Hello everyone,

I'm new here.
I am about to purchase this steel frame Mercier.
But I know very little about this frame and the seller only manage to provide these info:

1. seat tube c-t is 51cm
2. top tube c-c is 53cm
3. rear space is 120mm
4. bottom bracket and headset are french threaded5. seat post is 25.8mm
6. simplex drop out front and rear

7. braze on cable guide and dt shifter

The frame is from the earlier to mid 80s and it was repainted (not very nice colour to me)
It has a the crown mercier logo stamped on the fork and the embossed MERCIER on the seat stay. (attached picts)

i tried Google image search for similar frame and the closest I've found was this:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/poufthe...573540/detail/

I'd appreciate any information about this frame as i'm about to embark on my 1st ever build...

Depending on the price of course-I'd go for it. Hanger limits you to a simplex dr-But very nice looking frame......brazed on guides are a nice feature-mine is all clamp on.

The frame itself is EUR40 but to ship it over to Malaysia (where i am) will cost me EUR80 - that makes it EUR120
I guess it's quite alright considering its quite hard to find such frame let alone a Mercier over at this part of the world = )

Would you happen to know what model it this?

That's a nice frame. The pointy dropout junctions are cool. Worth the asking price and a worthy project, IMO, despite the paint job. I'd buy it at that price.

yikes... more info from the seller... uses french bb... quick question,

can I use a french bb with a french cranks (which also means I will need to use a pair of french threaded pedal)
or
can I use a french bb with any other non french cranks... (I'm trying to avoid looking for french threaded pedals because they are hard to find)
or
get 1 of those Mavic 610 bb that can thread into anything to save myself a lot of trouble?

sorry if my question don't make sense, am new to this...

It looks newer than 70's/I had also assumed it was standard threading. Still the price is hard to beat for the quality it is. Cranks can be rethreaded easier than the bb. Can you find cups for it? If not-its a rethink I guess. For a first build french isn't the easiest.

I thought so at the begin as well because he said it was from the 80s. I guess the frame must have been older than what the seller claims it to be; and 80s must be the year he got it from some1 else.

I found french BB and cranks on eBay and the price is not too bad... it's just the pedals that is my concern. There are a few that i found but it cost about EUR70+ (excluding shipping)
I read up online that cranks can be re-threaded but i don't think (or have faith in) any LBS around my location knows how to.

Would you know if it's possible to put a 9/16x20 threaded cranks on a french bb?
The consolation is - this frame comes with the headset.

I really like this frame though = (

The frame has such nice detailing that I'm surprised that it takes a 25.8 mm seatpost. That means that the seat tube has some pretty thick walls, even if the tubing is metric.

All of my French cranks take 9/16" pedals because I own a pair of pedal taps. It's a simple procedure and it would be hard to screw it up because so little material is removed. There is no tendency for the tap to get crooked. I even tapped a set using an adjustable wrench before I bought a tap handle.

You don't seem to understand that a French threaded bottom braket has nothing to do with the pedal threads on the crank. Those are two separate issues. You don't have to use a French crank if you don't want to.

Grand Bois: THANKS!! that's a great piece of new. Sorry, I'm really new to bikes and I'm trying to confirm if I could stay away from using french cranks. I get all my parts from eBay and I just wanted to make sure that I'm buying the right parts. But thank you very much.

= )

Piecing a bike together from scratch can get really pricey.
Sometimes a frameset seems like a great deal, but without the parts and know how of putting it all together things add up fast.
If you pick up parts individually on ebay you pay anywhere from $6-20 bucks (more for wheels) shipping for each part. That can add up really fast also.
I am not saying this to discourage you from buying the frame just something to think about. Those are the cons.
The pros are that you pick everything that goes on it and it is a lot of fun.
Good luck if you decide to go for it.

Jake

junkfoodjunkie: yeah, completely agree with you the sum of the parts cost more than the bike frame itself... especially for a novice like me, mistake will cost $
but its definitely going to be an experience to actually get my hands dirty setting up a bike than going out than going out to buy a complete unit.
Plus the internet is a wealth of info esp this forum and sheldon which i can turn to in times of need (though i get confuse by information overload) ; )
I'm not in a hurry to get this up and running (i haven't actually paid for the frame yet... doing so after this post) it's something to keep myself occupy.

I agree, I have definitely spent more money building up some bikes than I would have for a similar bike complete. That being said I would not change it because of the learning experience. If done right, with patience, you can piece a bike together and get a good deal. You just have to look in the right spots and score some nice deals. Good Luck! There is plenty of help here on the C&V Forums.

Jake

Made payment.

Now, while waiting for it to land on my lap, I'm going to think of the colour scheme... I'm so excited...Its like waiting for Christmas morning... = D
When i get it, I'm probably going to start another thread to document my 'journey'

Thank you very much for those who responded to this thread. It's been nice conversing with everyone.

= )

updates on my Mercier...
stripped naked and found a set of NOS Gipiemme badge Simplex SLJ

sorry for the large image sizes.

Cudo's on the dr finds and WOW- very pretty so far. I was thinking the rear spaceing of 120 makes it a ten speed/of the 70's era. The seatpost size is mystifying, esp with forged drops. So little info on the old ones. Absolutely love the seat stays and forkt!!!! Anyone know of any model above a 300? (or if there is one?)

Looks like a very nice frame and excellent build-up, so far. It has to be an '80's product unless it has been treated to a bunch of later braze-ons: consider the under-BB-cable routing for one thing, and I've only seen that engraved forkcrown on '80s Merciers. That said, I don't know much at all about what Mercier called these later models, but am also surprised by the 25.8 seatpost size: this seems like it must be 531 or Vitus tubing, and should have something like a 26.4 or 26.6 seatpost.
Have you weighed the naked frame?
Edit: well after looking at the pics of that other Mercier, I may have to revise my time-frame estimate...it's possible that it might be from the late '70s, but if so then Mercier was on the cutting edge of "frame-building fashions" back then.

Your bike is a 300.

So, there you go...they still called the top model "300" into the (?) late '70s-'80s (?)
Azorch: if you have one like this, what is the tubing used and what size seatpost does yours take?

Did some rooting around on the web-I think it could be a Tour de France. They usually came in the pink team color. Did you find any remenents of color under the home paint job? Check out "The old ten speed gallery" It has a few merciers on it. (Most have braze ons as well/but are definately 70's era. Can't wait to see this build!

unworthy1: did not cross my mind to weigh it ... I have a 1978 Gazelle Champ Mondial with 531 tubing. this mercier (at its current state) feels about 60% of the weight of the Gazelle (full bike)
hrm... don't think this help at all ahahha sorry don't have a weighing machine at home, my estimate is the best gauge i can give for now.

JULS: YEAH! i LOVE the seat stays and fork. Those are my fav. part of the frame. DIY with paint stripper, didn't notice any pink bits; i guess the previous owner must have completely striped the original paint when he repainted it.

Are you sure about that seatpost size? It just doesn't make sense for a frame that nice to be made from gaspipe.

I'm not much Into intricate lugs, but those are DOPE

I have one that is purported to be a 300, but doesn't match up to others I've seen. The 300 used 531 tubing, by the way. The seatpost on the one I'm currently working on is odd - like a 25.2 (one more reason I don't think my current project is a 300... probably a 200.) The 300 I had, though, was an early 70's model, and it looked very much like the OP pic. I'm thinking the OP has a mid to late 70's ish model.

My rebuilt 300. Kept the crank,rd,and headset. Everything else from donor bikes. The paint was real bad (was white) Waiting on some cable clips. What color have you decided on for the frame?

Grand Bois: YUP...it's a 25.8. the 25.8 seatpost fitted snugly.
AZORCH: Does yours have a code etched at the bb? mine says G62.
JULS: Where did you get those decal? I had gray in my mind but i might just leave it bare as it is if it's really made out of gaspipe. Budget running low, so it will be for awhile before i have enough $ for paint. BTW did you DIY the paint job yourself? I like the chrome ends = )