Touring - Old Steel Bike Touring Components Advice Needed

On an older Mercian circa 1976-77 I want to set it up as a tourer for longer day rides

I need advice on:

cranks and front chainrings that will work with this older bike

bb that will work in a tourer set-up with the cranks/chainring/derailleurs/freewheel you recommend

derailleurs that will work with a large 34 or ???? in back on freewheel

freewheel with 32 or 34 large cog ??? Hubs are Campy so freewheeel must work with the Campy hub.

The bike has Campy hubs. I'll keep it set up for 126mm spacing, so I guess 5 or 6 speed freewheel that work with Campy hubs.

Please post your recommendations of touring component for my vintage bike.

I use a mix of Campagnolo, SunTour and Shimano in my 82 Romany:

-Campy hubs with a SunTour 14-32 Winner 6 speed freewheel.
-SunTour Cyclone MkII derailleurs (GT rear) and ratchet barcons.
-Early 90's Campagnolo MTB right crank (Centaur, I think) with Shimano ramped 24-36-46 rings (swift and smooth shifts). 89 Campagnolo Chorus left crank.
-For many years I used a Record BB, replaced by a Shimano Ultegra a couple of years ago.

Those vintage Mercian's are beautiful. You'll have to share some pics when you've finished building it up.

The Sugino xD 600 crankset is a very nice piece with 46x36x26 rings. Best price is at Lickton's Bikes (http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.aspx?PART_NUM_SUB='0043-70').

For the BB, go with Shimano UN-53 or UN-73, (assuming the Mercian has "English" threading). Be sure to measure before you order. I'm thinking it will take a 68mm x 113 mm, but that is only a guess.

The vintage Suntour Cyclone GT or Cyclone M-II GT derailleurs easily handles 34-tooth rear cogs. They are among the best shifting changers ever made. Available on ebay.

I also like the vintage Suntour Barcon shifters for touring. Also available on ebay.

I'm not sure about which freewheel to suggest with the Campy hubs. Probably a Regina. Ask your LBS if a Suntour or Shimano will fit those hubs. Sorry.

Hope this helps a little,

Ted Phelps
Central Valley, California

I use a mix of Campagnolo, SunTour and Shimano in my 82 Romany
In case you wonder how it looks like.

On the bb and threading, the Mercian is British as the bike is made in Derby, UK. Will any double or triple bb work - like could I use a new Shimano Ultegra triple bb, triple cranks, and triple front derailleur??? Did I read somewhere (maybe Sheldon Brown) that new Shimano front derailleurs are not indexed?

If you're using any bar end shifters, the front derailleur won't be indexed, which is great since you can use any mtb or road front der.
The BB I'm using with this triple set up is 70X113

Thanks.....but now thinking about it last few days I might just re-sell the older Mercian and enjoy my other new one. I've got a line on another bike set up for touring already - I might just turn around and re-sell the 1977 Mercian. I'll evaluate it's condition and such once I receive it Saturday.