The Mercian appreciation society

Some official Mercian meet ups would be amazing.

There was talk last year of a ride to the factory....I don't think it happened?
I'd like to ride mine there and camp along the way......

I would be up for it, depending when.

You should contact the factory. If you can get even a half dozen or so together they'd be proper excited. I don't think their marketing department exists. It'd be a good photo op for them if nothing else.

I'm no good at organising, or planning routes, so it would need someone competent at that......I reckon at this time of year, you could easily cycle the grand union as far as Birmingham on a road bike...there are a lot of grassy sections that would be hard packed at the minute. I rode to Leicester via the GUC in February on my 29er, and it was doable, but slow going in the gloopy stuff.

Is the factory the same as the shop?
If so, I just don't want you to get all excited about it. I went there last year after the Eroica Brit and it was kinda disappointing.
The guys in there were lovely though!

https://goo.gl/maps/iNM8W

I think the factory is in a different place, but I'm happy to be corrected :0)
For me, it's more about taking my bike home......under my own steam! It's not that far, and could be incorporated into a mini tour with some old fashioned bike packing (camping) involved!

I went through the retail shop last year and talked to them about a tour of the frameworks which indeed is in a separate industrial estate. They seemed happy to show off the frameworks to a group however

My Mercian is tantalisingly close to being finished.
I would be interested in a trip up there. As @stedlocks said, it's more about the ride and the meaning than the actual workshop. Plus a bit of camping on the way involving beer and sausages wouldn't go a miss either.
I'm happy to help do some organising. We could have a pow wow over coffee to get the ball rolling.

Agree with this, there's so much potential in the brand, they are missing out on promotion and expansion while others have progressed. However, their blog shows that recently some kind of successful marketing big balls recently bought the company, so things should improve. Not seen any sign yet, still no darn online shop...mind you I only live down the road, so I'm ok. Jack.

I'm up for this.

Do it! I'm not in London though (near Stansted airport), but could come down if my rota allows for said pow wow....and I also have a contact for cheap hatfield broad oak bangers!

I'll be up near you way next weekend.
My old man lives in Pledgdon Green.

Ah!
We could have a civilised coffee in the country somewhere and get the ball rolling then :0)

So got coach to Dublin today to pick up king of mercia touring frame, I posted before. (5 hrs round trip on coach)

Met the seller turns out he has 5 other mercian frames (mostly bought new from them) including a 953, I can only imagine what that cost new from them. He was saying he had gotten the rear ends of a tourer done in chrome and rock salt has already hammered the chrome in the past 5 years, apparently just the additional chroming the last time was £250.

lovely frame, the only annoying thing is the brake cable running along the top, which is a bit odd given its a 2002 frame, must be one of the last 531st frames they did as well.

I wonder if they are expanding production or just replacing someone. They posted this on twatter the other day

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The team must be really demotivated if they're employing someone specifically to compliment them.

Do you think they want an American style motivational speaker or a new age psycho-babble-crystal-spinning hippy type to do the complimenting?

I think neither of those would fit the bit about 'ability to work to close tolerances'. :)

Maybe it's suppose to say 'ability to work close to testicles'! Presumably it's quite a small workshop.

thats gotta be someones dream job right there.

strong textDriving back from camping in the Lake District (and riding my Mercian up all the hills) the lorry fire on the M6 last night put me on the A50 through Derby, which made it too close not to divert to the Mercian shop (with two Mercians strapped to the car).

Bought a few bits and lusted over a Strada Speciale in 853 (I need dis). Friendly shop, happy to post bits if you aren't local too.

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Swag. Bidons match my paint color so particularly pleased with them.

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want a hat....how much were they? And they'll post, you say? :0)

Yeah like that cap, they didn't have them when I was up there.