The Mercian appreciation society

Having just looked there are a lot of nice Mercians on ebay right now, including a very clean looking tandem and 50s King of Mercia.

I just got a 1980 King of Mercia frame and forks. It doesn't merit a build thread just yet as I am still thinking about how to build it up. However any of you got experience with centre pull brakes on a KoM? There is a rear cable hanger brazed on, and I am trying to decide whether to get it removed (along with the pump pegs on the top tube) - when I get it it repainted. The other thing I need to decide is whether to get it cold set from 120 to 126 - or just use a bit of brute force. Advice welcomed!!

Personally I would never remove any original features.
I've just used a bit of brute force in the past and it's been fine. Although changing a tube does need that brute force aswell.
Centre pulls can look sick. I built up a Mercian for a friend with Mafac centres and it looked amazing.
What colour are looking at for the respray/powdercoat?

My 1969 Olympique 27". Frame refurbished at Mercian earlier this year at £££, then built up as SS & run in L'Eroica Britannia. I had thought SS was a good idea, but I now think not, both practically & aesthetically. Returning to gears when I get round to it.
Blue is my colour but am liking orange or green for next time, whenever that is. Really fancy a modern frame with carbon aero wheels. Should I self flagellate?

1 Attachment

.

1 Attachment

It's gold at the moment but a little tatty - am tempted by silver, on the grounds that I really like this bike. I was looking at Mafac centres, and they could look good. Do you hang the front cable hanger off the headset? Any suggestions for rest of the group set?

I chose centre pulls largely for looks, I don't believe that braking performance is so different from side pulls from the same period - am talking around 70s Weinmann gear. That's to say..scaaary.

I've seen Gold Mafacs in the past and thought with the right build they would look the shits. Maybe with silver they would really shine.
For my friend I built early campag, flutted cranks etc. It did look really nice and cam together really well.

Gorgeous paint @epilepticfridgeboy

Cheers! It does bear more than a passing resemblance to someone elses..by coincidence I saw photos of Skully's a few days after I had settled on my scheme.

Is the mercian ride ever going to happen? We need someone with organisational skills to step up :0)

How about using the Derby Sportive 21st September? It's the first running and also marks the opening of the new velodrome (actually now Oct I think).

http://www​.cyclederbysportive.co.uk/

I'm up for a Mercian ride but mine is still an ongoing project.
I'm in when it's finished for sure. Maybe a few of us could meet up for coffee and get a map out? I'm sure @luckyskull will be up for that.
Thanks for the picture @stedlocks.

@epilepticfridgeboy @Tomo187 - thanks for the comments and pix. Below is the frame I'll be building up. The only bike I've seen using such a hanger is this one - and not sure it's a looker, though I take the point about the heresy of removing original equipment. That said, the forks have a lamp boss - and that's definitely not staying!

1 Attachment

I found that trying to maintain all period features ended up being too expensive/painful. I actually think your frame would look OK, maybe better with that hanger removed. As you say, seems a little at odds with other details. That way, you can still choose centre pull or change to side should you wish.

Love the colours epilepticfridgeboy ;)

How about using the Derby Sportive 21st September? It's the first running and also marks the opening of the new velodrome (actually now Oct I think).

www​.cyclederbysportive.co.uk/

Interesting! Could we get a proper team there in time for the 21st?

I am back in the fold. Whether it will be done by then is unsure. Velodrome is open next year I think.

I wasn't going to do this, but Mrs. Pharoah talked me into it, and who am I to argue? Many of you following this thread will have seen this 1961 track frame on ebay, but anyway it arrived today and I put some wheels on to see what the clearances are like. Extra bonus: the bottom bracket, described only as `modern sealed' in the listing, is a Dura Ace 7610 NJS. I put some wheels on to see what the clearances are like. Sorry only phone pics for now.

ooow nice!

That was a total bargain as well.
Chapeau, monsieur.

Yes, I was surprised it didn't fetch more, and the DA bb was icing on the cake. Didn't you buy my previous orange Mercian, the 1963 Superlight? This one is like deja vu all over again. I am trying to figure out if the paint is original on this one. It certainly has a lot of patina, and where chipped I can't see other colours underneath.

That's stunning