Mercian - Not Sure Model. Please Help ID.
 

I just bought this bike at the local thrift store for $158. The bike is in excellent condition - all Campy parts with the exception of the drive train (see photos below). The Serial Number is 82180 2.

Thanks,

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a1efb56a4.jpeg



https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bba64576be.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9e3fc945fc.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbc2444740.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...62c1b7bc00.jpg


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aa6e89a697.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...26e71001c0.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6dded79f36.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b2bb49a21.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3edf9ef75c.jpg

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Appears it may be an Olympic.

Lugset Prugnat 62/d

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c26c72fd7e.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6c9d7f1d0f.jpg


Crown NERVEX Professional

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fa87a83e18.jpg

Forum has a very similar thread currently active -

Mercian ID help

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Whoa... that was quite the score!

Thanks. I think it is a great score - in this part of the country. In demand vintage bikes would go for way too much - its depressing at times. I was lucky today!

I would agree with the assessment above that it is an Olympic. That is a great score! You will love it!

I believe 82180 2 means 821st bike built in 1980 by whichever builder was no. 2 at the time. I suspect that very soon after Mercian went to the embossed seat stay tops. Lovely bike and a killer deal - but will the short cage SunTour Cyclone work with half step plus granny gearing?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8ff29a59b0.jpg
Bikecology imported Mercians in 1980, and this looks like one that they marketed as the "Californian".

The only thing wrong with that Mercian, is it’s too big for me! A lovely bike, enjoy!

I read someplace that sometimes this is reversed, so possibly the 180th built in 82. However mine follows the format above with the last two digits also 80. Mercian will, for a small fee, look up the build order and let you know for sure. I did this. They will let you know all the dimensions and whether it was made to order.

I paid for the serial number look-up on my 1979 Mercian, and the only info they had was that it was a 25 inch frame that was part of a bulk order of 50 frames sent to Bikecology.

My Mercian frame’s previous owner paid for the record search, too, and there was a similarly small amount of info available. They confirmed that it is a 1983, model King of Mercia, color blue intenso, and originally sold to Stone’s Cyclery in Alameda. That was it - but, they did confirm the model, which is your main question.

I have heard others say that as well. Mine was a custom job, so it was nice to get the info. I think the Vincitore, which I have, was less likely to go in a bulk order. Each has individually hand carved lugs.

Nice to see my Bikecology catalog scans making the rounds. :D

That is a sweet deal ... and just my size!

That is a smoking deal! I hate to be the one to say "fork is bent!" and I hope it's just the angle of the photo, but it genuinely looks like the fork is bent.

Great buy (even if the fork needs a little straightening). The paint's a little tired, so some auto polish and some wax will go a long way to making it look fabulous. I suggest Meguiar's Ultimate Polish followed by Ultimate Wax.

Don't see it in the fork crown/headtube pic but the full on pic does look wonky. :foo:

Wow, that is a great find and a really nice bike.

Take it from my years of experience ... tall frame photos, unless taken from a distance, ALWAYS look wonky. :/
I've looked at photos on ebay, craigslist, etc., to shop for bikes and frames in my tall size, and it's hard to tell the geometry and alignment from the wide to medium angle camera lens distortion.

Exactly the point I was conveying.

I have a 37in inseam so 60-62cm is at the BOTTOM of my range, been evaluating tall frames all my life, no determination can be fully made without seeing it in person so the question you have to ask yourself "is it worth the gamble, price, leap of faith, whatever".

I can usually tell if it is and live with it especially when the price is right and the tweak is minimal so can probably be dealt with or mitigated to a reasonable degree of satisfaction.

If you temper your expectations correctly, you won't get hurt too badly. ;)

Someone here drew a straight line along the head tube and down through the fork legs on a photo evaluation sometime in, say, the last 6 months. Not sure when. Anyway, since then, I always mentally draw that line when looking at pics for the bent-fork evaluation. To me, it looks like the angle is off because the front tire is raised and in the rack, and the fork does not look bent to me. Just my two cents. Nice bike, I also have a Mercian that I’m looking forward to building up.

Bent Fork
 

Me???

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...109b71c398.jpg

verktyg :50: