Mercian Photo Thread
10-28-15, 07:48 PM
#51
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This is a custom 2005 Mercian Vincitore fixed-road frameset, built for a fella a bit taller than me: 64cm c-c, with an extended head tube. Built with Reynolds 531ST, though there's no sticker. Fits fairly wide tires, 32s in the pix, will try 35s soon. Changed to a Dura Ace -17deg stem after I shot the photos, so the stem looks a little less slammed now. French fit on a British bike. Sports my usual component mish-mash, with 'cross levers. The long-/std-reach last-gen Spb Pro calipers aren't often seen, I've been holding on to this set since '84. She rides very nicely.
Probably rides like a dream with those wide tires.
10-28-15, 08:35 PM
#52
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All these "I'm the original owner" posts are really inspiring. Funny that this thread popped up as I just ordered a new King of Mercian a few days ago, to be built up with a lightly used 600 Arabesque group this winter (my first full build project). It'll be pearly moss green with cream head tube, seat tube panel, and lug linings.
10-29-15, 06:46 AM
#53
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This is Julius, my 2002 Mercian Vincitore custom road fixed-gear, built by John Land to be a modern all-roads day-touring machine.
In its current configuration it's fitted with Miche Primato track cranks, a 1st generation Surly track hub that has never given a lick of trouble, a SunTour XC sealed front hub, Mavic MA2s, the Rivendell/Nitto lugged stem that once graced my old Riv, its 2nd pair of Nitto bars but its original, re-wrapped and re-shellacked cloth Tresso bar tape from when I first built it, Panaracer Pasela 28 mmm tires, Shimano RX100 (I think) dual pivot calipers and old Dia-Compe levers. The saddle was one I bought in a panic for too much money when Sturmey-Archer and Brooks went under briefly back in what, '99? Finally, the Carradice Nelson longflap has been my old reliable bag since I returned to cycling in '97. I LOVE this bike, and it is my all-time absolute favorite bicycle EVER.
This is Stripe, my 1982 Mercian Colorado built by George Bryan. It was originally built as a team-issue machine for a master's class racer on the old The Spoke/Harvest/Mercian team out of Boulder.
I bought this bike as a bare frameset online in late '03, off either the iBOB or Classicrendezvous newslists, for a whopping $50 plus shipping. It has a big dent in the top tube and the right rear dropout is a little tweaked, but it was my size and I love the color scheme. I originally thought I would put this bike on the trainer, and started gradually assembling parts picked up cheap from eBay or from forgotten drawers at the LBS or from friends who were "upgrading." Heh. Anyway, I briefly flirted with a 650B conversion but set it back up with basic Shimano 7-speed stuff that worked. I still was thinking, "trainer," and it sort of gathered dust.
Then one day, on a whim, I pulled it down and took it on a club ride. Whoa. It is hands-down the BEST fast-handling bike I have ever ridden. The geometry is just perfect for zipping along without ever feeling squirrely. I fell in love with how it rides, because it just feels right. I considered having it repainted professionally, got the transfers from Mercian, collected a bunch of Campagnolo 9-speed parts - and then decided it's only original once, and it rides just fine with its mongrel parts mix, and why fix what isn't broken?
This pic is from c. 2005 with the scrounged parts I was using then. I need a newer photo - the bike now wears a B.17, a two-tone bar wrap that echoes the barber pole on the seat tube (and looks like the one in the old team photo on the Mercian site), Dura Ace calipers and rear derailleur, and other minor changes. This is my only bike with variable gearing.
In its current configuration it's fitted with Miche Primato track cranks, a 1st generation Surly track hub that has never given a lick of trouble, a SunTour XC sealed front hub, Mavic MA2s, the Rivendell/Nitto lugged stem that once graced my old Riv, its 2nd pair of Nitto bars but its original, re-wrapped and re-shellacked cloth Tresso bar tape from when I first built it, Panaracer Pasela 28 mmm tires, Shimano RX100 (I think) dual pivot calipers and old Dia-Compe levers. The saddle was one I bought in a panic for too much money when Sturmey-Archer and Brooks went under briefly back in what, '99? Finally, the Carradice Nelson longflap has been my old reliable bag since I returned to cycling in '97. I LOVE this bike, and it is my all-time absolute favorite bicycle EVER.
This is Stripe, my 1982 Mercian Colorado built by George Bryan. It was originally built as a team-issue machine for a master's class racer on the old The Spoke/Harvest/Mercian team out of Boulder.
I bought this bike as a bare frameset online in late '03, off either the iBOB or Classicrendezvous newslists, for a whopping $50 plus shipping. It has a big dent in the top tube and the right rear dropout is a little tweaked, but it was my size and I love the color scheme. I originally thought I would put this bike on the trainer, and started gradually assembling parts picked up cheap from eBay or from forgotten drawers at the LBS or from friends who were "upgrading." Heh. Anyway, I briefly flirted with a 650B conversion but set it back up with basic Shimano 7-speed stuff that worked. I still was thinking, "trainer," and it sort of gathered dust.
Then one day, on a whim, I pulled it down and took it on a club ride. Whoa. It is hands-down the BEST fast-handling bike I have ever ridden. The geometry is just perfect for zipping along without ever feeling squirrely. I fell in love with how it rides, because it just feels right. I considered having it repainted professionally, got the transfers from Mercian, collected a bunch of Campagnolo 9-speed parts - and then decided it's only original once, and it rides just fine with its mongrel parts mix, and why fix what isn't broken?
This pic is from c. 2005 with the scrounged parts I was using then. I need a newer photo - the bike now wears a B.17, a two-tone bar wrap that echoes the barber pole on the seat tube (and looks like the one in the old team photo on the Mercian site), Dura Ace calipers and rear derailleur, and other minor changes. This is my only bike with variable gearing.
10-29-15, 07:36 AM
#54
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My retro roadie 1985 Mercian Classic. Mostly Daytona with Record cranks and Gran Compe centerpulls. I went with the centerpulls because they're nutted and I wanted to keep an English club bike flavor.
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10-29-15, 09:46 AM
#55
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Now that this thread is revived, it's time for you to post pictures of the bike here. I've seen it in the flesh, but, ya know ...
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10-29-15, 11:47 AM
#56
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Ack! I never took decent shots of it after the rebuild, which is nearing vintage status itself! I'll add it to my list of "one of these days..."
07-24-16, 07:18 PM
#57
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11-25-16, 06:23 PM
#58
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1979 Mercian - King of Mercia?
After some discussion with Kyle Brooks of Retrogrouch (a guy with a few Mercians), I decided to pull the trigger on this 1979 Mercian.
Serial #60879
58cm (my size)
Mixed parts, but all decent
Good paint
$499.99 (a.k.a. $500)
I've wanted a Mercian for many years, but I've waited patiently and not ordered new, hoping to find a good bike, in my size, at a good price.
More photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/8XjFXyg6SAQkS77z5
Serial #60879
58cm (my size)
Mixed parts, but all decent
Good paint
$499.99 (a.k.a. $500)
I've wanted a Mercian for many years, but I've waited patiently and not ordered new, hoping to find a good bike, in my size, at a good price.
More photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/8XjFXyg6SAQkS77z5
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11-25-16, 07:18 PM
#59
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After some discussion with Kyle Brooks of Retrogrouch (a guy with a few Mercians), I decided to pull the trigger on this 1979 Mercian.
Serial #60879
58cm (my size)
Mixed parts, but all decent
Good paint
$499.99 (a.k.a. $500)
I've wanted a Mercian for many years, but I've waited patiently and not ordered new, hoping to find a good bike, in my size, at a good price.
More photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/8XjFXyg6SAQkS77z5
Serial #60879
58cm (my size)
Mixed parts, but all decent
Good paint
$499.99 (a.k.a. $500)
I've wanted a Mercian for many years, but I've waited patiently and not ordered new, hoping to find a good bike, in my size, at a good price.
More photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/8XjFXyg6SAQkS77z5
Any thoughts on whether the tan paint is original? On the close-ups it seemed different in finish than the green.
11-25-16, 07:26 PM
#60
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Here's what Kyle had to say:
I saw that bike and it looks like a nice one. If it were in my size, I'd consider bidding on it myself! It has a couple details that are less typical on a Mercian, but not totally unusual. For instance, it has Italian style seat stay tops with sort of a scalloped detail whereas a lot of them are flat (and often have the Mercian name on them) but one of my Mercians has the same style as this one.
It also has no head tube decal - again not typical. But it could have been repainted, or it could have been ordered that way. A lot of Mercians were custom ordered, and the company gives people a lot of choices, including decals, and even placement of decals.
The stay ends at the dropouts look absolutely typical of Mercian.
I notice one detail that is a nice step up from some Mercians I've seen - the binder ears on the seat lug appear to be of a more robust, reinforced style. Often, those are just the type that are stamped into the seat lug, and they get deformed by ham-fisted mechanics. I've got and seen Mercians with either type. It may have depended on the builder, or perhaps they were specified that way in the order.
If I had to guess, I'd say it is a King of Mercia model, even though the KoM usually has some cut outs in the lugs. I say usually, but not always. Some even came with Nervex professional lugs, so again, it could come down to the customers order.
I sent a message to the seller asking for a serial number, as that would tell you when it was built.
I'm quite sure it really is a Mercian, despite the slightly atypical details, but the serial number would be a bit of confirmation - Mercian serial numbers follow a pretty simple and decipherable pattern, where the last two digits are the year of manufacture, and the first couple digits are the production number - example 12385 would be the 123rd frame built in 1985.
The price so far looks good. Mercians are a bit of a bargain, it seems to me. That one has a mix of parts, but they are pretty good - and there's even some Campy in the mix. Paint looks good, too.
It also has no head tube decal - again not typical. But it could have been repainted, or it could have been ordered that way. A lot of Mercians were custom ordered, and the company gives people a lot of choices, including decals, and even placement of decals.
The stay ends at the dropouts look absolutely typical of Mercian.
I notice one detail that is a nice step up from some Mercians I've seen - the binder ears on the seat lug appear to be of a more robust, reinforced style. Often, those are just the type that are stamped into the seat lug, and they get deformed by ham-fisted mechanics. I've got and seen Mercians with either type. It may have depended on the builder, or perhaps they were specified that way in the order.
If I had to guess, I'd say it is a King of Mercia model, even though the KoM usually has some cut outs in the lugs. I say usually, but not always. Some even came with Nervex professional lugs, so again, it could come down to the customers order.
I sent a message to the seller asking for a serial number, as that would tell you when it was built.
I'm quite sure it really is a Mercian, despite the slightly atypical details, but the serial number would be a bit of confirmation - Mercian serial numbers follow a pretty simple and decipherable pattern, where the last two digits are the year of manufacture, and the first couple digits are the production number - example 12385 would be the 123rd frame built in 1985.
The price so far looks good. Mercians are a bit of a bargain, it seems to me. That one has a mix of parts, but they are pretty good - and there's even some Campy in the mix. Paint looks good, too.
Oh - I just reread the email and saw the part about the serial number. DOH! Yeah that's totally consistent with Mercian numbers. 1979.
They made a lot of bikes that year - I have 2 or 3 from the same year.
I'm quite sure it's really a Mercian - and a very nice one at that.
Also, if the blank head tube bothers you, there are sellers on eBay who have Mercian decals in peel and stick vinyl. You could always put a globe crest on the head tube - though it looks kind of interesting as is.
They made a lot of bikes that year - I have 2 or 3 from the same year.
I'm quite sure it's really a Mercian - and a very nice one at that.
Also, if the blank head tube bothers you, there are sellers on eBay who have Mercian decals in peel and stick vinyl. You could always put a globe crest on the head tube - though it looks kind of interesting as is.
11-26-16, 07:51 AM
#61
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I guess that Rivendell is being pushed further and further down the list of priorities?
11-26-16, 07:58 AM
#62
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I think I'm in a good place of bike-contentedness now to think about saving for that Riv.
11-28-16, 12:52 PM
#63
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Here's my 1971 Mercian Olympic, repainted by Mercian in 2010. Built up with mostly Campy NR, TA crankset, Cinelli stem and bars, Weinmann centerpulls and period-correct TA bottle and cage, and Silca Imperio pump and Bluemels Club Special fenders. The Kirtland seat bag, VDO computer and Planet Bike mudflap are notably period-incorrect.
You obviously have impeccable taste in colors, southpaw! IMHO, all English wheeled vehicles should be British Racing Green.
Here's my '95 King of Mercia, recently reconfigured with slightly more modern components - mostly Shimano 105:
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11-28-16, 01:24 PM
#64
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Hello All.
My beauty... late 70s Mercian Super Tourist. Apologies for the poor photo. I'm inspired and will try to take some better ones soon!
My beauty... late 70s Mercian Super Tourist. Apologies for the poor photo. I'm inspired and will try to take some better ones soon!
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11-29-16, 01:49 PM
#65
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rivendell Atlantis 58cm | eBay
Then again, 15 bids, up to $1,205 so far, and the reserve hasn't been met. I'm guessing that is at least $1,500. The setup on this Atlantis is really nice, though, I wouldn't change a thing.
11-29-16, 02:50 PM
#66
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Nostalgia
I used to own a Porsche 951 whose distinctive rear looked just like the one in the bottom right corner of your picture. Maybe that adds to my nostalgia!
11-29-16, 06:13 PM
#67
Senior Member
Here's my Mercian. LA people will know this spot.
11-29-16, 11:06 PM
#68
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Hey noglider.... thanks for posting this pic of your Mercian's birthplace. It's vaguely satisfying. Do you know what year it was taken?
I used to own a Porsche 951 whose distinctive rear looked just like the one in the bottom right corner of your picture. Maybe that adds to my nostalgia!
I used to own a Porsche 951 whose distinctive rear looked just like the one in the bottom right corner of your picture. Maybe that adds to my nostalgia!
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New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
11-30-16, 09:44 AM
#69
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11-30-16, 10:19 AM
#70
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11-30-16, 10:31 AM
#71
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11-30-16, 10:40 AM
#72
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I'll try to post some better pictures of it.
12-02-16, 08:23 PM
#73
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Just after unboxing of the 1979 Mercian (possibly KoM?). I've wanted a Mercian for about 30 years now, so being able to find the right bike at the right time was great.
I'm going to do a full overhaul on it and then post more pics later. I'm a bit giddy about it, this is a very nice frame and decent component setup, and the paint is amazing for 37 years old.
I'm going to do a full overhaul on it and then post more pics later. I'm a bit giddy about it, this is a very nice frame and decent component setup, and the paint is amazing for 37 years old.
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01-05-17, 11:56 AM
#74
Old Guy
Well, you could say I am a bit of a Mercian freak:
My first Mercian, an Olympic, bought as a frame from La Mesa Cyclery in 1983. I still ride it here it is:
82mercBF2.jpg
In 2000, I bought an Audax Special, (essentially the same as an Olympic), via email from Mercian:
Audax2.jpg
I decided the Audax was a tad small, so I sold it.
In 2012, as a retirement present to myself, I ordered a KOM Touring:
2013MercianBF2.jpg
Recently, I found another Olympic, a 1980, for relatively little money on eBay, so what the heck, now I have a winter project!
1980Mercian2.jpg
I like the ride these bikes offer, the geometry just seems to click with my body proportions. They are also good, solid bikes that have held up well over the years.
My first Mercian, an Olympic, bought as a frame from La Mesa Cyclery in 1983. I still ride it here it is:
82mercBF2.jpg
In 2000, I bought an Audax Special, (essentially the same as an Olympic), via email from Mercian:
Audax2.jpg
I decided the Audax was a tad small, so I sold it.
In 2012, as a retirement present to myself, I ordered a KOM Touring:
2013MercianBF2.jpg
Recently, I found another Olympic, a 1980, for relatively little money on eBay, so what the heck, now I have a winter project!
1980Mercian2.jpg
I like the ride these bikes offer, the geometry just seems to click with my body proportions. They are also good, solid bikes that have held up well over the years.
Last edited by Loomite; 01-06-17 at 10:58 AM. Reason: A date typo.
01-05-17, 12:46 PM
#75
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Nice Bikes
Well, you could say I am a bit of a Mercian freak:
My first Mercian, an Olympic, bought as a frame from La Mesa Cyclery in 1983. I still ride it here it is:
I like the ride these bikes offer, the geometry just seems to click with my body proportions. They are also good, solid bikes that have held up well over the years.
My first Mercian, an Olympic, bought as a frame from La Mesa Cyclery in 1983. I still ride it here it is:
I like the ride these bikes offer, the geometry just seems to click with my body proportions. They are also good, solid bikes that have held up well over the years.
Nice bikes @Loomite I especially like the KOM touring. Will be interesting to see what you do with the latest.