Mercians: Bikefanclub.com

Gosh, I love Mercians. This old shop in Derbyshire just keeps doing it, doesn't much worry about fads, keeps up a bit with the times (notice a few TIG'd and sloping options now), and keeps firmly planted in the tried and true. Their website says they've had a great year. Could an American company build bikes like this for, say, the past 40 years or so with nary a wink and remain so prosperous? How come the Brits get it? Hmmm...

I called the other day to inquire about 531 Pro tubing since their website mentioned that they had found three complete tubesets NOS/NIB. Anything anyone can add to the history of this particular version of 531 would be most welcome.

Mercian understands the old ways but will do what you ask them, if it is plausible. If you don't know what to ask or you leave something out, they will do the obvious, correct thing. Let me give an example. I asked about a frame that would be suitable for mudguards (fenders). Today I thought, "I didn't ask if they tapped the chainstay bridge nor did I ask about the eyelet..." So I wrote a note and, voila, the answer was of course those things would be done because what good would be a bike designed for mudguard possibilities that didn't do such things. There is an old wisdom here; something I am glad not to have ask for or worry about; something a person might not remember to ask for or know to ask for but is done as a matter of experience, history, and depth of understanding. Perhaps there are some "younger" companies that match this but one of the features of the best traditionalist builders is this understanding that comes from the ages, from building bikes like this since forever. Mariposa is like this too and there are some others, of course. Perhaps there are some "old" young companies too but Mercian is like few others I can think of.

Another thing I like: even if you order a Mercian with some of the more expensive finishing options(like chrome)the frame and fork come to the door for less than 2K, a LOT less than 2K. Sure, it's old technology, it's stove enamel paint (hurrah!!!), and its more than other neat options in lugged steel (say, those fine Kogswells but on a par with the Ebisu or Toyo-made Rivendells...) but there this a great deal of great bike-ness along with great value here.

This is too long, not meant to be panegyric either but today I saw a Mercian Vigorelli with the Vinctore lugs, the fancy ones. The woman who owned it works in Bicycle Habitat (on Lafayette Street in NYC) and she'd built it with Nitto steel track bars, the Sugino Super Mighty crankset, and had taped the top tube in lieu of a Kashimax tt protector; original white finish with blue outlined lugs the gothic decal set: a real thing of elegance, simplicity, and beauty; the bicycle messenger culture, for sure, but what better rig for this city? She knew what she had and it was a pleasure to see a young person so sweet on such a great older bike. But if you called Mercian today they could easily, happily, and without a second thought make you the same bike. I find that a source of comfort in my weird little world.

Enough, the Mercian website if it's unfamiliar is this:
<http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/>

dbrk