S
Scott Gordo
Guest
So I was poking around the ol' interweb one day and found myself
presented with a very nicely priced ultegra 10 bike by the new
incarnation of the Mercier brand. I've got an apt full of steel framed
rigs but, like most, for the right price I'll consider expanding my
horizons.
I was looking over their sizing charts and they have a few sizes in my
range, a 58, 60, and 62. I happen to have frames in all three sizes,
and like/dislike qualities of each for different reasons. (I also have
mtbs and cruisers in different sizes.) And, you know, the seat tube's
c-c isn't an end-all, especially these days with integrated headsets
and all that jive.
I've also got 4 bulging and/or herniated discs in my lower back, so I'm
pretty particular about my fit.
As I was looking over their sizing charts, I noticed that there was no
measurement for the head tube. I figured, just for giggles, that I'd
drop them an email and see what I could find out. The following is my
exchange:
----- Original Message -----
From: scogo
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 1:08 PM
Subject: head tube lengths?
Hello, I'm looking for information on the head tube length for a
Mercier Draco Al Road in sizes 60 and 62 and any additional info you
could send me that's not on
http://www.cyclesmercier.com/geometry_al.html.
Thanks.
-----Original Message-----
From: CyclesMercier [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 4:29 PM
To: scogo
Subject: Re: head tube lengths?
We do not publish head tube lengths as they do not pertain to our
traditional geometry bicycles
CyclesMercier
----- Original Message -----
From: scogo
To: CyclesMercier
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 2:12 PM
Subject: RE: head tube lengths?
What does that mean? You can't give me the length of the head tube?
For a 60 or 62?
-----Original Message-----
From: CyclesMercier [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 10:12 AM
To: scogo
Subject: Re: head tube lengths?
Dear Sir,
Our head tube lengths are proprietary and do not factor into sizing of
our bicycles so we do not make them available to prevent consumers from
making an error in sizing. In addition, the multitude of possibilities
of stem rise and reach, stem spacers and along with the headset stack
height renders head tube length data irrelavant to sizing.
Head tube length has importance only in sizing sloping top tube compact
frames. CyclesMercier does not use compact frame geometry.
Our bicycles are traditional geometry. The seat tube length is given
from center to top. The top tube extends perpendicular to the ground
plane directly from the seat tube to the head tube.
Regards,
CyclesMercier
----- Original Message -----
From: scogo
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 1:08 PM
Subject: head tube lengths?
This is just one potential customer's opinion.
A company who sells bicycles exclusively online, unridden, and unseen
except though photos, you should provide as much information as
possible. This isn't my first bike, and I'm not buying it because I
like the color. I'm trying to compare the dimensions to my current
bikes to best figure out the best fit. You may not find that important,
but I do.
With all the variables that go into framebuilding and sizing, I'd
think the least you could do is provide answers to simple questions.
One last thing: "proprietary"? What does proprietary mean in this
context? That no one else uses a head tube length of the same size?
That you've developed some sort of special size for length of the
head tube? Perhaps it's your measurement system? Is it based on the
mile?
presented with a very nicely priced ultegra 10 bike by the new
incarnation of the Mercier brand. I've got an apt full of steel framed
rigs but, like most, for the right price I'll consider expanding my
horizons.
I was looking over their sizing charts and they have a few sizes in my
range, a 58, 60, and 62. I happen to have frames in all three sizes,
and like/dislike qualities of each for different reasons. (I also have
mtbs and cruisers in different sizes.) And, you know, the seat tube's
c-c isn't an end-all, especially these days with integrated headsets
and all that jive.
I've also got 4 bulging and/or herniated discs in my lower back, so I'm
pretty particular about my fit.
As I was looking over their sizing charts, I noticed that there was no
measurement for the head tube. I figured, just for giggles, that I'd
drop them an email and see what I could find out. The following is my
exchange:
----- Original Message -----
From: scogo
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 1:08 PM
Subject: head tube lengths?
Hello, I'm looking for information on the head tube length for a
Mercier Draco Al Road in sizes 60 and 62 and any additional info you
could send me that's not on
http://www.cyclesmercier.com/geometry_al.html.
Thanks.
-----Original Message-----
From: CyclesMercier [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 4:29 PM
To: scogo
Subject: Re: head tube lengths?
We do not publish head tube lengths as they do not pertain to our
traditional geometry bicycles
CyclesMercier
----- Original Message -----
From: scogo
To: CyclesMercier
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 2:12 PM
Subject: RE: head tube lengths?
What does that mean? You can't give me the length of the head tube?
For a 60 or 62?
-----Original Message-----
From: CyclesMercier [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 10:12 AM
To: scogo
Subject: Re: head tube lengths?
Dear Sir,
Our head tube lengths are proprietary and do not factor into sizing of
our bicycles so we do not make them available to prevent consumers from
making an error in sizing. In addition, the multitude of possibilities
of stem rise and reach, stem spacers and along with the headset stack
height renders head tube length data irrelavant to sizing.
Head tube length has importance only in sizing sloping top tube compact
frames. CyclesMercier does not use compact frame geometry.
Our bicycles are traditional geometry. The seat tube length is given
from center to top. The top tube extends perpendicular to the ground
plane directly from the seat tube to the head tube.
Regards,
CyclesMercier
----- Original Message -----
From: scogo
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 1:08 PM
Subject: head tube lengths?
This is just one potential customer's opinion.
A company who sells bicycles exclusively online, unridden, and unseen
except though photos, you should provide as much information as
possible. This isn't my first bike, and I'm not buying it because I
like the color. I'm trying to compare the dimensions to my current
bikes to best figure out the best fit. You may not find that important,
but I do.
With all the variables that go into framebuilding and sizing, I'd
think the least you could do is provide answers to simple questions.
One last thing: "proprietary"? What does proprietary mean in this
context? That no one else uses a head tube length of the same size?
That you've developed some sort of special size for length of the
head tube? Perhaps it's your measurement system? Is it based on the
mile?