Mercian on BBC News Derby.

[Rapparee87]

There's a feature on Mercian on the BBC News website. Google BBC News Derbyshire and scroll down a bit.

 

[sjcprojects]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze63n0zynjo

The headline ‘failing bike firm’ is not at all correct as far as I know, they didn’t have financial problems, they wanted to sell the business for a variety of reasons, but didn’t find a buyer before the voluntary liquidation happened. Which is quite a different thing.

And can any journalist ever write about them without mentioning Paul bloody Smith?

 

[Mark Manley]

Not sure if it has been mentioned before but their new website is up and running, a disc braked tourer looks nice but I can live with my Raleigh Royal for the time being.

https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/

 

[sjcprojects]

The website certainly looks a lot slicker than the old one. They’re obviously catering to current trends with what they’re offering, which explains why I’m not interested in any of them .

 

[ferrus]

Respray prices are insane now. Frame and forks in flamboyant or Italian pearl: £325. Fit makers transfers (transfers extra): £100!!!

 

[sjcprojects]

Respray prices are insane now. Frame and forks in flamboyant or Italian pearl: £325. Fit makers transfers (transfers extra): £100!!!

Yes, the price for fitting decals is one reason I didn’t use Mercian when I was looking to get a frameset restored. They are definitely on the expensive side in general. But this was before the new ownership, so they’ve not upped their prices.

 

[ferrus]

I always intended to get them to do a couple of frames from when I lived in Derby but never got round to it. Back in the mid-late 90s it was £40 + VAT for flamboyant ruby red! They were comparatively cheap then considering the quality.

 

[LondonClassic]

The website certainly looks a lot slicker than the old one. They’re obviously catering to current trends with what they’re offering, which explains why I’m not interested in any of them .

Yeah, website is a lot better, though I noticed some typos

Configurator is pretty good, my only grumble is it must be considerably more to build a disc ready frame and the base price for the KOM and Vincitore is the disc model....shouldnt you expect to pay less for a rim braked frame?

In the grander scheme of things though they're clearly catering for the future - and have made the call to 'go disc'. Coffin dodging Mercian traditionalists will shuffle off this mortal one and stop moaning about the lack of canti mounts on frames they will never part cash for anyways.

 

[LondonClassic]

I always intended to get them to do a couple of frames from when I lived in Derby but never got round to it. Back in the mid-late 90s it was £40 + VAT for flamboyant ruby red! They were comparatively cheap then considering the quality.

Got a Strada in the shed I was thinking of getting reprayed with a barber pole, contrast head tube and new decals....the options were totting up to near £500. Its top quality work - and Argos are near the same money. I can't help thinking this new jacked up Mercian era has bounced into one of the toughest times in years to extract cash from people. If used bike prices and the oft discussed decline of the bike industry are anything to go buy they have their work cut out.

 

[bagpuss]

I have owned a Mercian in one way or another since I started cycling.
Purchased my last one about 20 years ago . Since then i have used Spa cycles for frames purely on the grounds of value for money.