The Mercian appreciation society

My 1984 King of Mercia current and before purchase. My entrance to the rabbit hole...

2 Attachments

Great thread and some inspiring builds, thank you!

Here's mine. A 23" Strada Speciale I was lucky enough to win on eBay. The previous owner, who had ordered the frame, didn't get round to building it.

Sorry the photos aren't great, have only just built it up.

Build is mostly 10 speed Chorus, with 10s OS Record hubs on Open Pros. Cockpit is Nitto M106 / Pearl stem. It has a Flite saddle ready to go on.

The chainset and FD are the 2006 compact square taper Campag one. I think it suits the bike more than the newer UT / PT ones and less faff.

2 Attachments

Lovely colour scheme.
Here’s my pro lugless with its matching Brodie mtb twin:

1 Attachment

Does the Strada Speciale have cloverleaf lug cutouts like BITD?

@midlife yes it does.

To be honest, although it’s a pretty bike, the finishing isn’t quite as clean as my Roberts or other bikes from more boutique builders. The frame wasn’t prepped at all either which I was kind of surprised at given what the original buyer would have paid.

The beauty of the bike is in the ride quality though. I’d nearly given up on finding a modern bike with that thin-walled steel ‘twang’ to it, but this one has it, it’s beautiful to ride over rough roads especially.

Now I’m keeping an eye out for a Pro Lugless, something around a 59 / 60cm if anyone is thinking of selling! @johnnettles2 I’m looking at you 😉

fantastic, both of them

Love this, will try and save / post some pics. Seller confirmed 58.5cm size … too big for me.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133843159359

What a great colour.

Mercian pro lugless
55x55
£150
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1506589717­65826/permalink/2061067380724966/

(Not sold)

.

Owned by an ice cream vendor?

That's looking pretty 'tasty'

Have had this couple of weeks now, was meant to post it here but forgot. Swapped couple of bits (bars, stem, saddle and post) with stuff I already had, but otherwise it's just as I bought it and I'm happy to leave it as is. Shame nice racks are so expensive...
Very happy to have a Mercian again, this one's a bit nicer than the one I had before too.
It's an eBay purchase, had to pick it up in Portsmouth. Seller only had it a few month and around the time I won the auction I found the previous listing from when they bought it, from the original owner who had it built in 1988. Listing has now gone and I can no longer contact them for further info it would appear (it was re sprayed at some point it seems, when, by who, etc.)

1 Attachment

So nice

@Jingle_Jangle your size

1 Attachment

Right up my street that. Well spotted.

has anyone lost a green mercian tourer with green brooks saddle and green bar tape ?

Hi all, loving the appreciation for Mercian's. I worked next door to the factory on Ascot Drive in Derby when I was 17, spent many lunch hours watching them build these beautiful frames from nothing, was a real joy to see. Of course I fell in love with them, I have hand 5 in total over the years. Pictures of 3 below (King of Mercia, Audax and Canyon) I have also had a Pro-lugless and a Lowpro back in the day when I was racing. I am also about to collect a 1967 Superlight, new build on the way :)

3 Attachments

Just out of curiosity was the Superlight £100 on Facebook?

No why?

It's cropped up on other sites as an Alec Bird but looks like a Superlight to me

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1262525981194728/

Wow yes I agree that does look like a Superlight, lugs are spot on, Mercian hand cut these lugs so would be very small chance it is not. even has the small curl on the rear chainstay near the bottom bracket, this is pure Mercian. Bargain even if it was for the parts :)

Yep, agree with you 100%.

Was tempted to get it but I'm a cycling child of the early 70's so that's drillium territory :) This one is a bit early for me. I keep an eye out for the 70's Superlight and Strada Speciale but few come up lol.

There's an utterly gorgeous frame up for sale at 56cm. Unfortunately I'm 6 foot 5 - completely impossible to fit on dya think ?

That mtb is so nice