Is the Alpha Mercury fixed gear any good?
08-09-06 | 08:39 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,218
Likes: 1
From: "Gosh honey, you pass more like Tony Rominger..."
Bikes: 2005 Scott CR1 Pro - 1992 Panasonix Fixed Conversion 60tx20t
Is the Alpha Mercury fixed gear any good?
I'm a roadie who really wants a fixed bike for tooling around.
I like bullhorns. The seller says that this bike weighs about 26 lbs. Kind of heavy for a ss isn't it even though it's a bike bike (61cm).
Opinions about this ride appreciated!
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true
I like bullhorns. The seller says that this bike weighs about 26 lbs. Kind of heavy for a ss isn't it even though it's a bike bike (61cm).
Opinions about this ride appreciated!
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true
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08-09-06 | 08:57 AM
#5
SERENITY NOW!!!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,739
Likes: 2
From: In the 212
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
My IRO cross bike weighs 6 lbs less than that and it's heavier than the Mark V and Angus. That's too heavy. Used Mark V's and Pista's go for about the same price on ebay and weigh less and come w/ better components.
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HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
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08-09-06 | 09:16 AM
#6
. . .
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: South Korea
No, I had one and they suck. Buy a Mercier, they are cheaper, the parts are slighty better and the bike weighs less. The Alpha Mercury will ruin your life. Now that I have a nicer bike, my life has improved immeasurably.
edit: It appears that they have done away with the stupidly long bullhorns that mine came with.
edit: It appears that they have done away with the stupidly long bullhorns that mine came with.
08-09-06 | 10:10 AM
#8
left treadle forward
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 407
Likes: 1
From: east kensington, phila.
Bikes: <strikethrough>BFSSFG IRO</strikethrough>, 197X Raleigh Record Ltd conversion, Java SS
here's my first hand experience. i bought a used one complete for $150 as my first fixie and rode it for a few months. yes, it's built up of mediocre at best parts, but honestly the biggest *problem* i ever had was the ridicule. i'm ~150lbs and i never striipped the cog - i'm actually still riding those hubs, never broke a crank, never bent a rim. would i buy another one? no, now that i know there are better options for less money. should you never ever buy one under any circumstances? i don't think that's the case.
08-09-06 | 10:18 AM
#10
OH SNAP!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Allentown, Pa
i've never been lucky enough to score some sovo's, but riding a quando on my first conversion felt like riding an old matchbox car. i ended up having to jb-weld a cog on, after my first skid took every last thread off. not the most versatile way of attaching your cogs.
08-09-06 | 10:34 AM
#11
dutret has a posse
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 0
From: washington dc
Bikes: IRO Angus 53, Marinoni Special 54, LMNO Custom Road Bike, Guerciotti TT, Late 60s Bottechia Road, Univega Via Montega beater/polo/rain bike.
i too stripped a quando like a dancer at delilah's. only not quite as good looking...
08-09-06 | 11:59 AM
#12
Shiftless bum
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 1
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Bikes: Apollo fixed winter bike, Gazelle Cross, Baboe Cargo bike, Linskey Rouleur Road, Bridgestone Picnica, Tern C7, 2nd gen Strida
08-09-06 | 03:07 PM
#13
Legend in my own bedroom
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: 1973 Schwinn Paramount,, Cinelli Unica, Colnago Sprint
Hilarious. A friend of mine just ordered one as her first fixie from the LBS for $400. I tried. I tried so hard to steer her away.
08-09-06 | 05:05 PM
#16
Shadow Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: brooklyn (chicago until july07)
Bikes: bareknuckle fixed, cannondale track, nishiki conversion
is it me or does the front fork look backwards.
edit, maybe its just a straight fork and the angle is weird. and i wouldnt buy this, those bends look a bit ....not stable?
edit, maybe its just a straight fork and the angle is weird. and i wouldnt buy this, those bends look a bit ....not stable?
08-09-06 | 06:58 PM
#18
spectacular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Philadelph-eye-a
It was designed by a hell of a guy...Andy Dyson, ruler of bike works and the bike church. It is marketed and sold by a monster who has been known to pull out and wave about the ak47 he keeps at his shop (!) and has been alleged to have no problem with buying and selling stolen parts/bikes. It's fine if you ride gently and not so often and have no interest in any street credibility (not that I'm advocating caring what others think, just saying). If you tend to push your whip more than the average bear and are on a tight budget, I would highly recommend the ebay Mercier.
