Mercian tip save build

Okay. Long time forum member. Mainly a classifieds lurker (best to be honest.) Not even a Londoner any more. Never done a build thread.

I rescued this beauty from the tip yesterday.

It’s my size (55/55) it’s 2004, has brake mounts and mudguard eyelets so will make a fine winter hack. (Although in my head maybe one day it’ll get a full respray)

The seatpost actually came out with just a bit of muscle (and I don’t even really have muscles)

The bottom bracket was not giving an inch so I have taken it to Argos (now I’m back in Bristol.)

Needs the forks tracking, and they’ll get the BB out for me. Also supply a new seatclamp bolt.

Currently on about £100-£120 depending on how much of a pain the BB is to remove.

I’m back in london on a contract next year for a couple of days a week for a few months so will likely build it up ratty as I’ll be leaving it locked up for days on end.

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The hilarity of the alloy ‘Kabon’ bars did not escape me.

If anyone wants some aero alloy bars FOC then HMU

Superb. Subed.

Build update.

I had a seatpost and bottle cage kicking about despite annoyingly donating my parts box to a charity not long ago.

@Foreigner65 hooked me up with a saddle and some pedals which aren’t on yet as I have no cranks.

The full beater build kinda went out the window when I accidentally bought some Tokyo fixed carbon rimmed wheels - but they were really good value so I’m at peace with it.

Not sure if I’m gonna go modern/retro beater with the cockpit. Drops, risers or bullhorns I’m still unsure.

Looking for a tatty but good chainset. Hard when you can pick up sugino messengers for £70

Can’t decide on silver or black (or maybe silver with black chainring?)

Anyway. Here’s how it’s going.

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Edit. Sugino pista @ £60
https://www.velodrome.shop/130bcd-chainsets/sugino-pista-chainset/

that's gorgeous

Great find! Definitely needs silver cranks and a quill stem.

Dibs etc. if you ever decide to move it on.

You have a good tip where you live!

I would say silver with black chainring... General rule (that I just made up) of matching it to the wheels; with the rims being the chainring, and the spokes / hubs being the cranks.

I would fit mudguards and run a quill stem, with drops & levers for full winter hack mode, or battered risers and quill for full rat mode.

Seconded - I am also in Bristol and want to know what tips you frequent so I can hang around like a bad smell

Box section rims and silver parts!

Lovely frame

Fuck me, that was in the tip!

That's almost certainly what mercian call 'french blue' btw. In case you want to get a touchup pot (or several!) from them

Lovely frame, great find. Definitely silver cranks and maybe black ring with those wheels. Those Sugino's look a bit cheap to me if i'm being honest. I really rate Andel's from Hubjub. Cheap, good quality casting, 144 bcd, more bottom bracket and chainring options and a good shop to deal with.

https://www.hubjub.co.uk/andel-single-speed-fluted-cranks-144bcd-189-p.asp

I had them on my old Argos which isn't a million miles from where you're heading

I was watching these waiting for a bargain (around £100?) - the seller ended early to someone else for £65. (Facepalm)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Road-Bike-Fixed-wheelset-700c-/224692512502?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

So I kinda bought the deadly 38’s half out of frustration!

Beauty! Yes I’d like to end up there

What bb did you use for a normal track chain line? There’s actually a set with chainring on eBay I’ve been watching

From memory 111mm UN55, cycleclinic reckons they should be 11omm JIS for 42mm chainline

https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/products/andel-track-single-speed-1-8-track-crankset-144bcd-fluted-silver165mm-170mm

@Foreigner65 also hooked me up with mudguards, so that’s definitely on the cards until summer at least!

Spoiler alert to anyone who cares. I quite like white bar tape so criticise all you like but that’s the era of cycling I fell in love with, and seeing as I got given a white saddle….

Subbed. Lovely
Gonna be the third person to ask which tip as I also live in Bristol and have a few tip runs to make..
I was once at the tip near my dad's and they were funny about letting me go to the bike pile without a bike to throw away, and almost certainly wouldn't have let me take one away...

Any ideas why the top of the seat tube and base of the top tube are like they are? Repaired at some point?

My family live in Derby and if you wanted to get it sprayed at mercian, I'd be able to get it there and back without too much delay - though I'm sure argos are similar price wise..

It was St Philips tip.
I actually caught the guy taking it out of his boot, had it been in the skip already you can forget about it!
The seatpost was apparently seized and they used heat to try and free it. Hence the paint being stripped.
Thanks for the offer man. I’m keeping it ratty and real for a while but may get a respray in the future. Cheers

Amazing! What timing. Will enjoy following this along.

Found a (presumably modified but they look very neat??) set of strada ofmega cranks. How do you work out the BB needed for the right chain line?!

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No idea on chainline, but this must be the tip find of the year. At least.
A path frame like this is what I could convince myself is missing in the basement.
And I like the modern wheels a lot on it!