1971 Mercian Build Thread
 

Hey BF'ers!

I am starting up this thread to document the build of my 1971 Mercian frameset. I will update the thread with new pictures and information as the build progresses. This is my first attempt at anything approaching a "period correct" restoration, and I am very excited about completing the bike and taking it out for a spin (yes, it will be ridden)! I hope everyone enjoys!

First a little history:
I purchased this frameset on Houston Craigslist about two years ago. I needed an around the town bike and turned in into a fixed gear (I know, I know...). It looked like this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/...f33e6e69a0.jpg

The frame had lots of dents in it, and the bottom bracket threads had been retapped from British to Italian. The BB shell had so much material shaved off the faces that it took some luck the get a BB/crankset to work. I figured I would do a fixed gear conversion and salvage the frame from the trash.
Well, I liked the bike alot. It rode great. But, I hated the paint job. The top tube had been repainted a pearl blue at some point which did not match the original blue head tube and seat tube panels, so I went ahead and got a local contact to repaint the frame for me. Then the bike looked like this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/...cd508ab1ee.jpg

Well, I stumbled upon a real track frame and moved most of the parts from the Mercian over to that. So, I had to figure out what to do with this great riding frame I had lying around. Thats when I decided to restore it to near-original condition.

After two years of collecting circa-1971 parts, I took the plunge this past October and sent the frame back the the Mercian factory in Derby, England to have the bottom bracket shell replaced and get a fresh coat of paint. Here is what it looks like now:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/...e2e2b711_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/...3af15a69_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/...0d50484f_b.jpg

Mercian perfectly recreated the original bottom bracket shell and painted it beautiful british racing green enamel with white head tube and seat tube panels. I sourced reproduction Reynolds 531 decals that are period correct for the frame.

Here are the specs on the frameset itself:
1971 Mercian
Serial Number 5971 making it the 59th frame built in 1971
Most likely a King of Mercia (touring version)
Reynolds 531
Campagnolo fork ends and rear dropouts

The build will be Campagnolo Nuovo Record, sans the brakeset which will be a set of Weinmann Vainqueur centerpulls.

Stay tuned for updates and a break down on the component list.

*faints*

Nice, a Mercian is on my holy grail list. I am glad that it is in good hands now...

Yes, looking back on it I wish that now I would have done a restoration from the get-go, salvaging the original paint and decals.
But we live and learn.
Plus, I dont feel that this particular frame was so rare or special that it was a travesty to repaint it.
I forgot the mention in the first post that the frame also developed a crack in the seat lug right below the binder bolt (presumably from a previous owner installing a two-small seatpost and over-tightening the clamp.)
That problem was repaired by local framebuilder Hans Schneider out of Huntsville, Texas. He did excellent work. (http://www.hansschneidercycles.com/h...Schneider.html)
So with the seat lug crack and the bottom bracket issues, there really was no other way to properly build up with bike without repair work and a repaint.

Hopefully, I can do this bike justice in the end.

Nicely done! I have to say that my heart sank a bit when I saw your first repaint and component spec. But, you're well on the path to full redemption. In fact, by the time that you're done, I'd say that you'll have earned some serious C and V Karmic merit!. Kudos to you for sending it back to Derby!

My wife's family recently drove me though Derbyshire (but not Derby), and I REALLY wanted to say; "forget seeing the spa town; let's go see a bike shop instead!" But, it wasn't in cards. However, either a Mercian or a Jack Taylor are most certainly next on my C and V hit list.

Enjoy, and post more photos when you're done!

Thanks for the words of encouragement Bob!

After having this frame restored at Mercian, my dream now is to take a trip to England in order to visit the shop and get fitted for a custom frame. Actually, me and my partner have the goal of getting matching Mercians: mine probably a Professional model, hers a Miss Mercian mixte...but in matching color schemes!

That is going to be a stunning ride. I can't wait to see the final on this build. Fnny; I purchased a Mercian frame from a bike shop in Oregon a few years back, and they had the same issue with the seatlug cracking. They couldn't get the bolt tight enough to prevent seatpost slippage, and ended up cracking the lug. I don't know if that's a common failure on Mercian frames, as they *assured* me that they checked the seatpost ID before fitting a post. In the end they had the frame shoddily repaired and I ended up with a too-small Poprad frame (hence my nick on this forum) that I later disposed of.

Congrats on your decision though, I would also love to own a Mercian someday. Your's is a great motivator to do so.

Poprad - interesting that you also had a problem with a cracked seatlug. One thing that my local mechanic told me about Columbus SL tubing is that the original inside diameter of the seat tube is actually 27.4mm.
During brazing, though, the diameter around the seat lug shrinks (usually) to about 27.2mm, allowing the use of a 27.2 seatpost without the factory having to ream the seat tube after brazing (more labor).
If you ever wonder why Waterford spec's 27.4mm seatposts, its because they do ream out their seat tubes back to the original 27.4mm diameter to ensure a proper fit.
Does anyone know if this is true of Reynolds 531 seat tubes as well?
Could that 0.2mm be enough to crack a seatlug after repeated loosening and tightening of the binder bolt?

Thought I would post an update for everyone.

The frame is currently at the LBS getting faced and chased and having the Campagnolo Nuovo Record bottom bracket and headset installed.
Besides those two pieces, everything else for the build is sitting in the front room, take a look:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/...b20f683b_b.jpg

Here is the breakdown on everything:
Campagnolo Nuovo Record headset
Campagnolo Nuovo Record bottom bracket
Campagnolo Nuovo Record 170mm crankset (52/42 Nuovo Record chainrings, steel Patent Campagnolo dust caps)
Campagnolo Nuovo Record front derailleur
Campagnolo Nuovo Record rear derailleur (Pat. 72)
Campagnolo Nuovo Record clamp-on downtube shifters (w/ red Campagnolo covers)
Campagnolo stainless steel FD and RD housing
Campagnolo Nuovo Record high-flange 36-hole hubs (flat quick release skewers)/ DT Swiss spokes/Super Champion Mod. 58 700c rims
Suntour New Winner 5-speed freewheel (13-22)
Cinelli 1A 130mm stem (old logo)
Cinelli 64-40 Giro d’Italia handlebar (old logo w/ red Tressostar cloth tape, Velox bar plugs)
Campagnolo Record 27.2 two-bolt seatpost
Brooks B-17 Special saddle
Weinmann Vainqueur 999 brakeset (610 front and 750 rear w/Scott-Mathauser pads)
Campagnolo brake cable housing
Campagnolo Nuovo Record pedals (w/ toe strap loop)
Christophe Special (size L) toe clips w/ “Swamp” toe clip leathers from Japan
Christophe toe straps (red)
Challenge Paris-Roubaix 700x27c tires
Campagnolo top tube brake cable clamps
Campagnolo rear dropout adjuster screws
Silca Impero chrome frame pump w/ Campagnolo steel pump head
Specialites TA Criterium water bottle and cage

The only things not period correct are the Brooks B-17, the Challenge tires, and probably the Suntour freewheel (dont think New Winner was out till the late 1970s)
I am probably also going to install a set of 43mm fluted Honjo fenders. I considered Bluemels, but the shiny Honjos will look so much classier, and I do intend to ride the bike,
so I feel the aluminum fenders will be more durable.

Once I pick up the frame from the shop, everything will start coming together. More updates soon.

Can't wait to see this built up.

Kirke- This is going to be a beautiful build. Love the red touches. You've got great taste!

Very nice. I can't wait to see the final photos of it built up.

Gosh darnit! You stole my colors! I have a new King shipping to me next week. BRG Pearl and white pearl. Well, at least mine has a barber's pole on the seat tube.....

Very nice!

Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone! I can't hardly wait for this to be complete, I might even drop by the LBS today and pester my mechanic...

GV27 - Congrats on the King of Mercia! Hey, you can't have too much British Racing Green, and nice choice with the barber's pole.

Looks real similar to mine also. I bought a new Vincitore Special (fancy, long-pointed lugs) a couple of years ago. British racing green with a white head tube and white barber pole.
Beige lug lining. Mine is built for moderately loaded touring with a rear pannier rack and mudguards.

saaaawwwwweeeeeeettttttttttt.

If I ever get a custom frame a Mercian is going to be it.

great attention to detail! all of the red flourishes are going to look great :-)

Nice! Yeah, that's basically how my King will be. I went for white lug lining except at the head where it'll be gold to offset from the white headtube. When looking at a British bike British Racing Green seemed like the only color! My only decision was pearl vs. just glossy. Their color swatches don't show off the BRG very well and I didn't make my decision until I saw some pictures on Grant's blog (mercianblog.com).

The kicker is they're just so dang cheap! I hear the pricing is going up a bit but they'll still probably be cheaper than most others. At current pricing 631, basic lugs and braze-ons (bottle plus fender eyes) can be had for under $1000 with full custom geometry. I upgraded to 725, a bunch of additional braze-ons, the barber pole detail and hand cut-out cast lugs and still ended up under $1500 shipped. That's tough to beat. And built by a guy with over 20 years experience doing it as well and a paint job that takes a full month to complete - it's not like any corners are cut in the process whatsoever.

edit: sorry - that was a bit of a hijack I guess - I just really enjoy talking about Mercian!

C

Not a hijack at all! Lets get a Mercian love-fest going on here...

Jaw drooping beautiful restoration! I saw my first one in the wild a couple weeks ago, chained to a sign, in NYC. My size, baby blue, Campy...

Beautiful bike :)

I am feeling a bit light headed, that is one gorgeous frame!

i know id get crucified but my dream bike is a mercian build up with new campy, or even sram red or force.

oh, and with that barber ple (candycane) paint thing that they do

Nah. Mine will be a mixture of old and new. It'll have an old Super Record seat post, Nuovo Record headset, C-Record brake levers and old Chorus hubs. But I also got a new Comp Triple front D and a partially CF Chorus mid-cage rear D. Sugino touring cranks and Tektro standard reach calipers.

And I might as well start getting people warmed to the idea (though I posted it in another thread awhile back) - it'll have a sloping top tube. With the geometry I needed (bars slightly above the saddle) the owner (and frame designer) pretty well insisted on it. Thought it'd look goofy with a level tube and very tall stem. Maybe yes, maybe no, but I told myself when I started this that I'd listen to whatever he said. I could have put my foot down and had him make it with a level tube (he'll make whatever you want - in another thread I posted a picture of a god-awful hideous fixie monstrosity they built) but - to repeat myself - told myself at the start I'd heed his advice and he was pretty adamant.

Here is an update for everyone:
I started building up the frame yesterday. I am currently installing the Honjo fenders, the front is done, hopefully I will get to the back later tonight. Then its just the cranks, pedals, and setting up cables!

Here is a bad picture of the bike in the stand:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/...74974208_b.jpg

More updates soon!

Nice! Looks even better when built up.

I just pulled the trigger on a '62 King of Mercia (ebay UK) but, unfortunately, don't expect to be hauling it back to Chicago until the end of May. Until then, I'll just have to satisfy myself with photos! This thread has me chomping at the bit to get my hands on it!