Classic & Vintage - anybody remember Mercier?

The nicest bike I ever owned was an old 10 speed Mercier. Considering the abuse it took,it wouldn't quit and was precision in motion.

I've been testing out some newer model road bikes over the past couple of weeks and the rides feel super hard when compared to the Mercier. I don't particularly care for it,which is why prefer MTBs.

How hard would it be to find a vintage Mercier and access parts for it? Are there any 3000 models around? I'd like to get back into road bikes,but without the hard ride.

Regards.

In 1972, one of my three Double Century partners rode a PX-10-like Mercier. If you cannot find a Mercier, consider a Peugeot, Motobecane, Gitane, etc. of comparable quality. One option is a Peugeot PR-10 or PKN-10, which you can probably find easily on eBay for less than 1/3 the price of a PX-10.

I know what you mean about today's road bikes, most of which are extremely stiff and designed for flat-out racing. That is one reason all of my road bikes are at least 20 years old! (The other is my Scottish DNA, which prevents me from replacing any possession which still serves me well.)

Nice to hear from you John. I actually preferred the Mercier over the Peugeots that were around during the early 1970's.

If you come across any links to vintage French bikes,please post them.

Regards.

Mercier still produces bikes, there was a write up
recently on Classic Rendezvous mail list of someone
who just ordered a new Mercier, very favourable.
There is good info on Mercier on Classic Rendezvous (http://www.classicrendezvous.com/main.htm). They also have a good classifieds
section (both for sale and wanted).
I'd also keep an eye out on ebay, there is always some
interesting stuff there.
Yes you can get components for an older french bike.
Sheldon Brown (at Harris Cyclery (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/hub.html) ) is a big purveyor of all things French.

Oh, yeah, welcome to the Forums hope you stick around.

Marty

Thanks for the warm welcome and the link Marty. It has a lot of useful info on French bikes.

I've seen the new Merciers on eBay,but am not sure if they're made in France like the vintage ones.

Regards.

Mercier is like Raleigh. Just a name. Now owned by some marketing company in China, where all their bikes are made. Sad end to a venerable old name. However, that doesn't make them bad bikes. Just not a hand-crafted European original. Some of the Raleighs I have seen recently seem to be pretty name. Even classy enough to have Campy components.

Funny to see this thread -- a Mercier just landed in my garage this weekend! Can anyone tell me anything about it? The usual French suspects -- Simplex, MAFAC, Normandy, Solida -- the chrome rims are Samir -- haven't heard of that one before. Seems like a low/mid level bike. I wish the bike that originally came with the saddle was there instead -- a Cinelli branded Unicantor suede (which has seen it's better days).

Check out the pics and let me know ...

http://members12.clubphoto.com/bob580816/1614884/guest.phtml

Thanks,

Bob Hufford
Springfield, MO

Bob - looks like somebody put some miles on it,lol. How does it ride? Do the gears shift smoothly? Is the BB tight? I've always liked orange,since drivers can see you.

I think it may be late 70s? The top of the line 300 Mercier had different markings.

Regards.

A plug: Two friends of mine own Sellwood Cycles in Portland, Oregon. It's a store that sells used bikes on consignment, heavy stock of road bikes most times of the year with frequent French items. They are on the web at www.sellwoodcycle.com.

JCM -- I haven't ridden it yet, but I'll report back. It definately has some patina! I think it will clean up fairly well -- might make a cool fixed gear. Just in time for Halloween!

Feldman -- I spend every day at Sellwood's site. I've seen lots of very nice bikes go through that shop. Highly recommended!

Take care,

Bob Hufford
Springfield, MO

The orange Mercier rides fine (shifts and even almost stops -- gotta love those aged MAFAC pads and serrated chrome rims).

I'll probably toss it up on eBay tomorrow night.

Take care,

Bob Hufford
Springfield, MO

Find yourself a STEEL bike with "Sport" or "touring " angles, new bikes built like that work just fine. Co-Motion makes a good one and Waterford too- links to these and more at http://www.twowheeltransit.com/Bikes.htm

Or just call Steve if you have questions- the number's in the site
e-mail- steve@twowheeltransit.com
( Steve is just about the most honest guy I know, and He is VERY knowledgeable)

Anything French made earlier than 1985 wil be very difficult to find parts to fit the "French" threading etc.

Ride Comfy
Pat

Bob - glad to hear you got it up-and-running,and who needs brakes,lol

Pat - I've been looking at some Peugeots from the 80s and one I saw was Shimano equipped. At least I'd be able to find parts for it,but I'm definately not investing money in a newer road bike,since the rides are super hard.

Regards.

Frankly, I could never keep mercier and mercian straight....

I have a late 60s early 70s mercier in awsome shape! the red paint is turned pink, the decals are great, for being steel i can't beleive how lite it is. All stock but seat and front rim. Mafac,simplex all original very little use! if your still looking let me know!

I used to have one, a blue one. It was my first real 10-sp. I remember going all kinds of places w/ it. It had Huret derails, and a cottered crank. Sadly, I crashed it one nite while out on a darkness cruise. The top tube, down tube, & the fork took a fatal hit....I never did that again!

I have a circa 1971 Mercier 300. It's metallic green with real nice decals. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on it right now. Needs a cleanup, and I hope to put it back on the road this summer. Nice handling bike.

I have a Mercier Paris-Nice that has original Campy groupo. If this 2007 response reaches you via your 2005 post, let me know if you are still in the market for one. I bought it in Dallas back around '87-88 and put very few miles on it.

Nice Mercier 300

Mercier is like Raleigh. Just a name. Now owned by some marketing company in China, where all their bikes are made. Sad end to a venerable old name. However, that doesn't make them bad bikes. Just not a hand-crafted European original. Some of the Raleighs I have seen recently seem to be pretty name. Even classy enough to have Campy components.

I think the new company is in Florida, but yes, the OEMs are all in Taiwan and China, but who isn't for sub $1500 bikes these days?

The BikesDirect bikes on eBay may not be the only Merciers being built. They sell "Dawes" bikes, for instance, but the real Dawes is still in existence in England.

There's a REAL vintage Mercier on SFBayArea CL right now, and it's a really good price for this location so won't last, even given its large size...looks like it could be a pretty good one but the pic is tiny:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/bik/369806785.html

JCM - consider high-end (i.e. all-531) Austro-Daimler in your search. I Have a '79 Peugeot PKN10 and an '82 Austro-Daimler Starleicht, and find them pretty comparable. A-D bikes from that era come without all of the threading compatability headaches that you hear Peugeot and Moto owners commiserating over (I can say this because one of my on-deck projects is a Moto Grand Jubile, finding a Swiss-thread bottom bracket for which was a real quest ...)

I want that CL one so bad it hurts....

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q299/ozneddy_photo/P1010041.jpg i saved this one from the local dump last year,dunno if i will ever get around to a resto but something inside me just could,nt let it get melted down, :D i feel like i,ve saved a piece of history ! lol

Find yourself a STEEL bike with "Sport" or "touring " angles...

+1 for Pat's advice. Newer bikes, regardless of construction materials, are made with what used to be considered "racing" or "track" angles. The geometry of 99.9% of current road bicycles results in twitchy steering, increased difficulty of "no-hands" riding, and harsh ride characteristics. In short, new bikes SUUUUUUUUUUCK in my opinion.

I think that the preference for older bikes (expressed by an overwhelming majority of folks who actually get a chance to RIDE them) is more due to the frame geometry than the material of construction. I'm sure that many will disagree with this blanket statement - it's a free country.

Finding a new bike with relaxed frame geometry is as difficult as finding, well, a Waterford or a Rivendell...

Finding great classic bikes (even Merciers) is easier if you know where to look. Garage sales, police auctions, and college bulletin boards at the end of semester are the best sources in my experience.

30 years ago, I had both a Mercier and a Mercian (along with a Bottechia, a Peugeot, and a Schwinn Paramount). What I'd give now to have those back!