hmmmmm, I hate to hear about inferior type stuff on the Mercians, since I may order one. What specifically do you see as inferior? The workmanship? The paint?
I wonder how ordering one with custom angles, etc, ala an Atlantis, would affect this? Since it's not an off the shelf model, I would hope it would be better since it will require some custom work from the norm, but you never know.
Rod Kronenberg
Fort Collins, CO
>
> Hi all, There is one other alternative for getting the bars up: a Thorn compact
> frame. This is possible because on many of its models Thorn offers three
> lengths of top tube to go with different seat tube lengths. For one of their
> models they actually have 30 different frame sizes!
>
> I ordered a frame from Thorn (XTC SWB) with a comparatively large seat tube (for
> me) and a short top tube. I have been able to get the bars level with the top
> tube with plenty of spacers to spare. The frame is very stable and corners
> about as well as my abilities let it. I would have liked the finish work to be
> better than it is: curiously, the brass brazing is where my eye sees almost
> every flaw.
>
> I would rate the finish work on the Thorn as inferior to the finish work on any
> of the Mercians I have seen -- and I've seen quite a few, since a friend of mine
> actually imports them for customers in NYC. FWIW, I would rate the finish work
> on most of the Mercians I have seen as inferior to that the Atlantis frame from > Rivendell.
>
> Jon Cowden
> Santa Barbara, CA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jan Heine
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 8:45 AM
> To: NortonMarg@aol.com
> Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]Rivendell-type riding position, aesthetics of fit (long)
>
> Stevan,
>
> I totally agree with you, of course. You pointed out something very
> important - frame size matters. Self-centered individual I am, I
> forgot that part! The "fistful of post" rule works well on my bikes,
> but I am a pretty average guy - 6' exactly.
>
> Of course, the Campy NR seatpost was designed for Italian racers. So
> for an average 1960s Italian racer (5'7"?), on a 1960s bike (isn't
> that when the alloy one came out), it'll be in the middle of the
> adjustment range. This looks different for you, being 6'4" - you'll
> have to extend the post to the max to replicate those proportions. I
> guess the "shorty" posts that we find so useless in this country were
> for rather short riders, where they make sense.
>
> That said, I don't think you can do the "bars as high as the seat"
> position Rivendell advocates, elegantly with a frame sized like a
> racing bike. My opinion (and please treat it as such): If you want a
> randonneur position, size your bike as a randonneur. If you want a
> racing position, size your bike as a racer.
>
> Finally, some custom steel stems break, too. I won't name names, but
> locally made product (Seattle) has been known to fail. Of course,
> many modern stems with removable face-plates have an abysmal record.
> But fortunately, those are outside our timeframe.
>
> Jan Heine, Seattle