Is it a buy?? 2005 Cycles Mercier Serpens AL
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I will be buying a new bike after a lengthy absence from biking. I am considering 3 road bikes:
1) 2005 Cycles Mercier Serpens AL
2) 2005 Specialized Allez Elite Triple
3) 2005 Trek 1500
All bikes are in the 1000 to 1200 range.
Information on the 2005 Cycles Mercier Serpens AL would be greatly appreciated...From what I have read, the Serpens AL has the better components, Ultegra 6600 all around and carbon fork and back supports. I have just not heard anything about the Mercier bikes, nor can I find any real information from users.
Any advice concerning the Mercier bikes? Recommendations?
Thank you!!
I will be buying a new bike after a lengthy absence from biking. I am considering 3 road bikes:
1) 2005 Cycles Mercier Serpens AL
2) 2005 Specialized Allez Elite Triple
3) 2005 Trek 1500
All bikes are in the 1000 to 1200 range.
Information on the 2005 Cycles Mercier Serpens AL would be greatly appreciated...From what I have read, the Serpens AL has the better components, Ultegra 6600 all around and carbon fork and back supports. I have just not heard anything about the Mercier bikes, nor can I find any real information from users.
Any advice concerning the Mercier bikes? Recommendations?
Thank you!!
Caveat Emptor....
Stay away from Mercier. Their bikes aren't too bad, but their customer service is horrible. I had problems with my Aquila Euro and sent numerous emails without any sort of response, just a generic email thanking me for buying their bike.
Wound up getting another frame and transferring everthing over....:mad:
I too am new to cycling and will be cycling to enhance my running and to enter a couple of triathlons this year. I have seen the ads for the Mercier line and others that seem to offer significant discounts. The interesting thing that I find about this thread and other threads about Mercier and the like is the serious riders do not seem to encourage the purchase of these off name bikes. But NO ONE seems to have ridden one in order to make an objective comment about the bikes in question. So, does anyone have any experience with these types of bikes and have any OBJECTIVE comments. There is a prior thread that deals with this topic but again, it is just riddled with, "I have heard"; "Parts seem to be...", etc.
So, have any of you serious riders ever seen one of these bikes out and about (maybe a friend has one/maybe you have seen one at a race) and actually gotten a chance to evaluate its quality in light of the cost? If so your comments would be greatly appreciated by many of us newbies who want to get into the sport but are hesitant to drop $2000 on a bike. Especially when a $400 model might serve us just as well given we won't be riding from coast to coast every month.:rolleyes:
Thanks.
I too am new to cycling and will be cycling to enhance my running and to enter a couple of triathlons this year. I have seen the ads for the Mercier line and others that seem to offer significant discounts. The interesting thing that I find about this thread and other threads about Mercier and the like is the serious riders do not seem to encourage the purchase of these off name bikes. But NO ONE seems to have ridden one in order to make an objective comment about the bikes in question. So, does anyone have any experience with these types of bikes and have any OBJECTIVE comments. There is a prior thread that deals with this topic but again, it is just riddled with, "I have heard"; "Parts seem to be...", etc.
So, have any of you serious riders ever seen one of these bikes out and about (maybe a friend has one/maybe you have seen one at a race) and actually gotten a chance to evaluate its quality in light of the cost? If so your comments would be greatly appreciated by many of us newbies who want to get into the sport but are hesitant to drop $2000 on a bike. Especially when a $400 model might serve us just as well given we won't be riding from coast to coast every month.:rolleyes:
Thanks.Actually, I HAVE owned a Mercier. I had a Mercier Aquila Euro. For $900, I got an "okay" bike... the ride wasn't horrible, considering that I got some nice parts (Campy derailleurs and shifters, FSA aftermarket crank, Alex DA22 rims and the rest were pretty much cheap no-name parts from Taiwan). I still think that $900 was too much considering what you can actually get these days.
As far as the ride, it was a matter of taste. The frame itself was steel, so it was solid, albeit a bit heavy for me. Going from this bike to an Aluminum with better wheels and componentry, you notice a tremendous difference in the quality and smoothness of the ride.
Your quote earlier was... (maybe a friend has one/maybe you have seen one at a race) Yes, I have seen and heard of Merciers in races. These were of different caliber and actually, Merciers that were made in France before the name was sold off to the Far East.
That said, go with what you can afford. Personally, I would strongly advise that you save the money and get a better bike with better quality service. I have only seen Merciers sold on the internet, so I tried finding a number to call so that I could address an issue with the bike. If you scope out their website, they have no contact information, except for an email address. When I left feedback, not only did they take a long time to respond, they responded with a generic email thanking me for buying their bike. When I emailed again with my problem, they basically ignored me.
Another issue is the test ride... it is critical that you know what you are riding and have tested it out on the road. The Mercier, because it is internet-only as far as I know, was bought sight-unseen. As a result, the bike was a bit big for me. The top tube was 48cm, whcih is right for me, but when I rode it, it seemed a bit big. I went with a 48cm tt on another bike, and it fit perfectly.
My suggestion is to save your money and go to your LBS and see if they have any discounts on some good bikes and will let you try them out. For example, my LBS has a great deal on a Orbea aluminum with Veloce parts... $1200. Had I seen this bike then, I would have gladly shelled out an extra $300, knowing what I know now.
Best of luck on finding your bike.
I too am new to cycling and will be cycling to enhance my running and to enter a couple of triathlons this year. I have seen the ads for the Mercier line and others that seem to offer significant discounts. The interesting thing that I find about this thread and other threads about Mercier and the like is the serious riders do not seem to encourage the purchase of these off name bikes. But NO ONE seems to have ridden one in order to make an objective comment about the bikes in question. So, does anyone have any experience with these types of bikes and have any OBJECTIVE comments. There is a prior thread that deals with this topic but again, it is just riddled with, "I have heard"; "Parts seem to be...", etc.
So, have any of you serious riders ever seen one of these bikes out and about (maybe a friend has one/maybe you have seen one at a race) and actually gotten a chance to evaluate its quality in light of the cost? If so your comments would be greatly appreciated by many of us newbies who want to get into the sport but are hesitant to drop $2000 on a bike. Especially when a $400 model might serve us just as well given we won't be riding from coast to coast every month.:rolleyes:
Thanks.If all you ae looking for is bottom dollar price, just do it! . A $400 bike is bottom of the barrel. Don't expect anything better. You will save a few bucks over bottom of the barrel rides at LBS,but you also have to accept the trade offs involved in direct marketing. Even the better direct marketed bikes have generic frames and are loaded up with additional generic parts. Many folks are happy with the direct market stuff,but there is no free lunch !
If I was on a budget with a fixed amount of dough... I'd find a good buy used. Assuming you're knowledgable enough to (1) know what is a good buy used, and (2) you can maintain the thing. Then used is the way to go. Assuming 1 and 2 don't apply, I'd find out which LBS has a great reputation and get something that fits with a good service policy. Just me.
If all you ae looking for is bottom dollar price, just do it! . A $400 bike is bottom of the barrel. Don't expect anything better. You will save a few bucks over bottom of the barrel rides at LBS,but you also have to accept the trade offs involved in direct marketing. Even the better direct marketed bikes have generic frames and are loaded up with additional generic parts. Many folks are happy with the direct market stuff,but there is no free lunch !
I appreciate the recent responses. But the most recent (noted above) does not answer what I asked. Again, I don't think I am looking for vague statements like, "You get what you pay for."; or "There is no free lunch." What I am looking for is someone who has first-hand evaluation of say a Trek 1000 (approx. cost $629) and a Mercier Orion (approx. cost $400). Here is the link to specs on the Mercier Orion AL http://www.cyclesmercier.com/mercier_al_specs.htm
Here is the link to the specs on the Trek 1000 http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Road/Performance_Road/Alpha_Aluminum/1000/index.php
The only thing I can make heads or tails of is the Mercier has a carbon fork. So, is the Trek better? Probably so (I guess). But is it $229 better or are they basically the same bike? :rolleyes:
Some people have commented on customer service with Mercier and others. I suspect though that I will be using a LBS for servicing anyway.
Again, thanks for the replies.
Regards
I appreciate the recent responses. But the most recent (noted above) does not answer what I asked. Again, I don't think I am looking for vague statements like, "You get what you pay for."; or "There is no free lunch." What I am looking for is someone who has first-hand evaluation of say a Trek 1000 (approx. cost $629) and a Mercier Orion (approx. cost $400). Here is the link to specs on the Mercier Orion AL http://www.cyclesmercier.com/mercier_al_specs.htm
Here is the link to the specs on the Trek 1000 http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Road/Performance_Road/Alpha_Aluminum/1000/index.php
The only thing I can make heads or tails of is the Mercier has a carbon fork. So, is the Trek better? Probably so (I guess). But is it $229 better or are they basically the same bike? :rolleyes:
Some people have commented on customer service with Mercier and others. I suspect though that I will be using a LBS for servicing anyway.
Again, thanks for the replies.
RegardsThey both have CF forks. If the Trek price is MSRP, no one pays that.I've seen trek 1000s clearanced at $450. What is shipping on the Mercier? Your LBS gonna handle any possible warranty claims on the Mercier? Do you know how to put it together and get everything working right? Many shops will offer lifetime tuneups on bikes bought there.....I duno what you don't understand about accepting tradeoffs for direct marketing and a lower price, even if they were identical,which for all practical purposes they are.
They both have CF forks. If the Trek price is MSRP, no one pays that.I've seen trek 1000s clearanced at $450. What is shipping on the Mercier? Your LBS gonna handle any possible warranty claims on the Mercier? Do you know how to put it together and get everything working right? Many shops will offer lifetime tuneups on bikes bought there.....I duno what you don't understand about accepting tradeoffs for direct marketing and a lower price, even if they were identical,which for all practical purposes they are.
Thanks for the reply and the info. Shipping is $40. However, I have yet to see any shop offering what seems to be a bike that can be found on one of these threads for less than $600. Below that price range everything weighs as much as a tank. Anyway, I'm still torn. I'll certainly post what I do and my end result. I think there are many people in similar shoes as mine watching this type thread. It's really not the money either. To me $1200 isn't that much different than $400. If necessary, I can swallow the $1200 without a problem. But I don't want to simply throw $250 or $800 at something unnecessarily. If the Mercier will suit me and is equal to a $650 store-bought bike, then I just got a free helmet and some riding gear with the savings.
The main thing is I can't shake the same feeling I get when I go into high-end home theater stores (ie. dealers in Rotel, Lexicon, NAD, Anthem, etc.). There is just this air about that prices are dictated by the manufacturers while internet sales are forbidden and frowned upon. The LBS seem to feel that if you don't like the price, go see if you can find it somewhere else because I know you can't--we (the bike shops) gotta stick together.;)
Thanks again for the replies.
Sorry I haven't ridden a Mercier, but I was recently looking in the $1200 range myself. I didn't like the ride of the Trek 1000 or any AL bike. It was too harsh. I ended up going with a steel bike after a suggestion on this forum. It is a Jamis Quest. The 2004 model is a better bike than the 2005 (9spd Ultegra over 105), and I got it for under $1200 this week. My second choice was a Lemond Croix de Fer, also steel, Shim 105, and $1200. If you're still looking for a bike through the mail, check out the Scattante bikes at supergo.com as well. If you are the right size, they have an '04 carbon version with Ultegra for $1299.
Thanks for the reply and the info. Shipping is $40. However, I have yet to see any shop offering what seems to be a bike that can be found on one of these threads for less than $600. Below that price range everything weighs as much as a tank. Anyway, I'm still torn. I'll certainly post what I do and my end result. I think there are many people in similar shoes as mine watching this type thread. It's really not the money either. To me $1200 isn't that much different than $400. If necessary, I can swallow the $1200 without a problem. But I don't want to simply throw $250 or $800 at something unnecessarily. If the Mercier will suit me and is equal to a $650 store-bought bike, then I just got a free helmet and some riding gear with the savings.
The main thing is I can't shake the same feeling I get when I go into high-end home theater stores (ie. dealers in Rotel, Lexicon, NAD, Anthem, etc.). There is just this air about that prices are dictated by the manufacturers while internet sales are forbidden and frowned upon. The LBS seem to feel that if you don't like the price, go see if you can find it somewhere else because I know you can't--we (the bike shops) gotta stick together.;)
Thanks again for the replies.There is nothing wrong with the internet. In most cases, the internet is cheaper, and my LBS acknowledges that fact. But the problem with the internet is the tradeoff. It is true that you pay a lesser price, but are the savings worth the headache if something goes wrong?
Personally, I like my LBS for the personal touch. You can actually talk to a live person and get some honest feedback. On the internet, you talk to a screen more often than not, ordering through some automated system that takes your credit card over the net where who knows what can happen. If there is a problem, I can get it adjusted at my LBS. If something should go wrong with your internet-bought gear, how much hassle will it be to pack it and ship it back? I have gone through this and it isn't fun. I would much rather deal with my LBS, who I've developed a good relationship with and will be there if I need them.
Boudreaux's Quote...They both have CF forks. If the Trek price is MSRP, no one pays that.I've seen trek 1000s clearanced at $450. What is shipping on the Mercier? Your LBS gonna handle any possible warranty claims on the Mercier? Do you know how to put it together and get everything working right? Many shops will offer lifetime tuneups on bikes bought there.....I duno what you don't understand about accepting tradeoffs for direct marketing and a lower price, even if they were identical,which for all practical purposes they are.
I completely agree with his assement. Personally, I appreciate the extra level of service that I get from my LBS. To me, the extra few dollars in savings are well worth it.
In the end, I'm sure that nothing that Boudreaux nor I have said will make one iota of a difference. It seems you have a pre-conceived notion that every LBS is conspiring to stick it to the consumer and that you have pretty much made your decision to go with the Mercier and just need one of us to validate your decision.
Go with whatever makes you happy.
I would buys something from the LBS...so you can get a good fit right out of the store...plus the bike will be built and tuned. Also, when the bike's tuning goes south...you can drop in and get an adjustment right then and there...and usually free if you bought the bike from there. What's more...should any thing break...you can run back down to the LBS and have it fixed or replaced under warranty.
Trek is a great company.
There is nothing wrong with the internet. In most cases, the internet is cheaper, and my LBS acknowledges that fact. But the problem with the internet is the tradeoff. It is true that you pay a lesser price, but are the savings worth the headache if something goes wrong?
Personally, I like my LBS for the personal touch. You can actually talk to a live person and get some honest feedback. On the internet, you talk to a screen more often than not, ordering through some automated system that takes your credit card over the net where who knows what can happen. If there is a problem, I can get it adjusted at my LBS. If something should go wrong with your internet-bought gear, how much hassle will it be to pack it and ship it back? I have gone through this and it isn't fun. I would much rather deal with my LBS, who I've developed a good relationship with and will be there if I need them.
Boudreaux's Quote...They both have CF forks. If the Trek price is MSRP, no one pays that.I've seen trek 1000s clearanced at $450. What is shipping on the Mercier? Your LBS gonna handle any possible warranty claims on the Mercier? Do you know how to put it together and get everything working right? Many shops will offer lifetime tuneups on bikes bought there.....I duno what you don't understand about accepting tradeoffs for direct marketing and a lower price, even if they were identical,which for all practical purposes they are.
I completely agree with his assement. Personally, I appreciate the extra level of service that I get from my LBS. To me, the extra few dollars in savings are well worth it.
In the end, I'm sure that nothing that Boudreaux nor I have said will make one iota of a difference. It seems you have a pre-conceived notion that every LBS is conspiring to stick it to the consumer and that you have pretty much made your decision to go with the Mercier and just need one of us to validate your decision.
Go with whatever makes you happy.
I really do not have any pre-conceived notions. Those "notions" are actual impressions I get from going into the LBSs. Of course they are very friendly and knowledgeable and willing to service your bike. Every time you go in for service, they make money. And I know you go in for the quick tweaks and adjustments now and then and it is free. But the majority of their "free" service is geared towards you coming back and purchasing that next upgrade. And it is not a conspiracy issue--it’s merely the way the industry operates. They know people may be willing to pay extra for the personal service. And they have significant overhead that has to be paid for. And they don't offer deep discounts because no one wants to open that door.
But again, we have wandered off topic. The issue is not whether you get better service buying a bike at a LBS compared to the internet. Of course the LBS is going to give you better service. The issue is whether the two bikes I mentioned above with links to the specs are equal in quality.
In fact you wrote, "I duno what you don't understand about accepting tradeoffs for direct marketing and a lower price, even if they were identical,which for all practical purposes they are." So, it seems to me the bikes are basically equal.
Thus, is the $250 or so I'll save going to be worth it given the potential for warranty or service issues. Again, I am torn given your comments about service, etc. But, that is a decision I'll have to make based on certain factors other than the basic quality of the bikes in question.
I think what I will do is go into 3-4 LBSs and tell that that I purchased a bike and that I need it assembled, tuned and serviced etc. and see what sort of response I get. Three of the four that I have gone into have said if I purchase a bike from them I get free minor tune-ups and the service that you are speaking of. I wonder if they offer such a service for a price if the bike is bought elsewhere? I’ll post what I find out.
Finally, find me a brand new Trek 1000 on clearance for $450 and I'll buy it. :p
Thanks for the replies.
Regards.
I really do not have any pre-conceived notions. Those "notions" are actual impressions I get from going into the LBSs. Of course they are very friendly and knowledgeable and willing to service your bike. Every time you go in for service, they make money. And I know you go in for the quick tweaks and adjustments now and then and it is free. But the majority of their "free" service is geared towards you coming back and purchasing that next upgrade. And it is not a conspiracy issue--it’s merely the way the industry operates. They know people may be willing to pay extra for the personal service. And they have significant overhead that has to be paid for. And they don't offer deep discounts because no one wants to open that door.
But again, we have wandered off topic. The issue is not whether you get better service buying a bike at a LBS compared to the internet. Of course the LBS is going to give you better service. The issue is whether the two bikes I mentioned above with links to the specs are equal in quality.
In fact you wrote, "I duno what you don't understand about accepting tradeoffs for direct marketing and a lower price, even if they were identical,which for all practical purposes they are." So, it seems to me the bikes are basically equal.
Thus, is the $250 or so I'll save going to be worth it given the potential for warranty or service issues. Again, I am torn given your comments about service, etc. But, that is a decision I'll have to make based on certain factors other than the basic quality of the bikes in question.
I think what I will do is go into 3-4 LBSs and tell that that I purchased a bike and that I need it assembled, tuned and serviced etc. and see what sort of response I get. Three of the four that I have gone into have said if I purchase a bike from them I get free minor tune-ups and the service that you are speaking of. I wonder if they offer such a service for a price if the bike is bought elsewhere? I’ll post what I find out.
Finally, find me a brand new Trek 1000 on clearance for $450 and I'll buy it. :p
Thanks for the replies.
Regards.Your wrote:
But again, we have wandered off topic. The issue is not whether you get better service buying a bike at a LBS compared to the internet. Of course the LBS is going to give you better service. The issue is whether the two bikes I mentioned above with links to the specs are equal in quality.
I don't think we wandered off topic. Quality of a bike is not just judged by the materials and workmanship, but the backing of the company and its product. Mercier may be the equivalent to the Trek as far as materials that went into the assembly of the bike and yes, the two bikes may be comparably equipped, but the true gauge on the quality of the bike is also what comes afterwards... the service. Should you ever have a warranty issue with your Trek, I'm sure that they stand behind their product 100% and I'm sure that you could take it to any authorized Trek dealer for service, not just the LBS where you bought it from. The same cannot be said of Mercier. As far as I know, they have no local service centers or dealers. So when it comes to a defect, who do you think would do a better job of satisfying you?
The choice is easy. I prefer peace of mind in knowing that I can count on Trek to resolve an isue for me. In and of itself, that makes for a better quality bike.
What it boils down to is what makes you happy. My suggestion to previous similar posts is to hold on to your money and wait for better deals to come around. Buying a bike should be carefully considered. Price should never be the primary concern.
Regards,
R. Loh
There is nothing wrong with the internet. In most cases, the internet is cheaper, and my LBS acknowledges that fact. But the problem with the internet is the tradeoff. It is true that you pay a lesser price, but are the savings worth the headache if something goes wrong?
My LBS actually told me to go to bikesdirect.com and get a bike (after he evaled my ht/build--~58cm is what i need) and then said he would assemble it and tweak it so that it fit my frame to a T (65 bucks for that service).
They handle all problem and offer tune-ups as well
My LBS actually told me to go to bikesdirect.com and get a bike (after he evaled my ht/build--~58cm is what i need) and then said he would assemble it and tweak it so that it fit my frame to a T (65 bucks for that service).
They handle all problem and offer tune-ups as well
WOW! Now that is surprising to hear. The guy must have been an employee and not the owner. $65.00--that is pretty reasonable also. That would mean I am up about $175. That certainly would buy a nice helmet and some other gear.
I guess the main thing is the warranty issue. I think I'll just cross my fingers given the savings and knowing that one should be able to get good service at the LBS regardless of the bike purchased. Thanks for the replies.:D
I bought a 2005 Mercier Serpens AL, and I've got about 80 miles on it. It showed up about 12 days or so after I payed for it online at BikesDirect.com.
I decided to put it together myself, which wasn't very difficult, but I had trouble getting the gear adjustment exactly right. It didn't matter, it still rode fine.
I've gotten several complements on the paint, the frame and the price.
1 problem; Last Friday morning, (Good Friday), I had the day off and went for a ride. Previously, I'd had a couple of minor incidences where the tires lost their grip on a curve, but I only skidded a few inches until they caught. On Friday, I went through a puddle and then took a left turn; the tires completely lost their grip and the bike shot out from under me. I hid the pavement really hard. It bent the front rim and knocked a shifter around.
Anyway, I pushed things back in place and rode home.
That afternoon I had the rim trued, the Kenda tires replaced with Continentals, and, since I was at the bike shop anyway, I had the deraileurs and brakes adjusted by a pro. They charged me $10.
Other than the tires, the bike's been great. I still think I got a great deal. The frame and the Ultegra set alone are worth the price.
So, I recommend the Serpens. I'm still happy with mine.
I am sort of surprised by all the talk about "service"; a bike isn't exactly the same as a car. You don't need a diagnostic computer to figure out what is wrong. Maybe I am just old-fashioned, but what I look at in bikes is the frame, the components, the geometry, and that is about it. I don't really care how old it is, who makes it, or whether or not they are hard to get in touch with via e-mail. If the frame is straight and the components work, then I can keep it alive.
If I was to suggest one thing to the original poster of this thread, it would be to learn how to do your own maintenance. Invest in a few key tools from Park and have at it. If you don't want to mess with a "good" bike, buy a junker to learn how to do basic stuff. When you feel comfortable, try it out on your tasty ride.
I've read a bit on the Mercier aluminum frame bikes, and they seem pretty good. The components are solid in the higher end bikes and the frames seem decent. But I like aluminum bikes; I've owned an aluminum Klein for years.
As far as the Trek vs. Mercier thing goes, I would say bikes are no different than any other name brand thing. Why does a PT Cruiser cost more than a Neon when they both have the same chassis? Read up on your parts, read up on your frames, read reveiws on the models you are researching. Most of all, don't let anyone on this forum (me included) sway you from using good common sense.
I don't know what world everyone else lives in, but price is ALWAYS a factor in my world. If I could throw down $2,000 or even $1,200 on a bike any time I felt the need, I would be a very happy camper indeed! You're buying a bike, not having a kid! If you don't like it or it doesn't fit, sell it! Again, research your price range and apply a good consumer's skepticism.
Jab
Your wrote:
But again, we have wandered off topic. The issue is not whether you get better service buying a bike at a LBS compared to the internet. Of course the LBS is going to give you better service. The issue is whether the two bikes I mentioned above with links to the specs are equal in quality.
I don't think we wandered off topic. Quality of a bike is not just judged by the materials and workmanship, but the backing of the company and its product. Mercier may be the equivalent to the Trek as far as materials that went into the assembly of the bike and yes, the two bikes may be comparably equipped, but the true gauge on the quality of the bike is also what comes afterwards... the service. Should you ever have a warranty issue with your Trek, I'm sure that they stand behind their product 100% and I'm sure that you could take it to any authorized Trek dealer for service, not just the LBS where you bought it from. The same cannot be said of Mercier. As far as I know, they have no local service centers or dealers. So when it comes to a defect, who do you think would do a better job of satisfying you?
The choice is easy. I prefer peace of mind in knowing that I can count on Trek to resolve an isue for me. In and of itself, that makes for a better quality bike.
What it boils down to is what makes you happy. My suggestion to previous similar posts is to hold on to your money and wait for better deals to come around. Buying a bike should be carefully considered. Price should never be the primary concern.
Regards,
R. Loh
I'd have to agree with jabberwocky. Nothing beats great service. Even if the LBS will build the Mercier and perform other service issues they'll always appreciate the customer who buys a new bike from them more. I owned a Mercier Orion 2 years ago that I purchased on-line when I first started cycling. I knew squat about bike assembly but was able to "recruit" the LBS wrench to assemble it on the side for $20 and a case of brew which I threw in later. That happened to pay off big dividends as he continued to do minor service (deraileur adjustments, minor wheel truing) gratis after that. I've since sold the Mercier (steel frame too heavy and Sora components too sluggish) and own a Specialized from my LBS. If you want a better deal that rivals online look into joining a club/team sponsored by the LBS. You can save roughly $400 on a $1600 bike and get great service after the sale.
JS
I Have the same dilemma...
I want to replace my old vitus and stumbled on the site of Bikedirect.
Mercier was a great bike manufacturer in the 40's and 50's (in 42, I think my first bike was a Mercier or a Motobecane). Since Mercier went broke and in the 80's has been bought by someone in Tawain or China.
The component of the Serpent AL or Serpens LDT30 are tremendous for the price...$1,395/$1,295. Around here (CT) a similar setup with another brand name would cost around $ 2,500. I especialy like the Columbus frame but I do not know anymore where they are made. China/Tawain???
I however found another outfit cheaper in Austin Tx. (Discovery Cycle)
Service wise with these web guys, we might as well forget it. But one can do a lot of repairs with $1,000.
Please keep me informed. It may help my purchase.
I will be buying a new bike after a lengthy absence from biking. I am considering 3 road bikes:
1) 2005 Cycles Mercier Serpens AL
2) 2005 Specialized Allez Elite Triple
3) 2005 Trek 1500
All bikes are in the 1000 to 1200 range.
Information on the 2005 Cycles Mercier Serpens AL would be greatly appreciated...From what I have read, the Serpens AL has the better components, Ultegra 6600 all around and carbon fork and back supports. I have just not heard anything about the Mercier bikes, nor can I find any real information from users.
Any advice concerning the Mercier bikes? Recommendations?
Thank you!!
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