Landgolier

Good on you guys for doing that, it always amazes me that people would build a steel road bike and not include them.

Aeroplane

Also - They are a lot easier to take off after-market than to add after-market.

macncheese

I'm not entirely sure how to measure this. This is the smallest dimension. I took a few shot of other measurements (click the pic above to see the others) but I dont know how useful they are. The rear tire seems to be noticeably closer to the drive side stay than the nondrive side. I thought bikes were symmetrical but maybe this has something to with with the drive stuff. I honestly have no idea but the picture is the picture!

Lesson of the Day: Handlebar tape is not reusable. I installed the front brake and salvaged enough to rewrap the flat. No problems, Im too scared of the drops at this point anyway.

send em over and I'll take a picture

bonechilling

Upon further consideration, I think that this would make
a better day-in, day-out bike than my special IRO due to
the front and rear braze-ons. Color me impressed.

mihlbach

I am in agreement about including eyelets on a steel frame that is likely to be used and abused on an everyday basis...but given the tight track geometry of this frame, do fenders actually fit in there?

exfreewheeler

I'm really lusting a MKTT. That's not good. Because I have money right now.

I see one locked up on 4th & Brown st. often. Whoever you are, you're really trying to seduce me, aren't you?

That green. Love it!

Eric Hanus

those pictures just made me want to buy that bike. I was worried about what sort of green they were going to use, but i really like that.

mykrrrr

I tempt myself everyday to order one but I'll probably just order a Pake frame.

chuckdupp

i kinda wish i wouldve seen these before i ordered a pake.
but i still think that the pake can be built up and made to look good, but for some reason every single one i see pictures of looks stupid as hell. i think its just gonna take finding the right headset and stem setup for me.
anyway your mercier is a sweet ride

jgarcia186

here is mine after a few months use.
https://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8157/cimg0315iq7.jpg

macncheese

This definately isnt the bike for everyone. I honestly hate buying cheap stuff but I dont think I know enough about bikes to make a big investment or even make the right investment. I looked at the pake framset but I think the geometry is slightly more trackish and the tube set is straight guage which didnt make very much sense to me. Why would you make the bike more performance oriented (geometry) but heavier (tube set)? I dont pretend I could feel any difference in the tubeset just yet but its just the principle!

The pake seems like a bike for people who like the look of track bikes. Nothing wrong with that, I'm just more interested in learning to ride the thing at this point than how it looks. Pretty much either way I look like an idiot circling my block while old men with canes pass me as I try to not bust my face.

Anyway, i prefered the mercier fork to the pake fork and the eyelets closed the deal for me. I'm sure I'll be spending more money upgrading the bike than if I started with a frameset but I figure I'm learning about bike setup without worrying about component selection and that cost differential is just the cost of experience.

jet sanchEz

macncheese, thanks for posting those new photos, that is great of you to do that. I think that you are right, this isn't the bike for an experienced rider but if you are starting out, this bike cannot be beat. The fork does look the best of all the entry level bikes, as someone already said, and the tubing is fine for booting around the city. The crank is great for a bike at that pricepoint, the only thing I might consider upgrading right away would be the wheels, but I am sure those will be good for a couple of years. I would get them checked out after a month or so of use, just to be sure things are good.

Thanks again for this very informative thread.

anomaly

I do wish it came with Formulas instead of the Suzue (it looks like) it comes with. I'm still really tempted to buy one.

What size frame do you normally ride, what is your inseam, and what size did you get?

macncheese

This is my first road(ish) bike. I'm about 5'10"ish and my pants inseam is 30" and my PBH is 32". The bike is the 50cm.

I could have maybe gotten away with the next size up but I figured its probably easier to ride a smaller bike than a bigger one? Maybe I'll regret it but if I do, I'm glad its a $307 bike and not a $600+ bike.

worker4youth

I've been riding mine nearly stock for 1.5 years. I have at least 8-10k on it. The only parts I've replaced are the tires, chain, cog, and saddle. I weigh 135lbs, 5'10 and I got the 53cm black. The wheels are definitely monsters, and the hubs don't rotate very cleanly, even at the best adjustments. But ... they haven't failed (yet). I will most likely use them till they crumble apart.

The only thing I would suggest, if you're on a budget, is to replace the Kenda tires as soon as possible. Both my tires gave way after only about 1-2k miles, and they were both huge rips, that even a dollar bill couldn't boot, so I had to walk home.

Eric Hanus

white tape and saddle would look really nice. so would some white V's but thats just too much

macncheese

I'm a size 10 but Im not sure that matters. This is with the toeclip adjusted all the way rearward (closest to the pedal).

Warsong

I'll contribute a bit. Here's mine after a couple of months and a couple of refinements:

https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1321/...508a82.jpg?v=0

https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1281/...1b2e51.jpg?v=0

https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1339/...6729e2.jpg?v=0

New stem, bars, grips, pedals, clips, chainring and cog, brakes/lever.

I'm looking forward to a new wheelset as soon as I can scrape together a bit of cash, ditto new saddle and crank.

So far it's been a great bike. Many of the components are cheap, as is to be expeceted, but it didn't cost much extra to get it road ready. IMO it's a classy looking ride. I love it. Well worth the dough.

patrick

Dumpsterlife

I love that! i want an sti, too.

jdeane4

Where did you find it for $307?

Eric Hanus

hmmm that worries me. plus i dont know if i like the green or black better.

str8flexed

Wow that seems like a lot over overlap. Never experienced such a thing myself, since I've only ridden conversions, but is this a problem if you have to turn fast?

covpride

The toe overlap sucks if you're going slow for sure. I've been adjusting pretty well to it, I haven't been using straps so I probably am moving my foot back more to accomodate for the overlap, just have to be cautious. When riding at a good speed most of the turning is leaning so not a big deal then. Since I have the 50cm frame I thought about getting a set of 650c wheels since it'll help with overlap, and since it's a small frame they won't look silly on it.

macncheese

ebay

macncheese

I'm having a problem with the toe overlap but I think its predominantly because of how slow my scared ass is going. Everyday I'm gaining a little more confidence and turning a little faster but at the moment all my turns involve me looking down at my feet which probably isnt safe. I tried to slide my feet back a bit but it just hits the clips instead.

Anyway, I just wanted to post a picture of the overlap so you can form your own opinion