Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 14:39:29 +0000 From: dgranger@comcast.net To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Mercian (Duncan Granger)
Sorry for the lack of a descriptive title to my email, but I couldn't think of a
brief way to summarize my question. I recently bought a Mercian on Ebay:
http://ebay.com/
The paint is in excellent condition (silver with red lug lining). Lugs were cleaned and filed nicely, and the brazing was carefully done. I think the lugs are bocamas? According to the serial number, the frame was made in 1986. But I'm curious about the add-ons. It's full 531. The frame has campy drops (w/ mudguard eyes), and campy cable guides on top of the BB shell. There are no shifter bosses brazed on to the down-tube (although there is the ubiquitous pip to prevent clamp-on shifters from sliding down the tube). There is no front-derailleur hanger brazed on, either. Overall, a beautiful frame with clean, simple lines. I like it very much. Surely counts as on-topic as KOF, despite the date, no?
So I guess that's my question: why would Mercian build a frame without shifter bosses and front derailleur hanger as late as 1986? Surely the customer spec'd it this way? It's a very large frame (65 cm c-to-t), so I'm guessing it's not "off the rack" - although I admit I do not know if/when Mercian started doing "off the rack" frames... Was there a demand, even in 1986, for "retro" frames on which to hang your old campy or other racing components?
For those who are curious, I have chosen to build it up with Shimano 600 "arabesque" drivetrain and brakes, cinelli bar and stem, SR seat pin and Sella Italia Rolls saddle. MA3 Rims w/ early Mavic sealed bearing hubs. I will post pics as time allows. She makes a nice companion to my 1968 Mercian Professional.
So why no bosses and front hanger?
Duncan Granger Mountville, PA
That's an easy one! The answer is: to allow the owner of an off-the-rack frame some flexibility in how he or she can choose to build it up. Shifter bosses are limiting, ditto front derailleur braze-ons. Plus, both take time (and therefore cost the builder money) to add to a Production frame. I'm betting that what you have is a stock 25-1/2" frameset. Pretty standard "Large" size in a British frame.
OK, gimme a tough one now. :-)
Cheers,
Greg Parker
Ann Arbor, Michigan