Re: [CR]Mercian Geometry and Ride

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli)

To: CYCLESTORE@aol.com
Cc: MSCTROSE@aol.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 07:51:37 -0800
Subject: Re: [CR]Mercian Geometry and Ride
From: Mark A. Perkins <bicyclemark@juno.com>


Excuse me, but your response says you are responding to my message on 1-14-01, but it isn't included here. Only the response to my message, by Mark R. is included here. No problem, but I just wanted to make it clear to those who might notice. "Bicycle Mark" Perkins

On Mon, 15 Jan 2001 00:41:03 EST CYCLESTORE@aol.com writes:
> You know what it is; that outrageous middle man markup, ya see. It's
> those
> rich bike shop owners takin advantage of the buying public, their
> outta be a
> law.
>
> Actually their are laws, lots of them here and abroad, on business
> and
> imports. The one most people mention here is the laws of economics.
>
> Actually all fun aside Mercian has similar costs they pass along to
> shipping
> through dealers in the states. The advertise, take orders, sell a
> customer,
> work out problems, pack and ship, file customs manifests which all
> take
> employees - people who get paid real wages to perform tasks.
>
> The average bicycle dealer in the states does have an overhead cost
> of doing
> business that is 15-18% higher than a 30% markup used on many
> bicycles and
> subsidies the sale of many products. High markup isn't so high when
> you costs
> exceed you income.
> High Quality Bicycles in America are the greatest bargains a
> consumer can
> find. How many businesses willingly pay you 15% under their cost to
> buy a
> product from them. Not many, and there are not many bike stores out
> there
> anymore. It's sad.
>
> Having said that I have a very sad low overhead bicycle operation in
> a leaky
> warehouse (with charm) and I import a number of bikes that after
> freight and
> duty are calculated sell for less than the same products sold in the
> UK. Some
> are higher but most are the same or lower. It's a very strong dollar
> at work.
>
> Mercian is indeed a fine buy and has a great reputation but remember
> it's far
> cheaper in small runs not to stock anything. You can't test ride a
> bike that
> has never been built can you. Heron's are potentially on the shelf
> and could
> be ridden in advance at some (?) dealers and certainly seen at
> others. Custom
> bikes never can be. You buy the promise that it will perform as
> intended.
> Nothing wrong with that.
>
> The taste level for great equipment runs very high on this list, and
> for some
> people on the list they will never seriously consider a bike that
> wasn't
> "fabrique sur measure". They just want it to be so special, and
> unique and if
> it isn't they will not be satisfied. They put trust in a builder and
> take
> their chances and usually it turns out OK but if you do it often
> enough there
> is always a chance of disappointment.
>
> Mercians are fine bikes and I feel their building, start up costs
> and
> research and tooling were paid for long ago. The area they are from
> is
> semi-rural and the employees cost of living is probably low. A grand
> old
> company may have many older employees that know their job and do it
> efficiently and well. They are not hopping mad for pay raises every
> week or
> threatening to quit and move far away in a declining industry. This
> would as
> well as the Dollar/Pound relationship explain the bike as a great
> bargain in
> today's world. (corrections welcome).
>
> I wonder if some our authoritative UK friends can cast some light on
> British
> frame costs and why they are so low.
>
> The Mercian and Heron are both bargains if they do what you need
> them to do.
> I'd love to own both.
>
> Regards,
>
> Gilbert Anderson
> The Bicycle Outfitter
> Raleigh, NC USA
>
> In a message dated 1/15/01 3:47:40 AM, MSCTROSE@aol.com writes:
>
> << In a message dated 1/14/01 7:12:42 PM, bicyclemark@juno.com
> writes:
>
> << frameset (Heron) that has gone through a middle-man
> before being purchased from Rivendell or whomever >>
>
> Herons were designed by Grant Peterson of Rivendell, and built by
> Waterford
> to his specs. Originally available only through Riv, then retail
> outlets
> were added. Nowadays, Riv is considered a retailer of the Heron in
> the same
> manner as the shops that carry them as well. I have a Heron Road,
> and find
> it to be a well built, nicely finished frame. The workmanship is
> good, not
> on par with the best of the best customs, but nice just the same.
> Not a lot
> of filing of the lugs, for example. But they are nicely cast so
> they don't
> need much finishing. Originally I built it up with a racing group
> (all seven
> speed dura ace) now it is a mutt with a triple crank, long cage
> Suntour rear,
> Campy hubs and G40 rims. One buys a Heron, though, for the ride.
> It is
> exquisite. As nice a riding bike (if not the nicest) as I have ever
> ridden,
> and that includes Colnago, Merckx, Italian Lemond, Vitus, Raleigh,
> Marinoni,
> Pogliaghi (plus some more, can't remember them all). I would not
> hesitate to
> take my Heron on a 100 mile ride tomorrow. Or stick a large bag on
> the back
> and head up the coast to Santa Cruz. Or jump in with the local
> group ride
> (without the bag on the back, of course;0)
> I got the Heron as a test to see if I liked Grant's philosophy on
> bike
> fit/ride. If I didn't like it, I thought it would sell easy. I
> like it a
> lot. So much so, I have a Riv that will be here in a few months.
> Mark Rosenberg
> howtostretch.com
> >>
>
>
> _______________________________________________

________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.