Mercian - Not Sure Model. Please Help ID.
05-11-19, 04:53 PM
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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,
Thanks,
05-11-19, 05:08 PM
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Appears it may be an Olympic.
Lugset Prugnat 62/d
Crown NERVEX Professional
Forum has a very similar thread currently active -
Mercian ID help
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Appears it may be an Olympic.
Lugset Prugnat 62/d
Crown NERVEX Professional
Forum has a very similar thread currently active -
Mercian ID help
-----
05-11-19, 05:35 PM
#3
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Whoa... that was quite the score!
05-11-19, 06:37 PM
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05-12-19, 06:50 AM
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I would agree with the assessment above that it is an Olympic. That is a great score! You will love it!
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05-12-19, 07:25 AM
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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?
05-12-19, 08:51 PM
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The only thing wrong with that Mercian, is it’s too big for me! A lovely bike, enjoy!
05-13-19, 06:32 AM
#9
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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?
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05-13-19, 07:15 AM
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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.
05-13-19, 07:25 AM
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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.
05-13-19, 07:26 AM
#12
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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.
10-31-19, 05:24 PM
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10-31-19, 06:59 PM
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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.
10-31-19, 07:49 PM
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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.
10-31-19, 07:55 PM
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10-31-19, 08:05 PM
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Wow, that is a great find and a really nice bike.
11-04-19, 10:01 PM
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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.
11-05-19, 12:07 AM
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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.
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.
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.
11-05-19, 12:24 AM
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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.
11-05-19, 05:48 AM
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Bent Fork
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.
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
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