Classic & Vintage - 60's Mercier Track?

Hi everyone,

as you might notice I'm new to this forum, and as you might guess I came here for a specific reason, namely your extensive knowledge on vintage bikes.
So, to give you a idea about who I am and what my intentions are: I'm 26 and, after some years of mountain biking, some years of riding anything with two wheels no matter how it looks, I fell in love with fixed gear riding.
First a spend some month on a more or less crappy singlespeed which I bought of eBay for less than 150€. My idea was to transform this into a crappy fixed gear bike I don't have to worry about. But then I found something on eBay France and just knew that this will be my new ride.

And now I'm the proud owner of the Mercier Track bike you can see in the the following picture (and my flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellopasqualle/sets/72157624537917962/))

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4815421123_a938f9ae7b_z.jpg


I'm also member of another forum and the guys there told me that this might be from the 60's but unfortunately they couldn't tell me more. That's why they send me here.

I really would like to know anything about this beautiful frame. With which tubbing was it built? What's the meaning of all the decals and labels (especially that one on headtube)? Was it once used for racing? And what where to original components (perhaps I'd like to rebuilt it in its original setting)?

I would really appreciate it if anyone of you could get me any tips or hints.

Thanks in advance,

Pascal

Edith: Note, that the bike is in the configuration I bought it.

not that I know anything about that bike, but if you posted better pics, I think you might get more people to comment and go from there. suggestions:

- drive side pictures,
- close up of lugs, fork crown, bottom bracket, fork ends, hubs (if original)
- underside of bottom bracket
- check for serial numbers

Have you followed the link to my flickr page? There are a lot of detail pictures.

Have you followed the link to my flickr page? There are a lot of detail pictures.

People are lazy. You ask too much.

Seriously though, some people do have a bit more trouble loading pictures, so you might want to make it as easy as possible. I have to be pretty darn interested to follow a link to someone's photo account. In this case, my interest is not piqued enough.

because I'm feeling nice (and just a tad bored here at work...)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4816053944_0a655ba7ca_b.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4816084270_1c452828e7_b.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4815438239_bf9f5f9738_b.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4816055188_ea76c2d09b_b.jpg

Nice bike. Looks like Bocama lugs. Classic French bike, probably entry level track based on the generic steel used. 25.4 mm seatpost?

25.4 mm seatpost?
Yes! And thanks to the previous posters. Here are some more pictures

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4816081610_74f3356dac_z.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4815454061_848bb7b6a1_z.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4815433221_18d554cd4f_z.jpg

There's no serial number on the bottom braket, but one the top tube lugs there's the number 73 appearing.

The 73 on Bocama lugs refers to the angle of the respective tube if I remember correctly.

The 73 on Bocama lugs refers to the angle of the respective tube if I remember correctly.
Yes, that's the nominal angle of the lug, although it's trivial to bend those lugs a degree or two in either direction if needed. Chances are the lower lug has a "58" stamped on it.

the campy cranks are nice (i'd check for hairline cracks where the crank arm meets the spider), the track ends appear to be stamped, the mavic hub I think is from the 80-90s