbus, I’ve not checked the fork ends. I’ll get some close-ups when I’m next at my garage.

As Mig says, Dave Clarke worked for Holdsworth but also build for FWE, Mosquito, On Yer Bike and Eclipse (Bike UK) who were all London bike shops back in the 80’s and early 90’s. I had a late 80’s Eclipse mountainbike build by him, a Canyon LTD.

Could it be used for touring? I don’t see why not. A mixte frame isn’t going to be as rigid as a diamond but as long as it’s not overloaded it should be fine. The Evans bikes were sold as tourers but they all seemed to be used for commuting.

One of the reasons I didn’t get it painted was that I thought a new owner might want to get v-brake bosses brazed on (also they might not want the colour I chose) - it was going to be a city bike for my wife so caliper brakes were fine.

I know this is an old thread but if it's still available, I'd offer 40 quid to purchase it. I wish bike frames would be worth more in the market especially taking into account the cost of repairs. I guess that's a failure of the market. Usually frames are worth the repairs if they are built by a famous builder and you have proof of it like a roberts cycles mtb frame. Or if the frame has very fancy lugs like old claud butlers. Do you know what the frame number is? thanks