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06-18-06, 07:46 PM
Cross-posted at Weight Weenies
I originally posted my plan to rebuild my Mercian steel 1980 road bike and I was asked in the correspondence to send the details when this was completed:
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15633&highlight=mercian
I purchased a Mercian Olympic 22 inch bicycle from Beta Bikes in West End Lane, North London in November 1980.
Initial build:
Record Headset
Campagnolol record brakes
Brooks deluxe saddle
Promex chain
Gear ratio 14 – 28
Chainset 52/34 + 651 spindle
Pedals Miche
Stem SR 10 cm Handlebar Randoneur
Gars Campagnolo Rally
Front Jub
Levers powershift
Block Perfect
Tyres Miche
Rims: Superchampion Gentleman 81
Hubs: Campagnolo record
Frame geometry and details: http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/graphix/81_full_olympic.jpg
I moved to San Francisco and had a rebuild for the hilly terrain at Presidio Bicyle shop 5335 Geary Blvd and I had the bike thoroughly overhauled in 1988
I changed to a Shimano Deore Front Derailleur and a crank with a triple set
28/38/50
Rear sprocket set 13/16/18/29/24/30
All bearings were replaced,
This worked very well in SF. My favorite ride was from my apartment in Sunset, across the Golden Gate Park and subsequently the bridge, over the headlands, thro’ a tunnel to Sausilito and back. Unbeatable views
I moved to Ithaca, NY in 2000. I rode this bike intermittently around the local hills and gorges until 2002. At that time I purchased a Spectrum custom titanium frame build by Tom Kellogg which have used recently for time trialing and triathlons. Interestingly, he based the geometry of the Spectrum on the Mercian as I had no trouble with it:
Compact geometry: center to top 57 cm, center to center 55.6 cm, seat angle 72.5
I looked guiltily at my beautiful, but dinged and rusted Mercian frame. I decided this year to send it back to Mercian in Derby to be completely stripped down, have rust and dents removed and for it to be resprayed in the original maroon with new decals. I planned to use this bike for commuting and training. Hence, I opted to keep the original frame, convert the fork from threaded to threadless and to build the bicycle with contemporary components. The aim was to keep the peerless feel of the ride, yet make the bicycle benefit from modern bicycle technology.
Factory changes:
Brazed on x 2 water bottle holders for second water bottle on seat tube.
Theadless stearer added to existing fork
Rear end factory widened to accommodate contemporary 10 sprocket hub 130 mm
Bosses brazed onto the down tube for use as stops for handlebar gear cables.
Wheels: These were taken from my Spectrum and are 3 years old:
Hubs: Mavic Ksryium SSC SL
Rims: Mavic Ksryium SSC SL
SpokesS: Mavic Ksryium SSC SL
Seat post Ritchey Pro
Stem Ritchey WCS
Easton EC90 handlebars
Campagnolol Chorus threadless headset
Campagnolo Record groupset
Campagnolo Record chain
Triple crankset 30/42/53
Sprockets 13 – 29
Seat: Brooks Swift
Brakes: Shimano brakes with longer arms to reach smaller rims
Speedplay Zero pedals
Weight weenie bottom line: Frame alone 6 lbs 1 oz
Total weight of rebuild 21 lbs.
Renovation: Mercian were wonderful. They put up with incessent e-mails from me with new ideas. They were always prompt in replying and had lots of useful ideas. This was a great experience.
Ride: I stepped on the bike and it was like greeting an old friend. Yet as soon as I was out on it I could tell a great difference in performance. It accelerates faster and appears to be more responsive. It rained heavily on my first commute to work. But that didn’t spoil my enjoyment. This has been a worthwhile project. I have learned a great deal. I have had more people stop me and comment on the Mercian than have commented on my Spectrum.
For magnificent high resolution images please go to the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82843187@N00/sets/72157594170003335/
_________________
Proud owner of a 1980 Mercian Olympic road bike and a Spectrum Tom Kellogg Custom road bike
I originally posted my plan to rebuild my Mercian steel 1980 road bike and I was asked in the correspondence to send the details when this was completed:
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15633&highlight=mercian
I purchased a Mercian Olympic 22 inch bicycle from Beta Bikes in West End Lane, North London in November 1980.
Initial build:
Record Headset
Campagnolol record brakes
Brooks deluxe saddle
Promex chain
Gear ratio 14 – 28
Chainset 52/34 + 651 spindle
Pedals Miche
Stem SR 10 cm Handlebar Randoneur
Gars Campagnolo Rally
Front Jub
Levers powershift
Block Perfect
Tyres Miche
Rims: Superchampion Gentleman 81
Hubs: Campagnolo record
Frame geometry and details: http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/graphix/81_full_olympic.jpg
I moved to San Francisco and had a rebuild for the hilly terrain at Presidio Bicyle shop 5335 Geary Blvd and I had the bike thoroughly overhauled in 1988
I changed to a Shimano Deore Front Derailleur and a crank with a triple set
28/38/50
Rear sprocket set 13/16/18/29/24/30
All bearings were replaced,
This worked very well in SF. My favorite ride was from my apartment in Sunset, across the Golden Gate Park and subsequently the bridge, over the headlands, thro’ a tunnel to Sausilito and back. Unbeatable views
I moved to Ithaca, NY in 2000. I rode this bike intermittently around the local hills and gorges until 2002. At that time I purchased a Spectrum custom titanium frame build by Tom Kellogg which have used recently for time trialing and triathlons. Interestingly, he based the geometry of the Spectrum on the Mercian as I had no trouble with it:
Compact geometry: center to top 57 cm, center to center 55.6 cm, seat angle 72.5
I looked guiltily at my beautiful, but dinged and rusted Mercian frame. I decided this year to send it back to Mercian in Derby to be completely stripped down, have rust and dents removed and for it to be resprayed in the original maroon with new decals. I planned to use this bike for commuting and training. Hence, I opted to keep the original frame, convert the fork from threaded to threadless and to build the bicycle with contemporary components. The aim was to keep the peerless feel of the ride, yet make the bicycle benefit from modern bicycle technology.
Factory changes:
Brazed on x 2 water bottle holders for second water bottle on seat tube.
Theadless stearer added to existing fork
Rear end factory widened to accommodate contemporary 10 sprocket hub 130 mm
Bosses brazed onto the down tube for use as stops for handlebar gear cables.
Wheels: These were taken from my Spectrum and are 3 years old:
Hubs: Mavic Ksryium SSC SL
Rims: Mavic Ksryium SSC SL
SpokesS: Mavic Ksryium SSC SL
Seat post Ritchey Pro
Stem Ritchey WCS
Easton EC90 handlebars
Campagnolol Chorus threadless headset
Campagnolo Record groupset
Campagnolo Record chain
Triple crankset 30/42/53
Sprockets 13 – 29
Seat: Brooks Swift
Brakes: Shimano brakes with longer arms to reach smaller rims
Speedplay Zero pedals
Weight weenie bottom line: Frame alone 6 lbs 1 oz
Total weight of rebuild 21 lbs.
Renovation: Mercian were wonderful. They put up with incessent e-mails from me with new ideas. They were always prompt in replying and had lots of useful ideas. This was a great experience.
Ride: I stepped on the bike and it was like greeting an old friend. Yet as soon as I was out on it I could tell a great difference in performance. It accelerates faster and appears to be more responsive. It rained heavily on my first commute to work. But that didn’t spoil my enjoyment. This has been a worthwhile project. I have learned a great deal. I have had more people stop me and comment on the Mercian than have commented on my Spectrum.
For magnificent high resolution images please go to the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82843187@N00/sets/72157594170003335/
_________________
Proud owner of a 1980 Mercian Olympic road bike and a Spectrum Tom Kellogg Custom road bike