Mercian cycles.

Land's End to John o' Groats
King of Mercia.

Den engelska cykeltillverkaren Mercian har tagit sitt namn från Kungadömet som fanns på 500-800 talet i England. Beläget där Midlands ligger i dag och där Darby är huvudort.

Barker and Crowther decided to call their firm Mercian cycles.
Mercian Cycles started out as a bicycle shop in 1946. Shortly afterward, Barker and Crowther decided to build frames. Almost overnight, their frames and bicycle shop became popular. The demand for their product was almost limitless, but, like other British frame builders, the postwar boom in bicycle frames pro- vided a false confidence in the future demand for their product. The bicycle boom lasted only until 1951, after which a steep decline in sales almost eliminated an entire industry of small frame builders. By the mid-1960s, bicycle sales still looked bleak. Disenchanted with the pace of the business, Barker and Crowther sold their bicycle/frame-building shop in 1965 to one of their employees, William Betton. Betton had been brought up through the ranks from an apprentice to a full-fledged frame builder and he was anxious to assume the total responsibility for the business. At the age of 25, Betton was not only a frame builder but a bicycle racer as well. He loved to race in all sorts of time trials, from 10 miles to 12 hours, and he still holds the South Pennine Road Club 12-hour record of 247 miles. His enthusiasm for racing paid off in sales of Mercian frames, and Mercian Cycles became the center of bicycling activity in Derbyshire.

Det roliga är att företaget fortfarande i allra högsta grad är aktivt och den som önskar en handbygd engelsk racer eller touringcykel kan med fördel vända sig hit.

Min King of Mercia byggdes 1988 som touringsykel. Eller Turist cycle som det står i Mercias cykel katalog från 1986.

Nu ser jag verkligen fram emot lite värme och semester så jag kan få komma ut och testa lite vintage semestercykling. En tur mellan Land's End to John o' Groats vore inte fel.

Vintage Mercian King of Media Touring Bike

55cm Seat Tube C to T

55cm Top Tube C to C

Reynolds 531c Tubing

Frame no. 11688 (dates it to 1988)

Tange Levin (Mercian engraved) Headset

Stronglight Bottom Bracket

TA Specialites 170mm Cranks w/ 38/28t TA Specialites Chainrings

Shimano Deore XT RD-M700 'Deer Head" Rear Mech

Shimano 600EX FD-6207 Front Mech 

Simplex Retrofriction Downtube Shifters

Sakae SR Royal 80mm Stem

Sakae SR Road Champion 42cm Handlebars

Shimano Deore Cantilever Brakes

Weinmann Drilled Brake Levers w/ Black Weinmann Hoods

Campagnolo 1037 Record Strada Pedals

Sakar SR Seatpost

Brooks Professional Brown Leather Saddle

Wolber Super Champion Modele 58 700c Clincher Rims laced to Maillard Helicomatic Hubs 

Good 38mm Touring Tires

Rear Pannier Rack

Black SKS Mudguards

The frame is in a lovely original state with deep green paintwork and some lovely gold lug lining 

There are a few small marks and pits on the top tube and chain stays and one minute ding on the top tube (see pic 12)

Overall, the frame is in wonderfully condition, wearing its near 30 years with pride

As a complete bicycle, it is in excellent condition with new cables fitted throughout and fresh cotton bar tape

All components work very well and the bicycle is a real joy to ride

With very easy gearing its ready to tackle even the steepest climb fully loaded

Fantastic machine, ready to eat up the miles!