Well the son and I have trashed the kitchen, much to the annoyance of the missus.. shed was full and way too cold to faff about in the garden. Bike has been rubbed back to bare and primered up with zinc primer. Have decided for now to leave it as that until better weather and amenities allow a proper paint up.
Always have had it down as a tool to ride out round cambs with the boss but also something for a bit of quality time with the son.
We're pleased with the current state although purists should look away now..
We've kept the old BB for now, fitted shorter crank arms off something that was laying about the garden.. emmelle kids bike... the Mercian is a tall beast and im stumpier than a smurf.. they fit my needs in reaching the pedals although admittedly theyre from a BSO.. We can always fit proper ones later..
The gears at the moment have been left off, leaving it in single speed mode on front and back cogs for now.
New bar tape, nos weinmann levers with safety bars, the old brake cables back on and the old weinmann calipers.. they work.. theyll do for now.
Wheels are ok but need rebuilding before any real use.
I'm tempted to shove it on the bay and see if I can get something a bit shorter in frame size, although it's rideable so i might just keep with stumpy crank arms..
Apologies for the crap pic.. my decent all singing all dancing phone has decided it cant be bothered being decent and is shortly going to make a damn good doorstop if it doesnt buck its ideas up...
I was quite pleased with myself, from what justifiably looked like a Holdsworth but with the odd and annoying head furniture /lugwork that I felt wasnt Holdsworth, Ive managed to drag it up country as far as the search goes, from London, to Derby and the house of Mercian!
