My First Ride on a Mercian - 1979 Campionissimo
04-23-22, 03:13 PM
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My First Ride on a Mercian - 1979 Campionissimo
Hello folks,
I know this one won't resonate with the crowd like some of my other builds but I'm personally very excited to finally have my '79 Mercian Campionissimo on the road for the first time purchasing the frameset in 2019! This was a full restoration including powder coating, decals, pinstriping and automotive clear on the frameset. Mercian was probably the first small firm I became acquainted with after beginning my foray into classic British machines a few years ago, and it feels great to finally have one under my saddle!
The parts list includes the following:
- Mercian Campionissimo frameset, 24x22.5", fully built from Reynolds double butted 531 tubing.
- Tange Falcon headset
- SR BB cups with Sugino axle
- SR Apex forged crank arms with double chain rings (converted from triple set)
- SR Laprade seat post
- SR forged stem (~95mm)
- SR "World Randonneur" handlebars
- Weinmann 'red dot' brake levers
- Weinmann Type 730 side-pull brake calipers w/Kool Stop pads
- Weinmann concave 27" rims
- Avocet Model II sealed-bearing hubs
- Suntour Cyclone friction shifters (first generation)
- Suntour Cyclone front derailleur (first generation)
- Suntour Cyclone long-cage rear derailleur (first generation)
- Suntour 6-speed "New Winner" freewheel
- SR SP-100AL pedals
- Christophe Special toe clips
- Brooks B17 Champion Standard saddle (dark brown)
-Gregory
I know this one won't resonate with the crowd like some of my other builds but I'm personally very excited to finally have my '79 Mercian Campionissimo on the road for the first time purchasing the frameset in 2019! This was a full restoration including powder coating, decals, pinstriping and automotive clear on the frameset. Mercian was probably the first small firm I became acquainted with after beginning my foray into classic British machines a few years ago, and it feels great to finally have one under my saddle!
The parts list includes the following:
- Mercian Campionissimo frameset, 24x22.5", fully built from Reynolds double butted 531 tubing.
- Tange Falcon headset
- SR BB cups with Sugino axle
- SR Apex forged crank arms with double chain rings (converted from triple set)
- SR Laprade seat post
- SR forged stem (~95mm)
- SR "World Randonneur" handlebars
- Weinmann 'red dot' brake levers
- Weinmann Type 730 side-pull brake calipers w/Kool Stop pads
- Weinmann concave 27" rims
- Avocet Model II sealed-bearing hubs
- Suntour Cyclone friction shifters (first generation)
- Suntour Cyclone front derailleur (first generation)
- Suntour Cyclone long-cage rear derailleur (first generation)
- Suntour 6-speed "New Winner" freewheel
- SR SP-100AL pedals
- Christophe Special toe clips
- Brooks B17 Champion Standard saddle (dark brown)
-Gregory
Last edited by Kilroy1988; 04-23-22 at 07:43 PM.
04-23-22, 03:48 PM
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LOVELY. I'd like to know who did the PC and the CC. Very classy bike.
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04-23-22, 04:14 PM
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04-23-22, 05:49 PM
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Ride report?
04-23-22, 07:11 PM
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Beautiful build! Nice component selection. Just keep it away from the ”goat heads” around Visalia. 😉!
Cheers,
van
Cheers,
van
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Remember: Real bikes have pedals.
...and never put a yellow tail on a Red, White and Blue kite!
04-23-22, 08:08 PM
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I love the powder coat! I’m too scared to have it done on any of my frames, I never seem to see anything with results as good as yours.
04-23-22, 08:08 PM
#9
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Beautiful build! Ive never ridden a Mercian but I've never seen one that I didn't like
PLEASE tell us what powder coat brand and number that is!!
PLEASE tell us what powder coat brand and number that is!!
04-23-22, 08:16 PM
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Very nice. It is almost a strawberry red like some of the Schwinns but better. It does not look like powder paint because of the clear.
04-23-22, 08:25 PM
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Hello folks!
Classtime Pcampeau PhotonDon I had the frame and fork powder coated by J.R.'s Powder Coating in Lemoore, CA and they did a fantastic job. For $150 they sandblasted it and masked off all the threading and did the job with minimal overspray and only a couple of minor imperfections. I know that the brand is Prismatic Powders but I'm afraid I don't know which #/name this particular color is because they happened to have it in stock at the shop and I chose based on a sample they presented. I did the pinstriping after a long, coffee-filled day and my hand was a bit shaky, but it was passable work. My uncle runs a local hot rod shop and is known for his excellent (and expensive) paint jobs and he sprayed the clear for me as a favor. To be frank, the powder coating was rather dull looking compared to the final finish after the clear was applied, but it still looked impressive. I posted an initial build thread about the bicycle that shows off the fresh powder job and you can view that here: A 1979 Mercian Campionissimo - Bike Forums
The bike rides very nicely and tracks well, pretty much exactly as I figured it might do... It doesn't have a lot of spirit as the geometry is pretty conservative and my choice of Weinmann concave rims in particular helps to create an expected feeling of compliance without fuss. I would not call it a romantic or thrilling experience, but as most could probably guess based on my component choices I meant to have a comfortable and reliable rider, and that it is. Cheers!
-Gregory
Classtime Pcampeau PhotonDon I had the frame and fork powder coated by J.R.'s Powder Coating in Lemoore, CA and they did a fantastic job. For $150 they sandblasted it and masked off all the threading and did the job with minimal overspray and only a couple of minor imperfections. I know that the brand is Prismatic Powders but I'm afraid I don't know which #/name this particular color is because they happened to have it in stock at the shop and I chose based on a sample they presented. I did the pinstriping after a long, coffee-filled day and my hand was a bit shaky, but it was passable work. My uncle runs a local hot rod shop and is known for his excellent (and expensive) paint jobs and he sprayed the clear for me as a favor. To be frank, the powder coating was rather dull looking compared to the final finish after the clear was applied, but it still looked impressive. I posted an initial build thread about the bicycle that shows off the fresh powder job and you can view that here: A 1979 Mercian Campionissimo - Bike Forums
The bike rides very nicely and tracks well, pretty much exactly as I figured it might do... It doesn't have a lot of spirit as the geometry is pretty conservative and my choice of Weinmann concave rims in particular helps to create an expected feeling of compliance without fuss. I would not call it a romantic or thrilling experience, but as most could probably guess based on my component choices I meant to have a comfortable and reliable rider, and that it is. Cheers!
-Gregory
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04-24-22, 11:09 AM
#12
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The powder coat with clear is really nice, looks like wet paint. I bought a 1985 Mercian frameset last year and have been enjoying it.
I just placed a n order with Mercian for a new frame which will be done sometime around the end of the year.
I just placed a n order with Mercian for a new frame which will be done sometime around the end of the year.
