[CR]Mercian tandem for sale--nice!

(Example: Humor)

From: "Charles Andrews" <chasds@mindspring.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:26:17 -0700
Subject: [CR]Mercian tandem for sale--nice!

Hey gang.

We have now reached critical mass on the tandem front, and this one is on the block. If you're interested in this one, let me know. Locals are welcome to come have a look. E-mail to arrange to see it.

Picture link below.

MERCIAN Tandem. Probably mid-70s. Black with white highlights. Graphics are perfect. 57cm c-t seat/57cm c-c top captain. 51.5cm c-t seat/58cm c-c top stoker. Very nice half-head-lugs, and very clean fillet-brazing elsewhere. Paint is 7-8 out of 10, with a few little corrosion blems, but nothing serious. From 3-feet away, it looks nearly mint, and in that nice soft-black that our british friends are so good at. Reynolds 531 oversize tandem-specific tubing.

TA cyclotourist tandem cranks. Triple with granny. Campagnolo record steel pedals with clips. Phil tandem hubs with Super-Champion 48-spoke rims. Stainless spokes. Wheels are in excellent shape, good for another two decades easy. Cool set-back stoker post with QR cam action. Rear rack. Nitto noodle bars and technomic deluxe stem. Campagnolo late record-style levers with Modolo ergonomic gum hoods, in new condition. Suntour bar ends, Suntour VGT lux rear, robust suntour MTB style front.

This thing shifts nearly as painlessly and reliably as Ergo, and that's no exaggeration. A big plus on any vintage tandem.

Bontrager 27" tires are excellent. Mafac cantis on the rear, Shimano (I think) on the front. Frame was built for 27" wheels, but would work with 700C with a little tweeking. Avocet touring saddles. pivo stoker stem with upright bars. New padded tape.

This bike is ready to ride. I recently tweeked it to be maximally comfortable for both riders. And it turned out well. This is a ride-it-all day bike. We've ridden it a few hundred miles, but we don't ride it enough. I want to pass it on to someone who will. Too often vintage tandems look tempting, but ride like crap, and are often uncomfortable. This one is neither. It's one of the best designs among the old tandems. Right up there with Taylor and Herse. It's very smooth, stable, and refined. And quite light for a vintage tandem. Or for any steel tandem, truth to tell.

$975 you pick up, or I deliver within 100 miles of Los Angeles. $1200 I ship it, or have it shipped. I'd much prefer local pick-up. Tandems are a real pain to ship, but if I do ship it, it'll be a first-class packing job.

I will be holding this sale notice open for 48 hours, to let everyone see it. If the bike is not sold within the week, it's on to the 'bay.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21078245@N03/sets/72157604131916306

Charles Andrews
Los Angeles