Found this one in the trash.
 

Despite the suspicion that this is a dept store pos, I'll probably try to get it back on the road.

ColoRyan, that Mercian is one special frame. As for the rest of it...personally, I would pull the parts and toss them in your spares bin, and find a suitable set of SR/Suntour parts to go on it if you're on a budget, or Campy NR if you're not, and set it up as a sports tourer, which is what it originally was.

The seatpost looks like an Avocet. Be careful with the Avocet cranks, I broke a number of them back in the day. You're missing a chainring bolt anyway.

Trek 510 with full Campy. Bought from fellow bike enthusiast for full asking price.<br>
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2482/dscn0055h.jpg
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9219/dscn0056kh.jpg

*TWO* chainring bolts. Check the inner chainring, too.

Anything they give him will be a step up from the alternative, provided it's not as unsafe as using a couple sheet metal screws to fix the bike that he has.

Another gear catch today. One of my favorite thrift stores had shoes on sale today. Picked up this pair o SIDI road shoes, in my size. 49 cents.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/...b585340e_o.jpg

Here's the starting point for my custom randonneur frame ;^)

http://i.ebayimg.com/20/%21BrWBJtgB2...6Q%7E%7E_3.JPG

Campy 1010 long rear with fender eyelets. There are some more on eBay. I don't really have such a frame project, I just bought them because I like the look and idea of them; but you never know where that will lead.

Mountain Bike Finds and Bottom Brackets
 

Here are 2 of the 3 mountains bikes I've found lately, a Trek 830, a Gary Fisher Tarpon, and (not pictured) a GT All Terra. I normally look for road bikes, but these were too hard to pass up, about $25 each. I'm not that familiar with mtb's, usually aim for road bikes, and, in the process, learned the difference between a better mtb (the Trek) and an ok mtb (the Gary Fisher and the GT).
But I have a question about mtb's and bottom brackets. I've picked up quite a few road bikes but never picked one up that had a major bottom bracket issue beyond repacking the bearings, but 2 of the 3 mtb's needed a complete replacement. The Gary Fisher, which looked like it had been barely ridden, and the Trek, which looked like it had been fished out of a river at one point, both had bearings and bearing cages chewed up and trying to roll around in the bottom bracket. On the Trek it was obvious that someone had cross-threaded the fixed cup, so they could never adjust it correctly, and on the Gary Fisher the bottom bracket was full of rust, loose and wiggly, like it had never been adjusted correctly right from the factory. (The reason I think it might be a factory issue is amount of force it took to remove the cranks, like they had never been pulled before.) So is this a common problem, or just my annecdotal experience? Or even more important, when I'm dealing on a mtb, should I be more ruthless, expecting them to have been abused?
As you can see, I've already replaced the bottom bracket on the Trek (threadless, seems to be working well), and I have a new bottom bracket ordered for the Gary Fisher, but maybe I should have bargained harder, just expecting problems.
I always, always appreciate your sage advice.
Bob Johannes

This is just an amazing bike and the find I am dreaming of. I'll be looking for a Mercian at every garage sale.

Thanks, it will be work but that's all the more fun.

Thanks, I've seen your posts on here so much always helpful. I know you've seen a lot more bikes than I have, keep at it I'm sure you'll find one.

Thanks and good job on your find. Although it's fun being in the race to get the gems first, I think it is a much greater feeling to rescue a bike from oblivion like you just did. Nice workspace by the way, I'm jealous.

Awesome, never heard of that, I will try it.

Thanks so much for the tips...

I don't normally post my finds but I enjoy looking at them here because it reminds me that it is possible to get a great bike on a budget. I'm glad I was able to contribute. Keep looking, I'm sure you'll find one or similar in time.

Good finds Bob, I like the vintage MTB's. Yes I would say they are more often abused than road bikes, often being left out in the weather, and often never adjusted for taken care of in any way. I would guess the cranks were tight from oxidation and neglect, maybe. Did the GT have any markings for model or was it pretty obviously low end? I have a soft spot for GT, though I've rarely found anything above their lowest offerings.

Trek MTBs always get a good response around here. I have also had some of the better Gary Fishers (not the Tarpon). I recently had a GT as well, they made several different models that are labeled All Terra. The actual model name is on the top tube. Some of the GTs were pretty decent.

I have picked up many MTBs. Almost all of them have been in really good shape and not abused at all. Around here, people often use MTBs as neighborhood recreational rides. On the ones picked up at thrift stores, they tend to be in better shape than the road bikes.

You need to be really careful on spending on MTBs if you are buying them as flips. There just isn't much room for margin on them, even if you get them cheap. I tend to pick up a few $5 to $10 donors to help control parts spending.

The Gt is a "Tempest," aluminum frame, in nice condition. The only problem it has is with the shifters, and they are a mystery to me why they don't work, even after a thorough cleaning. It has lovely Shimano wheels that shine like new and that I know I could swap to another bike. I love fixing bikes, so each one is a little adventure.

I was surprized by the Gary Fisher, a very comfortable and easy ride, but the chain rings were just pressed metal, rivetted together. The frame and the rest of the components seem very nice--why be cheap with the drive train? It's no heavier than the Trek, and just as agile.
I agree, donors are the trick. I keep lots of spare parts in the garage, and the local junkyard is always a good source for seats, cables, cable housings, wheels and tires, brake parts, etc. When I give the owner $1-5 and tell him I didn't have to drive to town for parts, he's always happy. Last summer everyone was throwing away great bikes. I found in the junkyard a mint Panasonic DX-5000, ready to ride (my prize find), a Bottechia mixte, an old BSA 3-speed, and a Belgian "American Arrow." I missed a beautiful Schwinn World Traveller--bent in the pile, but I grabbed the front wheel.
Every hunter loves to share stories.

Just got this yesterday. She's a tall one!
Vista Silver Shadow
lugged frame/araya 1435 tubes
made in japan for nida
shimano altus lt components
dia compe brakes
araya wheels
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=147849http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=147850
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=147847

http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/pencil.png

The Tempest is actually a pretty good model, better than the Gary Fisher and the Trek. But Treks have that name recognition around here. Do a search on trigger shifters, its pretty common for them to gum up.

I was at the flea market, about to give up. It's been dry of decent bikes for a LONG time. I saw one I didn't see before, though I had passed by the same booth several times. Anyway, I have no earthly idea of the brand?

It has riser bars and SR stem, Tange Levin headset, NGS Campy deraillers(front broken), a set of clamp on Shimano friction shifters I've never seen before, early eighties Shimano 600 cranks and nutted 600 brakes.

For the frame, no bottle cage braze ons, cable guides, etc. Cutout lugs with heart shapes, Shimano dropouts(odd for a frame this age?) I am thinking it may be some sort of Romic maybe, possibly a Fuji? It has rainbow seat tube stripes, which seems to be the only thing the previous owner didn't paint over.

A strange find to be sure, but WTH is it?? Best part was the price, $25...:D S/N is on the bottom bracket, and is 1045751577,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0281.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0279.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0280.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0278.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0282.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0284.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0285.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN0287.jpg

Wow, one of the best finds in this thread---$20 is an incredible price. I don't think those are track bars but they look pretty nice---are those brake levers embossed with 'Mercian'?

Nice bike. Looks like an Avocet seat post, installed backwards and using hardware store bolts:
http://www.velobase.com/CompImages/S...0BB17EEDA.jpeg

I got some catches today at the New Paltz swap today.

Two sets of Campagnolo MTB cranks with one set of pedals :) One crank set is less used than the other.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_7691.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_7692.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_7694.jpg

Specialized StreetStomper for $50. It's a rider, and it's cleaning up VERY nicely.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_7696.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_7699.jpg

And a worn CODA road compact double

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...y/IMG_7695.jpg

-Use a garden hose to rinse it off.
-Spray it with a cleaner like Simple Green, Awesome, Fantastik or the like.
-Then gently go over it with a soft scrub brush. A tooth brush can get into hard to reach places.
-Use the garden hose to rinse it off again.
-Use Turtle Wax polishing compound* (white paste -- about $2) on a dampened cloth. Apply gently and carefully.
-Use Turtle Wax rubbing compound* (red paste -- about $2) on a very dampened cloth for really rough spots. Be extremely careful to not wear away the paint.
-Wipe it down with a towel
-Polish with car wax.

Just did this with a road bike bike from the '70s that was coated in some serious schmutz. Looked horrible. Looks like new now. I was lucky and didn't find many scratches at all under the schmutz!

*Alternate: use an auto finish restorer

Scratch and dent sale at REI today. Last trip I landed a new set of 50/39/30 Octalinks with the BB off a bike damaged in shipping. This time a set of Dirt drops with 9speed bar ends, Tekro brake levers, stem and wrapped in Brooks tape. The Tape will end up on my 98 T700 to go with the Honey saddle. That bike was suppose to be my all weather but with the Leather bar tape it will be my fair weather rider. Time to put fenders on the T700 or build that Disc Brake commuter with the CX Nashbar frame I been thinking about.
The shifters may end up on the 95 for now. The Right brifter is flaky. I pulled it apart because it was jamming. Chunk of broken off spring metal popped out. I think it is some of the tension spring. Have to wrap your fingers around brake before you can get it to down shift with the small paddle.

Not sure where the Dirt drops will land..Maybe the 95, Maybe the shelf for when I build the disc commuter.

Cool find, I've never seen lugs like that but they look nice. Be sure to post what you find I'm really curious about that one.

Hey thanks, the levers are Modolo.

Nice looking bike, I really like the older Specialized.

http://i40.tinypic.com/if3nnt.jpg

rescued from the trash a few weeks ago! obviously needs some work.

not so C&V, but some good catches from this weekend's swap meet. will all likely find their way on a C&V build at some point.
7700 DA FD $5.
10spd 6600 cassette low miles $15
Mavic open pro rim, hugi hub, continental grand prix tire (85% life) and tube: for the price of a new tube ($5).
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lME3N8JWpjQ/S9...0/P4250198.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lME3N8JWpjQ/S9...0/P4250201.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lME3N8JWpjQ/S9...0/P4250202.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lME3N8JWpjQ/S9...0/P4250204.JPG