tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post1259088209446816656..comments2024-03-29T04:01:31.445-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Another Season... Another Vintage Bike?Velouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-85749881953388929612015-01-04T12:30:31.594-05:002015-01-04T12:30:31.594-05:00Hi Ange - bearing in mind this was nearly 5 years...Hi Ange - bearing in mind this was nearly 5 years ago(!) now, I paid something like $75 for it. The bike was in running, but cosmetically battered condition. Prices for vintage bicycles have gone up over the years, and prices also seem to vary by area. Still, I'd consider anything over $150 too much to ask for a bike like this today. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40365137091520773152015-01-04T10:55:39.506-05:002015-01-04T10:55:39.506-05:00I'm curious to know how this bike was priced -...I'm curious to know how this bike was priced - I recently found the exact same black and white Mercier for sale but found the cost to be a bit steep. Not sure what a reasonable range would be for a vintage bike like this, but it's just so pretty to look at. I already own 2 Raleigh mixtes but I have a little bike greed at the moment. Angehttp://angeshoesnyc.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-7317993615194915412013-04-11T23:12:05.679-04:002013-04-11T23:12:05.679-04:00I bought one new in 1970. Loved it.I bought one new in 1970. Loved it.Barhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07275541120176500570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-19003309065269412392010-12-15T20:20:04.219-05:002010-12-15T20:20:04.219-05:00hey, just doing up and converting my Mercier now -...hey, just doing up and converting my Mercier now - really lovely site and the black / white combo of the mixte just got me thinking - keep on keeping on ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-59969400300478937052010-06-21T13:42:12.476-04:002010-06-21T13:42:12.476-04:00I just wanted to leave a comment and say thanks fo...I just wanted to leave a comment and say thanks for this post. I just finished restoring a Mercier Mixte and your post was incredibly helpful. Here's a link in case you're interested in how she turned out. <br /><br />http://modernandmaterialthings.tumblr.com/post/722475483/mercier-mixte-frames<br /><br />Cheers,<br />ChristinaChristinahttp://www.modernandmaterialthings.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-13798205798894140562010-04-19T14:33:12.625-04:002010-04-19T14:33:12.625-04:00I had a Motobecane Mirage (from about 1975) that I...I had a Motobecane Mirage (from about 1975) that I used as a commuter bike. I put on all-rounder bars (almost straight), fenders, and a rack. It may have had the same geometry as your Moto except that mine was a diamond frame. It handled well but also required taming. Oddly, I found that adding weight to the front improved handling. This is the case with some French bikes. And it could explain why you don't like it as much as the Mercier.<br /><br />The steel wheels may or may not provide adequate braking. Wait and see. Mafac brakes are excellent, some of all-time favorites, and I've worked on thousands of bikes. Proper setup is difficult, but they work great thereafter.<br /><br />I would replace the stem. The probability of you breaking it is low, but the costs are very high. It would be a very ugly crash.<br /><br />Lyotard pedals are very reliable and durable, as well as pretty.<br /><br />Plastic Simplex derailleurs work well at first. Then they wear out and work badly. The shifters are possibly even worse.Tom Reingoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-32656663736841254232010-04-04T23:43:55.414-04:002010-04-04T23:43:55.414-04:00They both sound like fine bikes if you have space ...They both sound like fine bikes if you have space to keep both of them. Otherwise, I don't think you should have much trouble moving parts from the Motobecane to the Mercier. <br /><br />If both wheels are 27", you'll be fine with brakes; braking may improve with aluminum rims or better brake pads. The derailleurs and shifters should be easily interchangeable. <br /><br />The only issue I see changing wheels is the width of the frame opening for the rear axle. Sometimes, the earlier 6 speeds had wider frame spacing than the 5 speeds, but frequently there are narrow 6 speeds that fit the same space as the 5 speeds. This is easy to check by moving the wheels from one bike to the other.<br /><br />Depending on how much work you want to do yourself, typically the French bikes have 9mm cotter pins, while your English bikes have 9.5mm cotters.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454395470271733836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-28440333398639607282010-04-04T21:55:52.027-04:002010-04-04T21:55:52.027-04:00spacemodular - Yes, especially after riding 36 mil...spacemodular - Yes, especially after riding 36 miles on the Motobecane today, I think I will keep it. I think I finally *get* how to ride that bike! Raising the saddle some more and having suddenly learned how to balance properly on the bike (I can steer with the hips, I can do it now!) has changed my relationship with it for the better. I will most likely change the handlebars (once again) to something more suitable for longer rides (maybe upside-down Nitto Dove bars?) and it will be my "steep geometry bike"...Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17925430255711634862010-04-04T15:56:59.484-04:002010-04-04T15:56:59.484-04:00Stem shifters should work. You can go with used or...Stem shifters should work. You can go with used or new, but used may yield a nicer quality component. Most of the new ones are in the $10-20 range. The new stem shifters usually come complete with cables but no housing.<br /><br />Stem shifters shouldn't stress your stem at all. Standing on your pedals at full torque power while leaning on your bars, will stress the stem.<br /><br />You will need to put cable housing stops where the old down-tube shifters go. Velo Orange has these.<br /><br />Sounds like you might be keeping both the Motobecane and Mercier. Good for you!spacemodularhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17321400696456232442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-73080452636973252702010-04-04T14:21:56.441-04:002010-04-04T14:21:56.441-04:00Hi Velouria,
What a spectcular looking bicycle. I...Hi Velouria,<br /><br />What a spectcular looking bicycle. It's almost identical to my 1969 Peugeot UO18 mixte that I acquired last year. Both bikes share the same French compponents;derailleurs,cranks,pedals and even the Mafac brakes. I hope to restore mine this summer. Good luck with yours, which ever way you decide to go.Garynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-26209825412992609472010-04-04T10:00:12.895-04:002010-04-04T10:00:12.895-04:00Sweet find!
I suspect the ride difference is due ...Sweet find!<br /><br />I suspect the ride difference is due to a slight difference in frame geometry and possibly the type of tubing used.<br /><br />Aaron2whls3spdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16954543886269776858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-25110633050915655522010-04-04T05:35:05.172-04:002010-04-04T05:35:05.172-04:00Wow, I envy you and all your lovely bikes! You'...Wow, I envy you and all your lovely bikes! You'll have to ride a lot to keep them all happy :-).annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14989947994626570874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-49327052688830655442010-04-03T19:42:25.144-04:002010-04-03T19:42:25.144-04:00Thanks spacemodular. The bikes do not have the sam...Thanks spacemodular. The bikes do not have the same gearing - the Motobecane is a 12-speed; the Mercier is a 10-speed. I would not mind changing the derailleur and shifters on the Mercier. Do you know whether it is possible to fit it with stem shifters, or is that not advised for the AVA stem? The Mercier's native DT shifters are bolted on, so removing them would not be a big deal.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-5164543067789892982010-04-03T16:06:48.195-04:002010-04-03T16:06:48.195-04:00Hi again Velouria,
A nice bike for the studio ind...Hi again Velouria,<br /><br />A nice bike for the studio indeed!<br /><br />Just wanted to say that I have refurbished/overhauled and converted a few French Mixtes - so my previous comments were based on that.<br /><br />It sounds like you want your brakes to work the most, so try switching the wheels out. They seem to be the same width and the rear wheels should have the same number of gears. If not - you may need to switch derailleurs. <br /><br />The Moto's are alloy right?spacemodularhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17321400696456232442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-38541136478869748502010-04-03T12:05:59.232-04:002010-04-03T12:05:59.232-04:00PS - To clarify about the brake pads above: The bi...PS - To clarify about the brake pads above: The bike actually does have new brake pads and still brakes poorly. We'd replace them with Kool-Stops, and this would probably improve braking.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-89133292687208634702010-04-03T12:02:59.366-04:002010-04-03T12:02:59.366-04:00spindizzy - get in touch re the saddles at "f...spindizzy - get in touch re the saddles at "filigreevelo-at-yahoo-dot-com", you do not provide any contact info. The B67S trade would be the best for me.<br /><br />Philippe - Thank you for the Mercier info. <br /><br />Re the steel rims - the bike does not brake well, or at least not sufficiently for me. I attribute it to the rims, because other French bikes I've tried from that period, with the same rims, behaved similarly. There is even a specific noise they make. I am sure with new brake pads this will improve, but I don't know whether the improvement will be enough for me. <br /><br />Jim - Oh, I actually really like 27" wheels and am happy this bike has them. There is a nice selection of tires now in that size, so it's really no problem.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-51547803773686768762010-04-03T11:12:55.626-04:002010-04-03T11:12:55.626-04:00This bike screams "650b". Hard to tell i...This bike screams "650b". Hard to tell if you could find brakes with a long enough reach. But you could do a multi speed hub with coaster brake.Bike Hermithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09071637596235597459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-7132387762193207152010-04-03T05:32:47.546-04:002010-04-03T05:32:47.546-04:00Re The mercier brand. It was huge until the 80'...Re The mercier brand. It was huge until the 80's in France, when the got bankrupt. It was founded in St Etienne (home of many mechanical industries like Manufrance, maker of Hirondelle bikes) pre WW2.<br />It has been bouth over by the employees and is now part of the Accell Group (Batavus / Sparta, Koga, Lapierre...) under the name Cycles France Loire. They still make bikes, mostly, AFAIK, for special uses (rental fleet, bike share programs - they designed the Vélib' bike), and also under the brand Poulidor in deprtment stores (Raymond Poulidor was a beloved french racer from the late 60's early 70's, famous for consistently finishing on second place).philippenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-34981957882524222872010-04-03T05:03:51.694-04:002010-04-03T05:03:51.694-04:00I wouldn't worry too much about the stem. Do y...I wouldn't worry too much about the stem. Do you plan to pedal out of the saddle, aggressively pulling the bars ? If you don't, it should be good.<br />Re brakes and dérailleur : If it ain't broke... What's wrong with a functional Simplex ? I've rocked a couple of them in my youth and they were ok. And steel wheels were good then, why not now ? Do you brake so hard ?<br />What I would do is to take care of the frame (rust and paint) first, a new set of tires, brake pads, cables, clean rims and transmission... A good, thorough, tune up.<br />And an Idéale saddle would be great.<br /><br />That's a nice bike, do not even think about Plan A : No one was riding fixies, or even SS, when it was built.philippenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-11421221774198055612010-04-03T02:18:15.204-04:002010-04-03T02:18:15.204-04:00I love seeing your new bikes. (Vicarious bike-col...I love seeing your new bikes. (Vicarious bike-collecting being quite a bit easier on the wallet . . . and your eye so much more discriminating.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-49378375753823302732010-04-02T23:51:36.651-04:002010-04-02T23:51:36.651-04:00I'm from Virginia, If you want to risk the ret...I'm from Virginia, If you want to risk the return postage, I'll pay the postage to get it there regardless of which you send back. I need a saddle for a mid 70s womens Raleigh tourist I'm restroying, so a black B-72 in good shape would be neat.If your B-72s are too scruffy I would be happy to pay a little extra for the B-67S.spindizzynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-71457028025466704542010-04-02T23:36:47.579-04:002010-04-02T23:36:47.579-04:00I also think you might want to change the stem,the...I also think you might want to change the stem,the old french ones do seem to turn up cracked or broken more often than others. When I was an unemployed 12 year old building bikes from junkyard parts we sawed many an old cracked AVA in two and used the clamp part for a seatpost clamp on a BMX bike or old Schwinn cruiser. Lightwieght seatpostclamp for no money(well, no money and an hour with a hacksaw and a file). I just did this again recently to make an antique looking seatpost clamp for a replica "pathracer" I built out of an old 50s Schwinn Traveller 3sp. frame a Sturmey 3sp coaster brake hub and a bunch of parts from my bonepile.$25 total and it makes me giggle.<br /><br />Asfar as what to do with the Mercier, you could do worse than ride the noble old thing with the parts that are on it and replace the stuff that doesn't want to co-operate as it starts to cause trouble. The plastic stuff usually cracks progressivly and doesn't leave you stranded...<br /> I find that the old argument about steel rims being bad in the rain is sort of cancelled out by most peoples desire to slow down in the rain anyway. My experience has been that skinny tires in the rain lose thier grip to a greater degree than good brakes and steel rims so that my drama is usually slidey tires and not insufficient stoppers.Of course I'm still crashing, just due to a different reason. I don't recommend regular crashing but I seem to derive some value from the occsional "re-calibration" it provides...spindizzynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-73689880121406573422010-04-02T22:56:35.535-04:002010-04-02T22:56:35.535-04:00spindizzy - If you're local, I'd like to h...spindizzy - If you're local, I'd like to have a look. The only saddles I have to trade are 2 well-used B72s (black, from the 1970s) and a new (in packaging) B67S in honey. But if you are local and I can look at it, maybe we can agree on a price where I could buy it.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54582496414289899642010-04-02T22:51:35.615-04:002010-04-02T22:51:35.615-04:00Kara - I do feel bike guilt, but evidently that ha...Kara - I do feel bike guilt, but evidently that has not stopped me from acquiring them : ) In my defense, I do envision a dedicated purpose for each bike I get, and in the past I have readily sold bikes that had become redundant. We are getting a new studio with a large storage area and the Mercier was meant as a dedicated "studio bike" that I plan to keep there - as the studio is quite far from my house and I will probably get there by subway.<br /><br />Justine - I did not know about Lance Armstrong and Mercier, thanks for encouraging my racing fantasies! <br /><br />Vee - was a nice surprise to see you as well! I was mildly hallucinating from having just cycled from Somerville to W Newton under direct sun, but good to have confirmation that you are real!Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-85335343594659017122010-04-02T22:47:45.062-04:002010-04-02T22:47:45.062-04:00Filigree, if you want to trade one of your Brooks ...Filigree, if you want to trade one of your Brooks saddles I have a very nice late 70s french Ideale #6 shortnose double wire "semi sprung" saddle in a honey sort of color(ask Somervilian, he proll'y knows what it is). It has about 10 miles total on it and looks old/unused.spindizzynoreply@blogger.com