General Cycling Discussion - Mercian brand of bikes?

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froze
08-30-05, 03:39 PM
What can anyone tell me about the Mercian brand of bikes made in England? And Do you own one, which tubing did you select, how is the quality, what does it weigh and what do you think of it. Any and all comments would be appreciated. I am considering buying a Atlantis for touring when I found out about this bike.

Mentor58
08-30-05, 07:24 PM
You may also want to inquire over in the Touring forum, I think that there might be a couple over there. It looks like a very nice frame, very much in the classic style.

Steve W.
halfspeed
08-30-05, 09:19 PM
What can anyone tell me about the Mercian brand of bikes made in England? And Do you own one, which tubing did you select, how is the quality, what does it weigh and what do you think of it. Any and all comments would be appreciated. I am considering buying a Atlantis for touring when I found out about this bike.

I ride a 631 King of Mercia with almost 2000 miles on it. It's a nice hand-made frame. I went with a custom because I don't like the fit of contemporary road geometry. I don't know what it weighs. It weighs what it should. It's built up with Campy Centaur and Chorus. It took about four months to get it from the day I ordered it. It takes some time because they are built to order. They are very easy to work with over the phone and through email, which is probably how you'll have to do it because I think there is only one dealer in the US, in New York city. Bear in mind that the base price doesn't include all of the nice braze-ons that touring bikes require. Still, considering the current price of the production Atlantis, it's a bargain for a custom bike. Plus, you get to pick your colors.

All that said, when you get an Atlantis, you get the whole Grant Peterson philosophy with it. There are a lot of things done with the geometry and tubing, some subtle, that get it to fit and ride the way he thinks it should. Maybe that works for you and if you don't know how to specify all that for a Mercian, it won't work as well for you. You'll have to figure that out, though.

froze
09-01-05, 06:51 PM
thanks for the reply Halfspeed. I'll check into the fit thing.