You are reading a single comment by @_rc and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
SideshowBob
@_rc
Firstly, I hope I’m posting this in the right spot. It’s more of a general advice needed thread with the potential to turn into an actual project.
I picked up this incredible Mercian off Ebay a few weeks back (Shoutout @Jingle_Jangle for posting on here). I think it's one of the raddest frames/bikes I've ever seen. It's practically never ridden, has all the original parts, Deerhead groupset, handbuilt wheels, Nutrak tyres etc etc.
My original plan was to modernise it and turn it into my commuter / weekend ride / potential tourer (the classic do-it-all). First and foremost I wanted to make it lighter. It’s very very heavy at the moment. Secondly I was keen to make it as nippy on the roads as possible (for an old steel mountain bike that is).
My plan was to:
However, having done a bit more research, I’m beginning to feel like:
A) It’s more of a collectors item than I had initially realised. I’m guessing it’s probably worth more than the sum of its parts, and perhaps it should go to someone who would appreciate and use it how it is.
B) Probably more importantly, if I commit I could end up fighting a losing battle trying to shoehorn the frame into a build that’s always going to feel pretty sluggish. I’ve heard the 80’s 531 all-terrain tubing is considerably heaftier than what was used in the 90’s.
I’ve only ever really ridden track bikes aside from one three week biking holiday, so am a bit out of my depth with mountain bikes, especially this old. Hoping to gauge a general consensus on whether it’s feasible to turn this beautiful frame into something I would love and ride every day, or whether I should cut my losses and go back to the drawing board.
4 Attachments