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Bikesdirect Mini Velo upgrade thread

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Bikesdirect Mini Velo upgrade thread

Old 08-06-21, 10:49 PM
  #976  
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Originally Posted by Nyah
Pay no attention to what I said about your bars, then. I prefer bars with deep drop because they provide a distinct difference between the hoods and the drops. For that reason, I don't use new handlebar designs, only vintage.

The frame with the Bici logo is the same one they use for all their bicycles. The one I ordered is the same, just unpainted.

The unpainted frame/fork was 650 euros. Shipping to a purchasing agent in Germany was 19 euros. Cost for the purchasing agent (MyGermany .com - No affiliation to me) to ship it to me in the US was 93 euros. Cost to have Simon-Bikes powdercoat it first would've been 40 euros. I instead had a local powdercoater do it for about $215 because I wanted a special metallic hue that Simon-Bikes wouldn't do.
Thanks so much. I’m going to seriously consider getting one of those.
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Old 08-08-21, 07:53 AM
  #977  
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Originally Posted by Nyah
The frame with the Bici logo is the same one they use for all their bicycles. The one I ordered is the same, just unpainted.

The unpainted frame/fork was 650 euros. Shipping to a purchasing agent in Germany was 19 euros. Cost for the purchasing agent (MyGermany .com - No affiliation to me) to ship it to me in the US was 93 euros. Cost to have Simon-Bikes powdercoat it first would've been 40 euros. I instead had a local powdercoater do it for about $215 because I wanted a special metallic hue that Simon-Bikes wouldn't do.
Originally Posted by chaadster
Thanks so much. I’m going to seriously consider getting one of those.
Horizontal length from middle of seat-tube to the middle of the head-tube is approximately 67.5cm.
Vertical length from middle of bottom bracket to the top of the Seat-tube is approximately 46cm.

Horizontal length is kinda long for me (5'6" height) but it looks like I can manage the reach by using a minimal length stem (38mm).
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Old 08-08-21, 08:49 AM
  #978  
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Originally Posted by Nyah
Horizontal length from middle of seat-tube to the middle of the head-tube is approximately 67.5cm.
Vertical length from middle of bottom bracket to the top of the Seat-tube is approximately 46cm.

Horizontal length is kinda long for me (5'6" height) but it looks like I can manage the reach by using a minimal length stem (38mm).
Hmm. The Simon site lists top tube length at 560mm, which is 42mm longer than the biggest Nano frame size, and the seat tube length (frame height) at the same 460mm you cite, which is 70mm shorter than the Nano. Nano’s head tube length is also 25mm longer, suggesting stack height on the Simon may be lower, but then the fork axle-to-crown height on the Simon looks taller, perhaps making up the difference.

I’d certainly welcome the added reach, but needing ~3” more seatpost extension is getting pretty extreme, so I’ll need to look at what the implications are there. Were it an OS seat post diameter, I’d feel more at ease I think, but maybe finding a sufficiently long 27.2 post is easier than I think.
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Old 09-25-21, 08:39 PM
  #979  
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Apparently BD has discontinued the Mercier Nano. I will continue to enjoy mine!
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Old 10-10-21, 02:45 PM
  #980  
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Well I did find a mini-velo. A few improvements are planned when I receive it. I'll keep my Dahon Speed for the times I need to store it in a small space.
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Old 12-06-21, 08:11 PM
  #981  
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Finally walked my bare Nano into the LBS and racked it for a HS resizing. I used the Park tool which was able to handle the oversized head tube length. No problem and the tube have a lot of meat to handle going from JIS to ISO.

The head set press will be another matter. Looks like I will use a threaded rod and the PT stabilizing cones to press in a 30.2 Tange Levin alloy unit.

Then a long awaited rebuild!
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Old 12-06-21, 08:13 PM
  #982  
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Originally Posted by jfouellette
Well I did find a mini-velo. A few improvements are planned when I receive it. I'll keep my Dahon Speed for the times I need to store it in a small space.
Which one did you get?
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Old 12-06-21, 08:43 PM
  #983  
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Originally Posted by 3speedslow
Which one did you get?
I actually got two.



and this one, which is still in transit

https://99spokes.com/en-CA/bikes/fuji/2015/m1
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Old 12-07-21, 05:37 PM
  #984  
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OT, just got back from the LBS with my Mercier Nano and its modernized HS. No more cheap price point junk for this bike.

I tried using the press they had but none were long enough so used the DIY threaded rod, washers, bolts and their alignment cones to press them in. I have some alignment cones on order to use the next time. Pics when I have the whole tool together.
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Old 01-03-22, 10:48 PM
  #985  
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Originally Posted by 3speedslow
OT, just got back from the LBS with my Mercier Nano and its modernized HS. No more cheap price point junk for this bike.

I tried using the press they had but none were long enough so used the DIY threaded rod, washers, bolts and their alignment cones to press them in. I have some alignment cones on order to use the next time. Pics when I have the whole tool together.
can you please describe what you had to do in order to fit an ISO headset? I take it the Park tool you referred to was a reamer/facing tool, but what about the fork crown race? And can you use the reamer without also facing, or did you mill out the necessary amount from the headtube I.D. while also milling down headtube height? If so, did you account for that in terms of headset stack height, or just use a spacer(s)?
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Old 01-06-22, 07:50 PM
  #986  
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Sorry for the long delay! Kinda hectic of late.!

Yes the ID was reamed out and the facing blade was also on it but it only advanced far enough to take the paint off. The headtube on these seem to be milled well.

The crown race... I passed this step in the hopes I could find a suitable Tange race the same size, 27. So far no luck so I have the fork at the LBs and will use their tool for cutting the race down and using the Crown which came with the alloy HS. I don’t get charged for any of this as I was a former employee( and I do it all myself).

Hope this answers your questions.

I still want to get a pic of my HS press which I made to do this and show it.
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Old 01-07-22, 11:10 AM
  #987  
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I didn't know a mini velo thread existed under the Folding Bike forum.
I've been riding my Sundeal $139 mini velo since 2018 as a errand runner in Brooklyn, NY.

My other mini velo is a $500 Java, more refined than the Sundeal.

Both mini velo are used mostly for shorter distance riding among busy traffic.
The smaller size makes them smaller target to avoid motorized vehicle.
Not particularly well suited for sustained high speed, since the smaller frames/wheels transmit more road shock.
Disc brakes on both mini velo pretty much makes them ideal for pothole ridden city roads.
20x1.5 or 1.75 tires offer good traction and suspension, skinnier tires would likely provide much stiffer ride at high tire pressure.
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Old 01-07-22, 04:39 PM
  #988  
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Originally Posted by chaadster
Does anyone have any suggestions on the stem situation? As you can see in the pic, I need quite a bit of rise. I know the quill-to-ahead style adapter would be a quick solution, but I don’t really like the look of the taper into the quill. Is there such a thing as a thread on steerer extender, which perhaps functions as a headset locknut?



Mercier Nano minivelo
The innicycle conversion headset is a work of art, really a very clever and nicely made design. A bit spendy though. (can be found on Amazon too I think). https://www.innicycle.com/
Otherwise your best bet for aesthetics is to keep an eye on ebay for a Nitto quill riser stem or steep+long steel salsa quill stem.
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Old 01-07-22, 05:55 PM
  #989  
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cat0020


Yes, the folding thread seemed to be the place for it on the assumption that they all are considered mini velo bikes.


I like that Java! How did you get it? Was it a frame build up?
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Old 01-07-22, 06:44 PM
  #990  
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Java was purchased on eBay as complete bike, I had some rebate money that allowed me to get the complete bike for under $400 including shipping.
Hydraulic disc brakes are somewhat overkill with small diameter wheels,
Carbon fork with carbon steertube is a nice touch, deep alloy rims make funny whoosh sounds when pedaling out of saddle.
It's a pretty quick bike, just not ideal for longer distance/hours in the saddle.
Maybe with a suspension seatpost I could put more than 25 miles on it at a time.

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Old 01-07-22, 09:03 PM
  #991  
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Originally Posted by jimmythefly
The innicycle conversion headset is a work of art, really a very clever and nicely made design. A bit spendy though. (can be found on Amazon too I think). https://www.innicycle.com/
Otherwise your best bet for aesthetics is to keep an eye on ebay for a Nitto quill riser stem or steep+long steel salsa quill stem.
Boom! Killer recco! Thank you!
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Old 01-08-22, 09:34 AM
  #992  
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There are some less expensive options to quill adapter to convert to usage of aheadset stems that can also provide some elevation to the quill.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284510539958

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154761941239

More compact adapter:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/403331950844
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Old 03-17-22, 01:27 PM
  #993  
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Mercer Nano minivelo is back

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/nano.htm

Last edited by jfouellette; 03-17-22 at 01:32 PM.
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Old 03-17-22, 07:39 PM
  #994  
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Wa-hoo! Knew they could not just walk away from a model that sells out every time they bring a new batch to the market.
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Old 03-17-22, 07:44 PM
  #995  
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Still not quite accurate in their specs, not a replaceable dr hanger.
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Old 03-23-22, 10:02 AM
  #996  
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Originally Posted by 3speedslow
Wa-hoo! Knew they could not just walk away from a model that sells out every time they bring a new batch to the market.
Some upgrades and updates would have been nice, like at least some new paint colors.
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Old 03-23-22, 12:57 PM
  #997  
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Originally Posted by chaadster
Some upgrades and updates would have been nice, like at least some new paint colors.
bikes online has a mini velo for 719, nice looking ride
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Old 03-23-22, 02:14 PM
  #998  
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Originally Posted by jdogg111
bikes online has a mini velo for 719, nice looking ride
I didn’t know the site or the bikes, but yeah, those Polygon Zetas are pretty nice looking, particularly the blue/purple fade variant. Thanks for the heads-up! They’re quite different from the Nano in both geometry and styling, but that isn’t a bad thing, IMO.
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Old 03-24-22, 02:04 AM
  #999  
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Originally Posted by cat0020
It's a pretty quick bike, just not ideal for longer distance/hours in the saddle.
Maybe with a suspension seatpost I could put more than 25 miles on it at a time.
Look very nice. what tyre size can it take? with 47-406/50-406, you should be able to run ~30psi and, if you fit some impermeable tape, you could run them tubeless... ~20psi
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Old 03-24-22, 06:47 AM
  #1000  
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I think they are 40-406 tires, came with the OEM wheels.. those aero rims are really stiff in 20" size... or maybe because I run them at 45+ psi.
I don't really bother with tubeless & sealants, just plain tubes last me a long time... maybe when the OEM tires wear out I would try some wider tires just to give more supple ride on the mini frame.
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