amedias

I have a soft spot for Mercians, and have/had a few...



The purple Mercian is an 86/87 Olympic/Classic built with 531ST, set up SS and used for shorter Audax rides and some club runs/exploring rides, it actually has loads of clearance but a poor choice of narrow guards is currently limiting it to 'big 23s/small 25s' and until I get round to changing the guards it'll stay that way. It does currently have dynamo lighting on it too though but that was fitted after the pic.



This orange one is a 90s Mercian King of Mercia built with custom geometry and options, this is a very unusual KOM in that it's got their Audax geometry and is built from 531c, but uses canti brakes and can clear 35mm tyres with guards, or 40s without. It also has a slightly extended headtube for some extra bar height and I use this when I know the roads are going to be especially bad or include some off-road sections, or sometimes when I just want to go a bit slower and carry some more stuff. It's currently set up with 9 speed dura ace/ultegra mix drivetrain using down tube shifters and while was running a 42/26 double a while back it's now back to a 24/36/48 triple with 11-32 for a more off-road and "I'm tired and there's another 25% coming up" capable setup.



The Bianchi blue one is a Mercian Audax from early 00's and until recently* was my backup geared Audax bike option, a bit heavier than my primary bike, 32/35mm tyres, slightly different gearing using full Campag 8 speed with 48/38/24 and a 13-26. I tended to use when exploring new routes at slower pace or if I know the roads are going to be particularly awful. Despite looking tiny it has a very low BB which drops the whole bike (hence short HT) and it is just as long as the purple and orange Mericans and equally as well as the others even though it doesn't look like it!

*I've now sold this bike as something else has taken its place, I do kind of miss it though!

Steve Bauserman 

Here are my two Mercians. The first is a 1971 King of Mercia with Campagnolo Nuovo Record Group and Fiamme tubular rims.


The second is a 1982 Vincitore with Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleurs (note long cage RD and triple crankset), Universal Super 68 brakes and Super Champion Gentlemen 27 inch rims:

plonz 

Saw your Missouri City location and then a picture of what I’m quite certain is my buddy Ben’s old Mercian. You’ve equipped it a little different but I recognize the sticker on the seat tube. I lived in Sugar Land until last fall and rode a lot of miles hanging onto the rear wheel of that bike. He was really fast on it. Will always remember him on the Mercian ending up in a rotating paceline with a bunch of Fort Bend hammerheads. Looks like you’ve retired it from those harrowing weekend warrior rides and in very nice fashion.

Kilroy1988 

Mercians are among my favorite bicycles to admire, but I still haven't owned or ridden one. I just had to bump this because I've been staring at the thread on and off lately, and wanted to say that @kc0yef and @Hoss Cartright have each shared what I consider to be among the most beautifully proportioned, detailed, and equipped bicycles I've ever seen. Two Raleigh Super Course builds that I have planned for next winter will be heavily influenced by these bicycles. Thanks very much for sharing!

@Steve Bauserman Do you have more photos of your Vincitore? Also, that's a very lovely Morgan that you have! 'Tis another of my favorite mechanical things... Mid-'60s?

-Gregory

1simplexnut

Needs a few tweaks but rides nice

Steve Bauserman 

Gregory,

Here is a photo of the Vincitore taken during an early morning ride before the change to a Nuovo Record triple crankset for Eroica California:

1983 Mercian Vincitore

Since you mentioned the Morgan here is a photo of the Vincitore's four wheel stablemates:


cars

Kilroy1988 

The Vincitore looks great, but the car collection is superb! I'm a young guy and haven't had a chance to keep more than one around at a time, but I've had a '73 450SL and an '83 240D as daily drivers, and love both Mercedes and Morgans... Still looking forward to the day when I'll have one of the latter - it will be surely be something to hold onto!

Kilroy1988 

I'm surprised that I was the last one to post in this thread more than four years ago! At that time I was only dreaming about owning a Mercian so I guess it's about time I bump it up again! I've been out enjoying my recently refurbished '79 Campionissimo and last weekend I made a saddle bag to match. Cheers!

-Gregory

P!N20

Just jumping in here to say that someone who owns a Mercian NEEDS TO BUY THIS JERSEY! https://www.ebay.it/itm/234375352938...QAAOSwCGFh3~1b

El Chaba

How about a tandem…..from about 1980, but with some gearing/drivetrain updates…

thumpism 

Another tandem seen in an ad in FB Marketplace. Not mine.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...94454119420357