LeicaLad 

This is my “impulse purchase”: a 1985 Mercian.

I’d like to know the model, if anyone might know.




It is in pretty good condition. It's been hanging without much attention for many years. There is modest oxidation on many of the bolts, suggesting a total strip-down will be required to get at it all. It has its share of nicks and scrapes, although none particularly bad.

This represents the “newest” bike I’ve ever owned. The components represent a period I’d never even seen before. (I moved to Asia in 1981, and returned only this year.) Somewhere I need to find a primer on "what is index shifting?" You think I joke. I honestly don't know.



The 1st generation C-Record rear derailleur is exotic looking, but shifts no better than the NR and SR models I know. But it sure is pretty! The crank set has a beautiful silhouette when looking down at it as I ride. I’m not that thrilled with the pedals, but that’s an issue with my footwear.



The brakes may have been swapped, as the rear still has the cardboard spacer on it. Not sure, but I’m guessing this bike may (only may) have come with the Delta brakes. Maybe not.









I was surprised to find no eyelets on either front or rear dropouts. The photos I’d seen were too clear, and I didn’t look too closely nor ask. I usually run a light rear rack, such as a Blackburn. I know there is mounting hardware to cope, it’s just a curiosity to me.

The hubs are a Campy version I’ve never seen before. I’m guessing they are cartridge bearings, but I actually don’t know.

The freewheel is a Suntour, and is 13-21. That’s a bit tight for this old horse, so I’ll be swapping that baby out ASAP.

Just for info: Anybody know the BB size on these? 68? or 70?



Lovely bike. If any care to comment and/or can tell me more, I would appreciate. This is my first English bike.



Thanks.

GrayJay

Nice find, very high end bike from about 1985-1987. Those shifters are friction only, predating the campy synchro indexing system. Brakes may be original to the bike, deltas are very expensive and were not always used on bikes that were otherwise all c-record. No suprize there are not rack eyelets, this is a purebred racer, not a drafthorse!

cudak888 

I like that anniversary Reynolds badge

-Kurt

norskagent

It might be a trick of the pic, but it looks like the right chainstay is bent.

5cagm

C-recordgasm . I kind of regret selling all of the 1st gen C-record stuff I had.

kirke

Mercians are often hard to pin down as far as models go, because these bikes are most often sold as custom framesets. Best thing to do is check out:
https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/
or some older catalogs:
https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Mercian-78/

If you are willing to pay a small charge, you can provide Mercian with the serial number and they might be able to look through their records and see what model your frame is, what custom specs it was built with, where/who is was originally sold to, etc.

My guess would be that its a King of Mercia.

GV27

That's a King of Mercia frame in all likelyhood.

LeicaLad 

Interesting. Many thanks.

It may be a racehorse. I, however, am distinctively a Belgian (draft horse). Stout and not as elegant as the Clydesdale.

This is a 1985. Frame #38 from 1985, by the serial #. It was purchased new by the guy from whom I acquired it from a bike shop in Highland Park (Dallas), Tx, in 1985.

I don't think anything is bent. She rides like a dream.

The lack of eyelets made me think is wasn't a King of Mercia, but this was just me guessing from the 1981 & 1986 catalogs on the Mercian site. It's why I was asking advice.

I'm still digging around to learn about the stages through which the technology has gone. I wasn't joking to say that I don't even know what index shifters are, except to know they represent a big change somewhere in the late 80s or early 90s. Never had the chance to see/feel/use one. Yet. This 1st Gen C-Record is new to me. Veritable dinosaur. Yup.

I've written to Mercian. I'll see what they answer, or what they'll charge to answer. I'll keep hunting to see if I can find a catalog from 84 or 85, as they'll be the closest to this one.

I appreciate the comments, information and suggestions. Helps me a lot.

Thanks.

Bianchigirll 

funnt you mention this. a guy from work was looking at one of my bikes today, now he is a big MTBr but not muchon road bikes, he points to the DT shifter and ask "whats this?"

what is the deal with the hubs? any pics? very beautiful bike.

cudak888 

The chainstay is kinked. The derailer cable serves as an adaquate straightedge. Question is: Was this a factory feature?



-Kurt

prettyshady

The other side is kinked too?

ps. love the bike

cudak888 

Am I missing a link to more photos?

-Kurt

due ruote 

I don't think so. I believe the implication is, if it's a factory feature it's likely the same on both stays.
Assuming it's bent, couldn't that be repaired fairly easily? I seem to recall someone showing pics of their new stay straightener recently.

Beautiful bike, and I commend your instincts. Last time I made an impulse buy all I came home with was an artichoke.

LeicaLad 

Well, the easy stuff first: the hubs

I assume these are state of the art 1985 Campy. I'd just never seen anything later than Record.



NOW: I had to run outside to look at the bike. The stay IS kinked. Eeek! Here's the reason. I knife-like hit.

Please advise me regarding the severity of what this means. I didn't pick this up cheap, so I need to know if I am to be making noise to the seller? (Gawd, I hate to do that, BUT... )





How serious is this?

Sigh...

jebensch

Those hubs are C-Record also, and totally awesome. The C-Rec stuff shouldn't perform noticeable any better than SR, but it's exciting stuff as far as design goes - like the Campy draftsmen got a green light on anything they wanted!

I hope you find a reasonable solution to the chainstay because it is a great great great looking bike!

bradtx

leicalad, I think it's a KofM with the heart shape cut in lugs.

Brad

PS If the drop outs are still aligned I wouldn't worry about it, have a LBS check it. If not the LBS will need to straighten.

LeicaLad 

I'm a bit freaked out by this. The LBS here are kids with very modest experience, and all on low-end stuff.

I'm not sure how to really test the drop-out alignment, beyond the eyeball test. Certainly, I hadn't noticed a problem in my test rides, but haven't done more than 5-10 mile jaunts in this heat.

I hope a couple more of the experienced guys who know what they're looking at might weigh in here. Please calm my slightly freaked out nerves!!!

Thanks.

Bianchigirll 

nice hubs. those Corse Record hubs aren't really sealed but they have big dust cap that kind of acts like a seal. you realls should have a special tool to remove them but if your real careful you can use a thin screwdriver.

those hubs are also the small flange sister to the coveted "Sheriff Star" high flange hubs. they should clean up nicely with a good cotton cloth

cudak888 

It's repairable; one fellow here on the forum has the Park tool for straightening chain and seatstays.

Regardless, you paid a premium for it, and you don't pay premiums for bent frames. Make noise. Lots of it. That frame has wreck value as it is now.

Granted, much of the value would be restored if straightened, but the dent will always be there, and unless that chainstay comes out picture perfect, that frame will never have the same value as an undamaged example.

If you need a professional opinion, find the closest reputable framebuilder to you and visit him or her if you need to shove an evaluation under the seller's nose.

-Kurt

GrayJay

THe photo of the rear brake shows that the wheel is offcetner of the brake. You might check to see if the wheel is dished evenly, if so that would indicate that the alighment of the rear triangle is off. Run a string from one rear dropout, around the heatube and back to the other rear dropout then measure gap to each side of the seat tube to judge if rear is in alignment. The rear can always be cold-set back into alighnment, fill the chainstay dent with bondo an re-paint if it cosmeticly bothers you.

LeicaLad 

Thanks. For me, cosmetics are less the issue than the structural integrity.

Plus, buying something flawed that was not presented as such. Grrr.

I'll make noise, but this is deeply disappointing.

Off-line for family matters, but back later. I'll report on reactions from the seller.

Triple sigh...

LeicaLad 

Well, with very deep sadness, I have asked the seller to take this bike back and refund my purchase.

Unfortunately, it looks like he isn't going to play nice. His response was a short "All sales are final."

This wasn't a cheap purchase. It was a CL listing out of Dallas for $600. Given this damage was not made evident, I've asked him to play nice and simply accept the refund. I'm hoping this doesn't have to escalate into the realm of serious.

mainducoyote

If its any consolation to you, you have way more in parts than what you paid for the bike. In perfect shape the pedals alone are worth about $200, the seat post $150, brakes $140, hubs $140, rear derailleur in perfect shape is worth close to $300. If I wasn't going to France for 2 months I'd even offer to buy it from you.

LeicaLad 

Ah, but nothing on the bike is perfect. Every single component has scratches, including the headset. I'd say the brakes would clean up the best, of all the components, and they are nothing particularly special (beyond being vintage Campy).

SO, NOS prices don't apply. No, as much as I think this bike is a beauty, I think it needs to go back -- or into someone's hands who knows how to straighten that rear stay.

So far, the seller is not playing nice. I'm not looking forward to this.

Any suggestions of steps I should take?

cudak888 

If each part gets max price on eBay. There are many auctions for these very components that fail to bring these prices, despite being in the condition you describe.

Far as I'm concerned, the seller's attitude earns him a Genuine Scumball™ award.

-Kurt