maurycy

Hi,

I am done trying to restore my old Fuji bike (frame is hosed) and I had also no luck on Craigslist (way overpriced). So I decided to buy a new bike. I do not have a lot of money. My budget was $150 for an used bike so looking at the prices below, I will have to have a serious talk with my wife about this purchase. I think I will have to agree to some shoe shopping with her :-(

Anyway, I need a bike for a recreational riding. I will be doing between 30-50 miles a week for about 2/3 of the year (winter time is ski time). There are no great hills here in northern NJ so the rides will be mostly on a flat roads. I used to ride a road bike long time ago so that's why I am not looking at a comfort bike. Currently I am riding $150 mountain bike (Sears or Target quality).

I have narrowed down my search to these two bikes:

1. Mercier Galaxy ($319 + $40 shipping)
Mercier on Ebay
Double-butted 7005 Aluminum frame
Shimano Sora FRT & Rear Der
Shimano Sora Shifters
24-speed with FSA Aluminum triple crank
Shimano Sora brake calipers
Aluminum Road pedals with toe clips & straps
Alex Aluminum Rims
Aluminum Hubs with quick release Front and rear
Aluminum Seatpost
Aluminum Handlebar & Stem

2. Windsor Dover ($330 + $40 shipping)
Windsor on Ebay
Frame is 7005 double-butted ALUMINUM from Kinesis
DURA-FORT chrome-moly fork mounted with headset system
Aluminum black quick release hubs
Aluminum Alex Double Wall Rims with CNC sidewalls
24-speed SHIMANO SORA DER
SHIMANO 3300 FRT & SHIFTERS with FSA ALUMINUM Alloy crank
high pressure MICHELIN 700 x23C tires
aluminum black handlebar & black seatpost

After reading bike forum I am leaning torward the Mercier because it has a steel frame and it is $11 cheaper. There is also a Motobecane Mirage ($325 shipped) on bikesdirect web site (link) but unless it is a better bike than Mercier and Windsor, I wouldn't consider it because of down tube shifters.

So please help me decide. Any input is appreciated but please understand that I am stretching a lot for the $350 bike and there is no way I can afford $150 more for a cheapest Fuji at the LBS.

Thanks,
Alex

sydney

^^^^....The way I read it,they both have aluminum frames.Presonally, I would go with downtube shifters and a double crank as you don't need the tuning hassles of front STI shifting and the triple cranks.

maurycy

sydney: You are right. I looked the specs on bikesdirect web site and they have the Mercier listed with CroMo frame.

Here is the link to bikesdirect bike:
Mercier on bikesdirect

Update: I have figured out the frame difference. The Ebay Mercier and Windsor have an aluminum frame because they are 06 models. Motobecane has CroMo frame because it is 04 model.

natethaskate

If the Mercier is CroMo, I'd go for that. It'll be a more comfortable bike for you, esp. if you're riding MTN bikes now. Cheap, all-aluminum bikes have a pretty harsh ride. I think you'd be happier with the Mercier.

Good luck bidding!

kankrum83

^^^^Ditto on the Mercier... I have a nicer one (Mercier Corvus AL) and love it, thought it's aluminum with a carbon fork. However, I can tell you that the craftmanship is good and I have had no problems.

LordOpie

Mercier... it's all steel and it has rack eyelets, so that's a small bonus

maurycy

BeeTL: I need 60-62cm frame but Dawes comes only with 56 or 58cm.

LordOpie: The Mercier listed on Ebay has alu frame. Where did see steel specs?