Help needed for my Raleigh Mercury

[swinger76]

Hi everyone needing some advice i am at a lost in what to do next.

Past 2 years I have changed my beloved bike on bits and bobs and its handles awesome for such a old bike frame but i wonder before splashing out on the last few ideas.

I thought i share it with you like minded folks and see what you think my last remaining touch i want is

1.Lighter Handle bars it currently has the Original Raleigh Champion bars
(was thinking aero type bars Carbon or alloy worth it?)

2. maybe change the forks for early carbon forks for current headset?

3.maybe add TT bars for extra hand space?

 

[kingbling]

Ask yourself a few questions
1 why do you want to do it
2 is it worth it will it improve the bike
3 is that frame a bit to big

For what you will have to lay out I'd consider getting a smaller frame of better quality, going by those pictures its a least 2in too big and trying to find a carbon fork with that length of steerer won't be easy

 

[swinger76]

its slightly too big they hard to come by cheap got this for 50 i got it for sentimental reasons i used to ride one to my m8's every day back in 1997 we went everywhere had fond memories of it the mistake was i gave it away a 7 years ago

not sure if i can get hold of a other frame of the same one in my size have looked but damn the prices are over 100?

 

[kingbling]

I'd be inclined to look for another then sell yours to recoup the costs then you haven't lost out

 

[swinger76]

its times like this i wish i kept the Original bits lol cheers for your advice m8

 

[Jonny69]

1. Changing bars can lead to a whole world of pain. They're all different shapes and if you like those ones you might need to try quite a few before you find the right shape again. Weight saving will be quite small compared to fitting lighter tyres or, say, cutting off the excess seatpost.

2. Not sure what you'd gain by changing the forks. It will change the handling of the bike and the geometry. I think it'll be a lot of bother and look out of place. They look ok on later steel frames with oversize tubes but I think it'll look wrong on this era frame.

3. TT bars, yeah you want the old Profile ones! But you won't get much in the way of aero gains with your current saddle-handlebar drop. Just an observation, although the frame does look a little big for you, you've got the saddle a very long way back. I think you're sitting too far back. You might gain some comfort and efficiency by moving it forward and up. Check out online how to do yourself a basic home bike fit. What they call KOPS is a good starting point.

 

[swinger76]

1. Changing bars can lead to a whole world of pain. They're all different shapes and if you like those ones you might need to try quite a few before you find the right shape again. Weight saving will be quite small compared to fitting lighter tyres or, say, cutting off the excess seatpost.

2. Not sure what you'd gain by changing the forks. It will change the handling of the bike and the geometry. I think it'll be a lot of bother and look out of place. They look ok on later steel frames with oversize tubes but I think it'll look wrong on this era frame.

3. TT bars, yeah you want the old Profile ones! But you won't get much in the way of aero gains with your current saddle-handlebar drop. Just an observation, although the frame does look a little big for you, you've got the saddle a very long way back. I think you're sitting too far back. You might gain some comfort and efficiency by moving it forward and up. Check out online how to do yourself a basic home bike fit. What they call KOPS is a good starting point.

wow sound advice cheers m8 i keep the current forks the problem i have with the bars is when i add light and phone case there is not a lot of room i be getting a Garmin soon so thinking that might save space?
the handling with the current handlebars are great just they seem close in compared to modern ones i had on much newer bikes not measured them yet but i assume they are?

saddle i had not realized i have to fiddle around with it and give it a try cheers again!