Mercier in Progress, with Ideale Saddle
 

Reporting on the progress so far with the early '70s Mercier mixte that I wrote about here.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2630/...f7c154b97a.jpg

The lugwork and paneling were originally black, but I did not like how patchy that made the bicyle look, so I hand-painted them a greenish gray colour with enamel paint.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/...74d17a67e1.jpg

For some reason, the shop where I found this bike put 20mm tires on it - which are narrower than the rims! So I've replaced those with 32mm Panaracer Pasela Tourguards.

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Oh yes, and the saddle: a beautiful Ideale, Model 6.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/...0141f35859.jpg

Next will be fenders, and I have a NOS front rack that will attach to the Mafac brakes on this bike. Will also replace the DT shifters with some stem shifters. I have not thought of an elegant lighting solution yet, but am open to ideas!

Very nice! I love the look of the three chromed-tipped rear stays coming together.

Neal

All it needs now is a basket on the front full of baguettes. I never really appreciated mixtes until I found this site. Beautiful mixte.

+1 about the chrome rear stays. The bike looks great as a whole too. I love the appearance of the saddle, I have a Brooks professional that has aged in a similar manner and I think it's beautiful. Was painting the lugs difficult?

Off topic:
I am looking forward to your thoughts on your new saddle bag, particularly how it compares to the Carradice ones. How did the employees at Harris pronounce Zimbale? I was guessing it's "Zim-Bail" but I suppose it could also be "zim-ball-e".

How did you route the rear brake cable? Normally I see the centerpulls mounted on the "center" seatstays, not the top ones. This gives a good straight run of cable, and the straddle cable allows it to go around the seat tube. Sidepulls are usually mounted where your centerpulls are.

oo-la-la, merci! ;)

Is your user name a Pixies reference?

I've never seen a French mixte with chromed stays....does it have forged drop-outs? Quality tubing?
You've got a very interesting and pretty bike!

Re the chromed stays - I like the look of them too. But I am not certain how great the quality of the chroming is, and my feeling is that it's not top notch. Incidentally, the chrome on the handlebars is peeling in some areas - what is the best way to stop that?

I have been trying to find out what the tubing is. It is labeled "LUXTUB" which, as I understand it, is proprietary to Mercier. Judging by the components that have been put on this bike, I do not think it is cro-moly. However, the bike is surprisingly light and I have read others describing Mercier's mysterious tubing as "having a cromoly feel". So, in short, I don't know - but whatever it is, it feels superb.

In general, what I like most about this bicycle is the intangibly wonderful ride quality. It is so stable and "cushy" for lack of a better description - while also being light and fast. The comfort of an English 3-speed combined with the maneuverability and lightness of a French roadbike.

DiegoFrogs - There is "residue" evidence that originally the brakes were mounted as you describe, but for whatever reason, the previous owner changed the mounting. We are not sure why this is and haven't messed with the brakes yet. If I end up riding this bike a lot, I will get new wheels (with alloy rims) anyhow, and then will rethink the brake placement as well.

mkeller - Yes, it is a misspelled Pixies reference. As far as I know, the bag name is pronounced Zim-BAH-leh. I think I heard it said that way, and that is how I pronounce it. Could be wrong of course. I mean, "mix-tee" should really be pronounced "meext", but no one seems too bothered : )

That's cool. I was just curious. I didn't even know there would be a bridge up there to mount to. I guess there has to be, though, for fenders and whatnot.

I saw the brake cable in your blog. You can put a pulley where you have a hanger, which would eliminate one bend and thereby reduce friction by a lot.

Interesting,there is no bridge on the center seat stays.

Thanks, it's mostly my own curiosity. I am sure that there are more than a handful that I mispronounce routinely. The pixies are among my favorites.

Hot hot hot

I need to get myself a mixte. I just love these bikes.

If you look at the thread here about mixte bicycles, you'll see many with centerpulls mounted to the center stays. Others with sidepulls mounted in "reverse pull" to the top stays. As noglider pointed out, I, too, have seen them with pulleys, but couldn't see them on your pictures.

It's a really neat bicycle, I'm just curious about differences from what I've thought to be status quo.

Nice blog, too. I've seen it before, but don't routinely view blogs.

DiegoFrogs, look further at http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2010/...ormations.html