Miss Mercian on UK ebay – UK only!

[LeicaLad]

Okay, the usual disclaimer: No relation/connection to seller.

Sadly, it's UK only. It is also in serious need of work. I'd throw most of the bits & pieces on it away. It's the FRAME!!!!

The frame is a very hard to find Miss Mercian! A true mixte in 531 Reynolds. This one would be worth sending back to Mercian for proper restoration. If I were anywhere near Essex, or even knew someone near, I'd be there in an instant.

So, this is a public service announcement for someone in the U.K. (or with very nice friends there willing to handle it.)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCIAN-RACING-BIKE-IDEAL-EASY-RESTORATION-/180561484111?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2a0a4d994f

Cheers!!

[Rebecca19804]

Thanks for the heads up - don't know how I missed seeing this one! I'm on it now though! :)

[LeicaLad]

Oh, good.

The fact that it needs work may mean most will pass it over. That frame is VERY special. I see a couple nasty rust spots, but it no damage that looks structural. You can clean and ride, but you might actually consider sending it back to Mercian for a first class treatment. This baby is SPECIAL!!!

I wish I could buy it!

Keep us/me posted. Hope you win it! Do NOT bid until the last minute. Have you consider using Gixen or another bid snipe site?

Do it to win! http://www.gixen.com

[Rebecca19804]

Unfortunately I'm in the middle of a Surly build that can't be postponed (I need a winter/training bike up and running asap), so my budget for this kind of once-in-a-blue-moon is not what I would like! :(

I'm predicting this will go over £200. Reynolds 531 is the big draw here. Add the Mercian name and the relative rarity of a mixte frame and .... Yup, ditch everything else, the frame is gold dust. I'd bet, regardless of who wins it, the new owner isn't just looking for a cheap "old ladies runaround". :D

I'll keep you posted but I'm not optimistic I'll get it.

[LeicaLad]

Maybe. But I'm guessing that the poor title to the listing, ugly photos, and general condition will either escape wider notice or simply not be worth the bother to many. You may get lucky here.

I know the problems of both space and budget, but...

...deep sigh.

Good luck!

[Rebecca19804]

for what it's worth, there's another one on UK eBay at the moment, made by Holdsworth(y): http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140457461023&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[hebe]

I love both of those, but it's not the right time for me to get another bike yet. I will be watching though to see what they go for. Thank you both for sharing the links.

[Rebecca19804]

Yes, it'll be interesting to see what these 2 go for, because of the rare highest-quality steel frames. Obviously they both need a lot of work (and money) put into them - ideally, full bare-frame-upwards rebuilds to do justice to those frames!

hebe, I seem to recall you've had your eye on Lunar Bicycle's Therese mixtes, which they claim are built up on Mercian frames -- any idea what they're charging for those? I've been wondering, since my re-build plans for my Puch are going to leave a distinct "town bike sized hole" in my stable!! :)

[Zen]

More reason to move to Europe.
Le sigh.

[LeicaLad]

Really. I'd love to live in the UK. My wife is even British. Ain't happening tho.

I have friends down in deepest, darkest Dorset, but they ain't bike people, so the idea of asking them to pick up a battered bike to hold or ship to me won't be so appealing to them.

sigh...

[hebe]

hebe, I seem to recall you've had your eye on Lunar Bicycle's Therese mixtes, which they claim are built up on Mercian frames -- any idea what they're charging for those? I've been wondering, since my re-build plans for my Puch are going to leave a distinct "town bike sized hole" in my stable!! :)

I've just emailed them to ask, will post up when I hear.


More reason to move to Europe.
Le sigh.
You have some pretties too, though :)


Really. I'd love to live in the UK. My wife is even British. Ain't happening tho.

I have friends down in deepest, darkest Dorset, but they ain't bike people, so the idea of asking them to pick up a battered bike to hold or ship to me won't be so appealing to them.

sigh...

Dorset to Essex is even less appealing than Wiltshire to Essex, more's the pity.

[Rebecca19804]

LeicaLad - I'm out of the running on this. If YOU are seriously interested, I'd be happy to act as agent for you in collecting it from Essex and getting it dismantled, boxed up and shipped to you. PM me if you want to do this.

[LeicaLad]

Rebecca,

Thank you for the offer! So very kind.

I was/am off in the deep out back of Asia, so I missed your message. I just crossed from Laos into Vietnam in the central highlands just an hour or so ago. I was off line about two days.

Much as I would love, I cannot buy another bike right now. I awaiting shipment of a stunning old Hetchins frame that will come from the U.K. [I have yet to tell the wife of this one.] It cost me more than the 261GBP this Mercian went for, although it has been totally refurbished, so my budget is utterly, but utterly gone.

Plus, after my fiasco with the Nishiki mixte, I'm still trying to figure out what bike will appeal to my wife -- as opposed to appealing to me!!!

I just hope this one went to a good home. It's nice to post them here, just to give a good chance to those who would most appreciate them.

Now we can all watch the Claud Butler!

[LeicaLad]

Now watch the Claud Butler go cheap. Only 6 hours to go. I love watching those I cannot buy!

[LeicaLad]

Fascinating to watch the final minutes for the Holdsworth-built Claud Butler mixte. It would appear that British bidders do not like/use sniping software. I suspect it goes against their sense of fairplay. (I certainly felt that way for a long time.) So it is a bidding battle conducted in the open in the final 10 minutes, but none come in during the final 10 seconds. It's decided before that.

It went for 155 GBP. Cheap by our standards. Two 531 mixte frames in short order. We should be so lucky...

Anyway, I wonder if someone here snagged it?

Cheers!

[mlteenie]

hHi all,

I just had to register and say how amused and surprised I was to find this thread as I searched for info relating to a Mercian Mixte - namely, the one I just won on ebay! It cost me a little more than I hoped, but if you compare a whole bike with the price of a Cross Check frame, it's a no-brainer (at least to me). It really is a charming frame.

Please rest assured it is going to a good home. I have a Mercian Pro lugless and they will be very happy together.

The bike is actually in very good condition and dates from 1992. I reckon a previous owner (not the seller) has removed a good groupset (prob the 600 levers are the last trace), and replaced it with low quality wheels, cranks, brakes, etc. I guess the bars, stem and h/set (Tange 'Mercian' model it appears! Coincidence?) are original too. Has dropout adjusters and the worst rust is the chain and gear barrel adjuster on top tube.

Paint is good and doesn't really need redoing.

I was wondering if anyone knows the correct seatpost dia, since the wrong one is in there.

If I remember, I will post pics when it is all done up in Campag, Brooks, etc.

Happy riding.

[LeicaLad]

Well, Congrats!!!

Drop a note to Mercian, along with the serial number. They should be able to give you the full details. My own KOM Mercian is 27.2, but I wouldn't go by that.

There is a "show us your mixte" thread here. When you get her cleaned up a bit, do please post a photo or three, eh?

...you lucky person!

[warneral]

welcome teenie! Can't wait to see your finished product. Happy riding :)

[Trek420]

There is a "show us your mixte" thread here. When you get her cleaned up a bit, do please post a photo or three, eh?

...you lucky person!

Here :)

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=19205

[mlteenie]

Hi folks.

Thanks for the goodwill. It is from 1992 and has a 27.2 seat post and 47-57 brake drop, in case you wondered. I got the original order sheet from Mercian (but it costs £10).

Unfortunately, my story was a bit less happy when I got the bike home and investigated further.

The person who had previously owned the bike (not the seller) had put in an undersized seatpost which, after clamping tight, had broken the seat lug and damaged the seat tube, only visible internally :( The seller was great about it and gave me a significant contribution, which eased the pain.

So instead of merely replacing the parts and cleaning it up, I have had to go for a complete refurb, inc. new seat lug and seat tube, drill fork for A/K brakes, new brake bridge, another set of bottle bosses under down tube, paint (mid Brunswick Green), lug lining in white and transfers.

It isn't going to be cheap, but it is going to be beautiful and as new when finished. I am going for Campag, rack and 'guards. Keeping the drops for now.

My other half will be very happy since it is her birthday present and also her first road bike.

Will try and remember to post pics when it's done after Christmas. Dontcha just love projects?:rolleyes:

Happy riding!

[LeicaLad]

Ouch. Still, because you are close to Mercian, you can have it done right.

I, for one, will be very eager to see the results. It sounds like it will be just beautiful.

cheers!