35 and still pretty !!!
07-10-15 | 02:03 PM
#1
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Joined: Jul 2015
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35 and still pretty !!!
Hi to everyone !!!
First post to the forum ...
I'm 48 years old and I live in Greece ...
Here are some pictures of my 35 year old MERCIER !!!
I had to put new decals since the ones it originally had were not varnished and were destroyed ... still these are very accurate except the colour that should be silver and not grey ...
The bicycle was purchased and put together piece by piece ...
First I bought the frame which is a Columbus Mercier with Vitus dropouts ...
At first it was equipped with everything that my older bike could oofer ... Simplex SLJ gears, Super Champion rims, Normandy hubs etc
Since I was not rich I spent all my pocket and occasional work money on improving the bicycle ...
Back at that time I used to race ...
Now the bicycle is in the condition you see and given to my daughter as a present !!!
She loves it ... who knows, maybe one day a grandchild of mine might ride it ...
The color is the original factory ...
So here it is ...
MERCIER COLUMBUS 1980
Vitus Dropouts
Seat San Marco Superleggera (new upholstery)
Hubs Gipieme
Rims Campagnolo OMEGA 20 (bought in 1990)
Crankset Stronglight 27 (I think)
Seat post Mercier aluminum
Brakes MAFAC Competition Gold
Stem and handle 3TTT
Gears Campagnolo Super Record (2nd gen)
Hope you like her ... she's always a lady to me !!!
First post to the forum ...
I'm 48 years old and I live in Greece ...
Here are some pictures of my 35 year old MERCIER !!!
I had to put new decals since the ones it originally had were not varnished and were destroyed ... still these are very accurate except the colour that should be silver and not grey ...
The bicycle was purchased and put together piece by piece ...
First I bought the frame which is a Columbus Mercier with Vitus dropouts ...
At first it was equipped with everything that my older bike could oofer ... Simplex SLJ gears, Super Champion rims, Normandy hubs etc
Since I was not rich I spent all my pocket and occasional work money on improving the bicycle ...
Back at that time I used to race ...
Now the bicycle is in the condition you see and given to my daughter as a present !!!
She loves it ... who knows, maybe one day a grandchild of mine might ride it ...
The color is the original factory ...
So here it is ...
MERCIER COLUMBUS 1980
Vitus Dropouts
Seat San Marco Superleggera (new upholstery)
Hubs Gipieme
Rims Campagnolo OMEGA 20 (bought in 1990)
Crankset Stronglight 27 (I think)
Seat post Mercier aluminum
Brakes MAFAC Competition Gold
Stem and handle 3TTT
Gears Campagnolo Super Record (2nd gen)
Hope you like her ... she's always a lady to me !!!
07-10-15 | 02:24 PM
#5
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 145
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: 1996 Marinoni Leggero, 1978 Bianchi Superleggera, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 2007 Specialized Rockhopper
Awesome bike! I have a soft spot in my heart for Merciers of that vintage as I am also 48 yrs old and grew up in Greece. It was a very popular brand at the time along with Peugeot and Motobecane. Mercier however just seemed to ride better than most IMO. Unique color too! Kales voltes (=happy rides) and welcome to the forum.
07-10-15 | 02:29 PM
#6
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Joined: Jul 2015
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Awesome bike! I have a soft spot in my heart for Merciers of that vintage as I am also 48 yrs old and grew up in Greece. It was a very popular brand at the time along with Peugeot and Motobecane. Mercier however just seemed to ride better than most IMO. Unique color too! Kales voltes (=happy rides) and welcome to the forum.
She absolutely loves the bike ...
Where in Greece did you live ?
07-10-15 | 02:41 PM
#7
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 145
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: 1996 Marinoni Leggero, 1978 Bianchi Superleggera, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 2007 Specialized Rockhopper
Sorry, I missed that part on your first post. I was born and raised in Athens - Ymittos, and have been living in the U.S. since I was 18. Parents are originally from Tripoli. I visit every couple of years however as all my family is there. How about you?
07-10-15 | 02:45 PM
#8
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 33
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Now I'm moving to Montreal by the end of August !!!
07-10-15 | 04:21 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 13
From: Hopkinton, MA
Bikes: 1938 Raleigh Record Ace (2), 1938 Schwinn Paramount, 1961 Torpado, 1964? Frejus, 1980 Raleigh 753 Team Pro, Moulton, other stuff...
Lovely. Maybe another photo with bike, you, and daughter.
Greece is much in the news, as you know. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts - we don't often get to hear what the man on the street has to say about anything.
Thanks for posting!
Greece is much in the news, as you know. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts - we don't often get to hear what the man on the street has to say about anything.
Thanks for posting!
07-11-15 | 01:49 AM
#11
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Joined: Jul 2015
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Just keep one thing in mind ... Greeks are not the lazy and deceptive folks that some people like to say ... most work 2 jobs just to get by !!!
Greeks have to work for 500$/month while others get richer and richer !!!
Greek people are not responsible for the national debt ... Banks and Bankers are !!!
In this part of the world the people suffer to bail-out banks !!!
Enough said ... it is not a political forum anyway !!!
07-11-15 | 02:39 AM
#13
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,784
Likes: 6,995
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Beautiful machine! Thanks for sharing it. In Holland it would struggle to make more than €200, though. Keep it and enjoy it.
07-11-15 | 02:56 AM
#14
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That explains the low sle prices for bikes, I guess !!!
Actually the rims were bought from Holland back then ...
Anyway I'm not interested in selling it ... I'm just curious !!!
07-11-15 | 07:00 AM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 13
From: Hopkinton, MA
Bikes: 1938 Raleigh Record Ace (2), 1938 Schwinn Paramount, 1961 Torpado, 1964? Frejus, 1980 Raleigh 753 Team Pro, Moulton, other stuff...
LOL, I'm not so much interested in the politics, as Jack Webb said, "Just the facts ma'am, just the facts." You could PM me if you're so inclined.
07-13-15 | 03:16 AM
#16
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07-13-15 | 05:56 AM
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 49
From: Work in Asia, now based in Vienna, VA
Very nice bike. Thanks for the photos. I love a French bike!
__________________
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
07-13-15 | 07:01 AM
#22
Zip tie Karen
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,005
Likes: 1,546
From: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
I think that beauty, sex appeal and elegance peak right around 35 years old or so. Wait. We're talking about bikes, right?
07-16-15 | 12:42 PM
#24
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It is 1980 or 1981 ... can't remember !!!
Yesterday my daughter stopped at a traffic light and a very old man came to her ...
"Could you please tell me whose daughter you are ?"
She told him ...
"Do you know my father ?"
The old man with tears in his eyes told her ...
"I am Nikos ...... your father had bought this from my bicycle shop !!! I still remember this one !!! They would go on training and I followed them with my motorbike back then ..."
I went to see him today and he showed me photos he kept from those days ... most in black and white so they could be published in local newspapers ...
Now that was a very nice ride on memories path ...
Yesterday my daughter stopped at a traffic light and a very old man came to her ...
"Could you please tell me whose daughter you are ?"
She told him ...
"Do you know my father ?"
The old man with tears in his eyes told her ...
"I am Nikos ...... your father had bought this from my bicycle shop !!! I still remember this one !!! They would go on training and I followed them with my motorbike back then ..."
I went to see him today and he showed me photos he kept from those days ... most in black and white so they could be published in local newspapers ...
Now that was a very nice ride on memories path ...
07-16-15 | 12:44 PM
#25
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Joined: Jul 2015
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Do you by any chance, or anybody else for that matter, know how to bring it to Canada ?