Mercian (No Longer) Secret Weapon

Seriously tho - it looks rad.

And more importantly it's only a couple of bits away from being rideable.

Looking good like.

Yep, it'll be rideable next week, leaving me to ponder the idiocy of completing a TT bike in late December. Even if the not-just-for-best wheels don't turn up, I know I'll have to blast it along a flat damp road (on tubs, in December), just because I can! Naturally, this will be to adjust my racing position, which of course I will need really soon..... And before I get the obligatory 'slamdatstem', the saddle to bar drop seems to be about right as it is.

Stop press: ultralight patented grip system due to arrive today.....

Ultralight patented grip system fitted. Actually, cut up section of inner tube turned inside-out to make it seamless, very slimline and very grippy. This sort of suits this skinny build, probably wouldn't work on a modern geared TT bike. Ps: it's a complete bastard to do, involving using chopsticks to lever it on, blisters, mucho swearing.

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Just to check, have you got seatpost extending down past the top tube junction?

And will the new post do so?

TM; No and no, just a 6" stub in the frame, I asked Mercian about this twice and that was their advice.

Things to do with carbon off-cuts from your tri-bars: 1) take a round backed file and make a (quite neat for me) computer mount so you can actually see how slowly you're going.

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Looks good. Do you use epoxy to stick it on?

i reckon what tm is aiming at and what ive seen also off people on here, is the extented part failing and ripping at the junction due to the increased leverage.. i think fahrgestell(?) on here can just about live to tell the tale, an so do his yet unborn children.

ild want a mucho long post to avoid this from happening. would be reeeeeaaal shame like.

Ncjlee, good old Araldite Rapid, should hold up to a couple of grams of computer!

Rodolfo, you're right, I've never seen one fail and Mercian assured me that 731 could handle my immense power output, but.... To be honest I was heading in that direction anyway, TM and yourself have persuaded me that a few grams saved is not enough to risk my knackers! The new seatpost is 350mm, I can cut an inch or three off and still be well below the top tube junction.

531 Speedstream Caygill with insufficient seatpost and nothing like as much extension as on the Mercian. Don't make the same mistake I did.

i was looking for this Paul but couldn't find which thread the photos were in, yes Colin, see above...

A cautionary tale that will save my cautious tail, thanks, my eyes are watering in sympathy!

You learn something new everyday.

.....And I didn't get to be this old by ignoring free lessons!

Anyway, here it is, nearly finished. I'll wait until the seatpin turns up before I ride it in anger. I'm surprised that it weighs in at 7.6kg, I haven't tried to weenie it in particular and there's a further 200g to come off with the new seatpin and a change of saddle. The wheels turned out to be 165g lighter than the trispokes, which I reckon is pretty good for clinchers with decent aero cred and not the lightest tyres (I've found Ultremos to be excellent and reasonably hard wearing). For a steel TT bike I think it's damned light. This is how I'll ride it for training and don't-give-a-monkeys evening TTs.

Proper pics around Jan 6 when I open the studio again, long holiday, wheeehaaaa!

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looks great, if you ever decide to sell the frame ,dibs! :)

How are the wheels?

I'm going for something more traditional on my lo but they look so good on paper I fancy some for my road bike.

For what its worth, I'd imagine the old hairspray-in-the-grips (or in this case, rubber tubes from tubes) would make them easier to get on.

Not what you needed to hear after blisters et al of course, but I'm thinking I might do the same.

Where did you get your anodizing done?

Crazy!

In no particular order:

TPR, thanks, not for sale!
Dakin, thanks (I think), this build is your fault.
Hazzus, the imaginatively named A1 Anodisers of Crawley, make sure that whatever is well polished before you anodise.
Snicks, if you try the old hairspray trick I want a ringside seat, I'll bring beer, popcorn and a swearbox. There is very little hairspray in my house, the hint is in the name. If you do want to fit them, PM your number and I'll tell you how to do it......
Hefty, I'm bloody delighted with the wheels but have yet to ride them, I'll PM a few thoughts on road wheels (see also Orient Express in Bikes and Bits). The aeros look to be very good, rims same width as tyres, nice deep 'U' shape.

In case anyone is curious, the ratio is 54:17, it will be 15 or 14 for flat course TTs. The conservatory picture in bad light does not do justice to this build.....

.
...There is very little hairspray in my house, the hint is in the name. If you do want to fit them, PM your number and I'll tell you how to do it......

Don't you have a teenage daughter, and a wife?

^True, but She Who Must Be Obeyed is a hairspray abstainer and if 'hairspray' as a product exists in No1 daughters' room it would take a well-funded expedition to find it, the room looks like post-tsunami Japan with added detritus......

looks great, if you ever decide to sell the wicker seat ,dibs! :)

fixed, nice wheels too

The £18.60 (incl postage) in-line seatpost has finally arrived, I think it stopped off for a holiday in Tierra del Fuego on the way. With 3" cut off it still extends an inch or so below the top tube, so I should finally be able to ride the bike without fear of castration.

Hopefully pictures tomorrow.

*Wicker seat £30 from Hastings antique (junk) shop.

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Love what you've done with the bars: only used tubes under tape to beef them up, but I like that a lot.

Chopsticks?