MightyLegnano

Hello crazy bikers!

Recently I got involved in a wonderful project that will restore an old black Mercier road bike. It's quite old. It looks like this (with exactly this font for the logo) but black :

https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/blog/w...for-sale01.JPG

It's only problem are some minor rusty points and a broken drop out hanger (part of the frame).

I'd like to have this as my main bike for traveling around and commuting.

So my questions are these:
Can I add a third front disc so I'll have more gear options? I live in Greece and there are hills and mountains everywhere! If I have to change the whole bottom bracket in order to do this, will it be easy to find one that fits in this old bike ? it has something very similar to this:

https://velobase.com/CompImages/Botto...0B1210165.jpeg

Also an other question:

I'm considering buy wheels with bigger width (like the ones that hybrid bikes have) so I will be able to carry more weight and also to cycle on gravel as well.

It seems there's enough clearance for that.

What would you say?

And the last question

Is there a way to tell the difference between an old iron bike and a steel one?

Thanks in advance! Your input is greatly appreciated!

CACycling

You want to go from a double crankset to a triple. You will need to replace the crankset and front derailluer. You will also most likely have to replace the bottom bracket to get the right chainline. I assume you have friction shifters so that won't be an issue. Bottom brackets are easy to get for virtually any bike you just need to know which type. (Most likely English or Italian on that bike.)

You can fit larger tires to your rims if there is enough clearance on the frame, fork and brakes. No way to tell without seeing how much clearance there is on your bike.

Old bikes were pretty much all steel. The differences are the quality of steel. Typically, the lighter the frame the higher the quality of the steel used.

MightyLegnano

You are very specific thank you very much !

SkyDog75

English and Italian threaded bottom brackets are easy enough to find, but wouldn't an old Mercier be likely to have a French bottom bracket? Not to mention other French spec components.

I've never personally wrenched on an old French bike, but I'm just guessing based on what I've read on Sheldon Brown's page on French bicycles. Thomas Kunich's page on French bikes, too.

CACycling

You may be right. Perhaps asking that question in the Classic and Vintage section of BF would get a more definative answer.