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The balance of handling, performance and comfort is formidable and the frame geometry is perfect for speed and endurance riding
There are few Indian manufacturers that make Road bicycles for the leisure cyclist. This is our first review of an Indian Road bicycle. We present to you the Firefox Mistral 2015.
Frame, Fork and Design
Excellent Paint and Finish quality
The gorgeous matt grey alloy road frame and the rigid alloy fork are a steal at this price. Just by the looks of the bicycle, you'd think it was priced over INR 50,000. The paint and finish quality is excellent. The balance of handling, performance and comfort is formidable and the frame geometry is perfect for speed and endurance riding.
Comfort, Fit and Ride
Comfortable riding position and drops in a perfect reach
The riding position was comfortable and the drops were in perfect reach. I felt no fatigue while riding a 25 KM route. The stock pedals come with strap locks which can be removed for the uninitiated. The stock saddle, while adding to the look of the bicycle, isn't the best. A saddle upgrade will surely enhance the ride quality.
Wheels
Wheel rotations are great and adds speed
The Alloy double wall wheels with Kenda 700x23c tires give enough grips and should perform well in wet conditions as well. The ride was smooth for the most part. The wheel rotations were great and this added to the speed of the bicycle. While most of this bicycle might seem like it's good for races, we'd also say the bicycle would be great for commutes. Switching the tyres to maybe a 700x28c will make it more rough road friendly and the wheels will still help by giving you a great ride.
Drivetrain, Brakes and Shifters
Durable, affordable and effective components
The Mistral is great value for money with the Shimano Sora group set at under INR 35,000. This is something very few bicycles can offer. It is durable, affordable and effective. While we found the shifting a little long, the derailleurs were top notch. The brakes worked fine while braking at a decent speed. But we think these might be the first components of the cycle that will require attention after frequent long rides. The durability of the brakes on wet conditions will be a big test.
Overall Rating
- Economically priced
- Consistent ride and amazing components at the price
- Aesthetically pleasing frame design and quality finish
- Durability of brakes
- Saddle is not ergonomically the best for longer rides.
While the Firefox Mistral has its flaws with the saddle and brake durability, its price and functionality make up for everything. Also, these are both parts that can be upgraded at a later time. But when looking past that, the bicycle might just be the perfect road bicycle in its category.