Mercier Services des Courses restoration
11-10-15, 04:34 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Mercier Services des Courses restoration
Here's another project that I completed this year, a full restoration of a Mercier Services des Courses road bike. The pink “Service Des Courses” is the iconic Mercier racing bike of the 70’s and 80’s, as ridden by the famous Tour de France rider Raymond Poulidor. I restored this particular one from a faded, battered frame and rusty fork to like-new condition:
I found the frame on eBay France two years ago. It was hand-made in France from Reynolds 531 steel and featured Simplex dropouts. The lugs are long-point and have nice windows carved in them. It carried the famous “fait main” (hand-made) sticker on it, but I suspect it might not have been the top model at the time due to the lack of engraved seatstay caps. I completely restored the frame set: the original paint was in bad condition, so I stripped it to the steel and then had it powdercoated in a shade of pink as close to the original that I could find. Reproduction decals were then added, again matching the original decals exactly, with several coats of automotive clear coat over the decals to protect them.
The chrome fork had some rust, which I removed and polished out. All components received a thorough cleaning in an ultrasonic bath, followed by servicing and tune-up. I used bright white cable housing and matching bar tape to complement the lettering on the bike. The drivetrain is all Simplex, from the LJ derailleurs, to the famous retrofriction shifters, to the original Simplex cable clips and guides.
I installed a modern sealed bottom bracket from Velo-Orange with sealed bearings and a chromed spindle. I could have gone with a period-correct bottom bracket, but I got the V-O one cheap at a swap meet and was very impressed with the quality. I always build and restore bikes with the hope that they will be ridden often, a little modern technology, especially when hidden away like a bottom bracket, can go a long way to improving the ride.
The saddle is the original Mercier edition Selle San Marco. However, the bike is not truly “tout Francais” as the brakes are a matched set of Modolo Course calipers and levers. The wheelset, which I took from a JP Routens bike I restored last summer, features Italian Grimeca hubs with French threading for the freewheel, which is a 6-speed Sachs-Maillard. The rims are Vuelta and the classic skinwall tires are Michelin.
You can see more hi-res photos and as well as how much it finally sold for on my blog at: https://djcatnap.com/mercier-service-...e-restoration/
I found the frame on eBay France two years ago. It was hand-made in France from Reynolds 531 steel and featured Simplex dropouts. The lugs are long-point and have nice windows carved in them. It carried the famous “fait main” (hand-made) sticker on it, but I suspect it might not have been the top model at the time due to the lack of engraved seatstay caps. I completely restored the frame set: the original paint was in bad condition, so I stripped it to the steel and then had it powdercoated in a shade of pink as close to the original that I could find. Reproduction decals were then added, again matching the original decals exactly, with several coats of automotive clear coat over the decals to protect them.
The chrome fork had some rust, which I removed and polished out. All components received a thorough cleaning in an ultrasonic bath, followed by servicing and tune-up. I used bright white cable housing and matching bar tape to complement the lettering on the bike. The drivetrain is all Simplex, from the LJ derailleurs, to the famous retrofriction shifters, to the original Simplex cable clips and guides.
I installed a modern sealed bottom bracket from Velo-Orange with sealed bearings and a chromed spindle. I could have gone with a period-correct bottom bracket, but I got the V-O one cheap at a swap meet and was very impressed with the quality. I always build and restore bikes with the hope that they will be ridden often, a little modern technology, especially when hidden away like a bottom bracket, can go a long way to improving the ride.
The saddle is the original Mercier edition Selle San Marco. However, the bike is not truly “tout Francais” as the brakes are a matched set of Modolo Course calipers and levers. The wheelset, which I took from a JP Routens bike I restored last summer, features Italian Grimeca hubs with French threading for the freewheel, which is a 6-speed Sachs-Maillard. The rims are Vuelta and the classic skinwall tires are Michelin.
You can see more hi-res photos and as well as how much it finally sold for on my blog at: https://djcatnap.com/mercier-service-...e-restoration/
__________________
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
11-10-15, 06:03 PM
#2
Senior Member
Quite the job bringing this beauty back. Nice work.
I like your philosophy of restoring these bikes " to be ridden "
I like your philosophy of restoring these bikes " to be ridden "
11-10-15, 08:17 PM
#4
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You do nice work, Catnap. I am impressed with all your bikes.
11-10-15, 08:59 PM
#5
feros ferio
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Very nice! (Unless you plan to raise the handlebars quite a bit, the brake cables are a little long -- someone razzed me about that with the Capo Modell Campagnolo, so I am just passing on the razz. 
)
)
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
11-10-15, 09:41 PM
#6
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Great build! So pink that it really makes a statement!
Do re-think the brake cable routing up front though,..... the one for the front brake looks a bit tortured....
There's a good possibility that I'd eventually look for a Mercier for myself, as The French brand always seem to peak my interest every time I see very nice example like yours. but I still need to get over, or used to the shades of pink the come in.
Is there any story to why the company chose the color for their bikes?
Do re-think the brake cable routing up front though,..... the one for the front brake looks a bit tortured....
There's a good possibility that I'd eventually look for a Mercier for myself, as The French brand always seem to peak my interest every time I see very nice example like yours. but I still need to get over, or used to the shades of pink the come in.
Is there any story to why the company chose the color for their bikes?
11-11-15, 04:06 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks everyone for the kind words! Yes the brake cables look a bit long in the photos. As to why pink became their iconic color, I do not know. Perhaps it was due to an affiliation with a team sponsor?
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Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
11-11-15, 04:57 PM
#9
incazzare.
Looks really nice! Any "before" photos?
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1964 JRJ (Bob Jackson), 1973 Wes Mason, 1974 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1986 Schwinn High Sierra, 2000ish Colian (Colin Laing), 2011 Dick Chafe, 2013 Velo Orange Pass Hunter
1964 JRJ (Bob Jackson), 1973 Wes Mason, 1974 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1986 Schwinn High Sierra, 2000ish Colian (Colin Laing), 2011 Dick Chafe, 2013 Velo Orange Pass Hunter
11-11-15, 05:27 PM
#10
If I own it, I ride it
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I think it was to make the bikes stand out in the peloton.
11-11-15, 05:32 PM
#11
working on my sandal tan
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11-11-15, 05:43 PM
#12
Shifting is fun!
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Nice work, @Catnap!
Interesting question. So far, I believed that purple was Mercier's own color for the team they sponsored, that just got lighter over the years, but I'll happily be corrected.
Interesting question. So far, I believed that purple was Mercier's own color for the team they sponsored, that just got lighter over the years, but I'll happily be corrected.
11-11-15, 08:44 PM
#13
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[h=3]pique/pēk/
[/h][TABLE="width: 549"]
[TR]
[TD]verb
- stimulate (interest or curiosity).
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
11-12-15, 10:14 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
i know i had some, but have been unable to find them. the pink was lighter / faded with lots of scratches, and the fork had rust all over it. otherwise it looked the same (same decals, etc.).
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Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
