General Cycling Discussion - Got a Bikesdirect Mercier Galaxy... my review as a newbie

If any of you check out the Mechanics or triathlon forums You may have seen me before, but if not I'll just say hi, I'm Tom from Freeport LI and I am becoming a Bikeaholic.

Anyway I'm sure you can figure out I'm going to do a triathlon and I had this Bianchi Sport SX I was gonna make into my Tri-bike. However I found it was too small, so on the suggestions of some here I checked out Bikesdirect.com. I decided on the Mercier Galaxy AL seen here: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy_al8.htm

So I read the e-mail from them which basically says that all the nice stuff your LBS does, you will need to do, which since I got myself a book and some tools (and I'm very mechanically inclined)I should be able to do myself. So I got it Friday and put it together today. They weren't kidding about having to make adjustments! First off you might as well toss the instruction book that comes with it, its worthless. They did e-mail a nice youtube video though that is helpful. I ended up using my repair book and the pictures from their website to figure out the stuff that i couldn't figure out on my own. I got it all together and found that the wheels were REALLY out of true and trying to do it myself was just a disaster, so after a whole bunch of frustration I pulled them and brought them to my LBS, who when I called ahead I asked "can you do these on the spot?" they said "sure, if they aren't too bad", I replied "how bad could they be, they are brand new!"... Well maybe it was partially my fault but once he got them on the rack he said "I thought you said they weren't that bad!". Admittedly I totally didn't help it by trying to do them myself, but they were pretty darn bad when i got it. I had the front and rear brake adjusted perfectly and they would jam up every time.

So I get the wheels back home, put it together, hop on...... and proceed to take a dump in front of my parents house! This is the first time I ever rode a road bike, it doesn't take bumps like my mountain bike does! So theres a scrape on my handlebars and my right brake handle. And my hands hurt! Lucky I had my helmet on!

Try #2 went much better, and it really rides nice, I didn't realize how much faster you can go on a road bike. A few observations though: Tighten EVERYTHING, even the stuff that they already bolted together, I mounted the handlebars which were already attached to the stem and seemed solid... then I got on and they twisted down after 2 bumps. The wheels.. well I mentioned those already, same as the useless instructions. The brakes were a bit tough to get right and honestly I don't know if I have the front perfect yet.

Overall if you could do the work, even a newbie like me could get this thing going, and when it was done it is REALLY nice. After you have it together the build and workmanship looks far nicer than the low price they have. It took me a hell of a lot longer to get together than it probably should, but someone experienced should have no problem.

I also installed a VDO C3DS wirelss with cadence sensor (which I can't get to work), which i like but don't like. I like its functionality... but it doesn't function when theres interference, which if you are riding on the street around where I live is everywhere. Ah at least it will work when I'm on a nice bike trail.

"But, buying a bike still means tinkering or bringing it to the LBS, just less than doing a rebuild project."



... I think tinkering with a new one wouldn't be so bad, ...

I was trying to warn you :). But, it looks like you made it through:beer:.

I was trying to warn you :). But, it looks like you made it through:beer:.

Let me tell you... taking a bike apart is a HELL of a lot easier than putting it together! I'm sure you already knew that though, thanks for the tips man!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e302/tommy861/DSCN0089.jpg

Here she is

Of course... first workout mile 15, I manage to run over a nail and get a flat. And I have no spare tube with me... GREAAAT

Lesson learned. Congratulations on the new bike.

If any of you check out the Mechanics or triathlon forums You may have seen me before, but if not I'll just say hi, I'm Tom from Freeport LI and I am becoming a Bikeaholic.

Anyway I'm sure you can figure out I'm going to do a triathlon and I had this Bianchi Sport SX I was gonna make into my Tri-bike. However I found it was too small, so on the suggestions of some here I checked out Bikesdirect.com. I decided on the Mercier Galaxy AL seen here: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy_al8.htm

So I read the e-mail from them which basically says that all the nice stuff your LBS does, you will need to do, which since I got myself a book and some tools (and I'm very mechanically inclined)I should be able to do myself. So I got it Friday and put it together today. They weren't kidding about having to make adjustments! First off you might as well toss the instruction book that comes with it, its worthless. They did e-mail a nice youtube video though that is helpful. I ended up using my repair book and the pictures from their website to figure out the stuff that i couldn't figure out on my own. I got it all together and found that the wheels were REALLY out of true and trying to do it myself was just a disaster, so after a whole bunch of frustration I pulled them and brought them to my LBS, who when I called ahead I asked "can you do these on the spot?" they said "sure, if they aren't too bad", I replied "how bad could they be, they are brand new!"... Well maybe it was partially my fault but once he got them on the rack he said "I thought you said they weren't that bad!". Admittedly I totally didn't help it by trying to do them myself, but they were pretty darn bad when i got it. I had the front and rear brake adjusted perfectly and they would jam up every time.

So I get the wheels back home, put it together, hop on...... and proceed to take a dump in front of my parents house! This is the first time I ever rode a road bike, it doesn't take bumps like my mountain bike does! So theres a scrape on my handlebars and my right brake handle. And my hands hurt! Lucky I had my helmet on!

Try #2 went much better, and it really rides nice, I didn't realize how much faster you can go on a road bike. A few observations though: Tighten EVERYTHING, even the stuff that they already bolted together, I mounted the handlebars which were already attached to the stem and seemed solid... then I got on and they twisted down after 2 bumps. The wheels.. well I mentioned those already, same as the useless instructions. The brakes were a bit tough to get right and honestly I don't know if I have the front perfect yet.

Overall if you could do the work, even a newbie like me could get this thing going, and when it was done it is REALLY nice. After you have it together the build and workmanship looks far nicer than the low price they have. It took me a hell of a lot longer to get together than it probably should, but someone experienced should have no problem.

I also installed a VDO C3DS wirelss with cadence sensor (which I can't get to work), which i like but don't like. I like its functionality... but it doesn't function when theres interference, which if you are riding on the street around where I live is everywhere. Ah at least it will work when I'm on a nice bike trail.

Okay. I know what you mean. But still. :p

so how do you like the Galaxy after a few months?

Would you recommend it?

i did that once when i was little. :thumb:

^^ ??

This is how it looks now:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e302/tommy861/DSCN0097.jpg

I installed a set of PZ racing aero bars, and VDO sent me a new computer that works perfect. Overall I absolutely love it. It rides great, my friends are all impressed by it. Its definitely faster and more agile than my friend's Cannondale (probably the different gearing and frame geeometry). Everyone who sees it can't believe it was only $500. I ride it all over the place now, its really an amazing deal.

One tip though, the stock brake pads SUCK, like to the point its almost scary to ride. an Investment of $40 for a set of kool stops is WELL worth it. Also be careful installing the pedals, I must have cross threaded the right one and managed to strip it (it fell off during a ride), I had to have a shop helicoil the hole.

PS my first triathlon is tomorrow, with this bike!

Your seat looks way too low!

Rouge Leader, here's the proper way to photograph a bike:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j12/DieselDan_1973/December%2007%20bike%20photos/CopyofHPIM2799.jpg
Crank side out. That is my bikesdirect.com bike, which needed a new BB after 26 miles when the cheap Chin Haur seized on me.

Rouge Leader, here's the proper way to photograph a bike:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j12/DieselDan_1973/December%2007%20bike%20photos/CopyofHPIM2799.jpg
Crank side out. That is my bikesdirect.com bike, which needed a new BB after 26 miles when the cheap Chin Haur seized on me.


At least he has the white garage door part right. ;)

Your seat looks way too low!

That pic isn't recent, you are right it is way low. A few days after that pic I raised it up when I realized I was kicking my own ass with it that low.

Rouge Leader, here's the proper way to photograph a bike:

Crank side out. That is my bikesdirect.com bike, which needed a new BB after 26 miles when the cheap Chin Haur seized on me.

Yeah like I said old pic, I figured that out later on too. This bike has a Truvative BB. Did you contact Bikes Direct about it? i would imagine they would send a new one. One of my quick releases was scratched in shipping, they sent me 2 new ones (front and back) no questions asked.

Overall if you could do the work, even a newbie like me could get this thing going, and when it was done it is REALLY nice. After you have it together the build and workmanship looks far nicer than the low price they have. It took me a hell of a lot longer to get together than it probably should, but someone experienced should have no problem.


Not to knock your mechanical skills or your writeup but rebuilding a bike out of the box isn't something a newbie should attempt without supervision. There is a very good chance you will miss something that is important safety and mechanically.

Nothing can be trusted on the bike that is out of the box.

so the morale of this story if one decides to get a BD bike is to take it to a good shop to have it built?

Im really wanting a Sport/performance road bike to pick up next year sometime..and they have some great prices on BD. Either that or i will get a Giant OCR 1

Not to knock your mechanical skills or your writeup but rebuilding a bike out of the box isn't something a newbie should attempt without supervision. There is a very good chance you will miss something that is important safety and mechanically.

Nothing can be trusted on the bike that is out of the box.

I have good mechanical skills but NO experience with bikes. If your LBS charges $100 or so to put a bike together it is well worth it for them to do it. I spent a LOT of time adjusting the brakes, deraileurs, etc to my liking which they worked (sort of) "out of the box" but I'm sure the shop could have gotten them perfect pretty quick. I also had to have the shop true the wheels, and I managed to cross thread a pedal which stripped it and it came apart on a ride. So the helicoil for that hole cost $25, the wheel truing was $40, I could have had them build it perfect for $100....

HOWEVER, I learned a lot doing it all myself (even figured out how to true a wheel myself), and now I feel confident in doing my own bike maintenance. It all depends on what you want from your bike experience, and I prefer to be self sufficient.

No kickstand?

Your seat looks way too low!

How can you judge if the seat is too low without seeing the rider on the bike?

....That is my bikesdirect.com bike, which needed a new BB after 26 miles when the cheap Chin Haur seized on me.I have a bikesdirect.com Windsor Tourist. It also came with a Chin Haur bottom bracket and mine also failed. It lasted a little longer than yours (600 km). I'm tempted to replace my Chin Haur headset even though it is still functioning properly....

How can you judge if the seat is too low without seeing the rider on the bike?

Educated guess. There is about an inch of seatpost showing. Either that or the bike is way too large.

Educated guess. There is about an inch of seatpost showing. Either that or the bike is way too large.

After doing my Triathlon this week I tried it even a bit higher and it felt even better.

This seems like as good a place as any to post. I got my new Mercier Galaxy steel. Being a vintage biker, I feel better on steel than aluminum. I tossed (put them away till my friend picks them up) the pedals that came with it and put on SPDs. I personally think the rack that came with it is kinda flimsy and I may replace it with a lighter yet stronger one I have in the garage.
I'm getting it ready for some rides coming up in August. Barlows posted some info in the Texas (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=558061) forum on some rides (populaires)which are gonna be held by the Lone Star Randonneurs. This sounds like fun.
I rode it around the lake acouple of times and she is a blast! Fast and responsive. Like Rogue Leader said, the brake pads feel like you're stopping on old brake rubber so a replacement of pads is in order. This will be a good time to try out those Kool Stops.
I've been riding vintage bikes with downtube shifters. The Galaxy has brifters and you can downshift with the thumb! That's a first for me. Here's a pic of her, ain't she a beauty?
Ernest

PS: I'm 5'7 and got the 56cm. She fits just right!
PPS: Nothing wrong with aluminum! I was looking at the aluminum bikes long and hard but steel just feels like an old friend to me. This bike, my Dawes SST and my old Schwinn Super LeTour are my favorite bikes.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Gordo_Ruckus/Picture012.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/Gordo_Ruckus/Picture013.jpg

Enjoy the new bike. I like the flag!

This seems like as good a place as any to post. I got my new Mercier Galaxy steel.

Sorry to dig up an old post, but I'm thinking of the Steel Mercier myself. Looking at the specs the Steel version has a 11-30T vs. 11-28T cassette, not much of a difference, but something. I also thought the steel version might last longer than the Aluminum with carbon fiber forks.

How has the bike been?

I've done 2 metrics on it and attempted a full century (engine is in poor shape) and just went halfway. The bike is still going strong. The shifters are responsive. With the hills around here I always go from high to low gears quickly and haven't had problems at all.
The ride is kinda stiff which I guess could be improved with a wider tire. I may switch to a more narrow tire since I'm not in good shape, the less resistance I can get, the better.
This is the first bike I've ever done metrics on and it suits me fine. I ride alot of vintage bikes and I feel comfortable on a steel frame.
I'm no authority on bikes, for an affordable bike I would look to (and will next get) the Windsor Tourist (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm) road bike. Those larger chainrings would've come in handy on the big hills in Cleburne. Those hills just wouldn't stop!:(
Ernest

PS: Being more of a weenie, I'm into more hill climbing ability than speed and will begin looking for something with larger chainrings just for that purpose.

PS: Being more of a weenie, I'm into more hill climbing ability than speed

Yeah I have a lot of hills around here... it takes more than a weenie to do these hills. :thumb:

Good info here, larger chainrings would be nice, but I'm thinking I can replace items like that over time. As long as the bike has good bones! My current bike is a 35ish lb 15 year old Huffy hybrid, so this might be a nice step up. Instead of spending $600 for a trek at my LBS, I can get this and spend the difference on pedals and such at the LBS.

I've done 2 metrics on it and attempted a full century (engine is in poor shape) and just went halfway. The bike is still going strong. The shifters are responsive. With the hills around here I always go from high to low gears quickly and haven't had problems at all.
The ride is kinda stiff which I guess could be improved with a wider tire. I may switch to a more narrow tire since I'm not in good shape, the less resistance I can get, the better.
This is the first bike I've ever done metrics on and it suits me fine. I ride alot of vintage bikes and I feel comfortable on a steel frame.
I'm no authority on bikes, for an affordable bike I would look to (and will next get) the Windsor Tourist (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm) road bike. Those larger chainrings would've come in handy on the big hills in Cleburne. Those hills just wouldn't stop!:(
Ernest

PS: Being more of a weenie, I'm into more hill climbing ability than speed and will begin looking for something with larger chainrings just for that purpose.

Can your bike fit a 32c tire with fenders? Thanks!

Hey, I have a question. I have been thinking about buying one of these bikes and was wondering what size I would need. Im 5'8" and normal sized. I looked at their sizing chart, but this is my first time buying a road bike and i dont undersand what will fit me.... Thanks in advance

Hey, I have a question. I have been thinking about buying one of these bikes and was wondering what size I would need. Im 5'8" and normal sized. I looked at their sizing chart, but this is my first time buying a road bike and i dont undersand what will fit me.... Thanks in advance

You can get a good idea from this chart: http://windsorbicycles.com/sizing.htm You would probably need the 56cm size, just guesstimating based on your height. You can get sized by a bike shop, but they will charge you (sometimes quite a bit).

Use wrenchscience.com and pay particular attention to Overall Reach instead of Frame Size. Compare the geometry charts using the C-2 measurement (level-top tube length) plus stem length and get the frame size that gives you the correct overall reach.

FWIW, I'm an average proportioned 5-8 and generally take a 52 in new bikes and 54 in older bikes. The difference is that the stems on off the rack bikes is generally longer now than it was 15-20 years ago for the same ST sized frame.

Hey, I have a question. I have been thinking about buying one of these bikes and was wondering what size I would need. Im 5'8" and normal sized. I looked at their sizing chart, but this is my first time buying a road bike and i dont undersand what will fit me.... Thanks in advance

Then don't buy a bike online, unless you're willing and able to swap out different stems, bars, and saddles over the next few months trying to get the fit right.

You MIGHT get a good fit. But you probably won't.