Mercier identification help
- Thread starter t47b
- Start date
non-fixie
Senior Retro Guru
I've give up on trying to identify Merciers. 
As to the year, my guess would be early to mid-seventies. It looks like it could be the predecessor of my latest project, which I think is from the late seventies. It's not the lightest bike I have, but it may be the smoothest.
Before:
After:
As to the year, my guess would be early to mid-seventies. It looks like it could be the predecessor of my latest project, which I think is from the late seventies. It's not the lightest bike I have, but it may be the smoothest.
Before:
After:
Re:
I'm no expert on Merciers, just had a vague admiration for their bikes for a while. One of the nicer French makers IMO. Always nice colour schemes - like non-fixie's chocolate coloured version, fore example.
I suppose the most likely pitfall would be the usual compatibility problems with French threaded pedals, BBs, headsets and so on. Might start to get expensive if you have to replace those kinds of parts.
Always worth a punt on a cheap bike, you could probably recoup your losses by splitting and selling the parts if you don't want to restore.
I'm no expert on Merciers, just had a vague admiration for their bikes for a while. One of the nicer French makers IMO. Always nice colour schemes - like non-fixie's chocolate coloured version, fore example.
I suppose the most likely pitfall would be the usual compatibility problems with French threaded pedals, BBs, headsets and so on. Might start to get expensive if you have to replace those kinds of parts.
Always worth a punt on a cheap bike, you could probably recoup your losses by splitting and selling the parts if you don't want to restore.
non-fixie
Senior Retro Guru
If it's the bike pictured above: absolutely. If it came up for sale here for €100 or less in my size I'd grab it immediately. Great colour, the important parts are there. Apart from the cables and housing (which should be replaced anyway) it needs brake hangers and a straddle cable, as far as I can see. (And mudguard stays, should you want to keep those.) With a bit of TLC it should clean up nicely.
I've taken that brown one on a short tour (about 350k) to France after rebuilding it a few weeks ago and I was so impressed with it that when I came back and saw the same bike in red for sale I bought that one as well.
I've taken that brown one on a short tour (about 350k) to France after rebuilding it a few weeks ago and I was so impressed with it that when I came back and saw the same bike in red for sale I bought that one as well.
non-fixie
Senior Retro Guru
Re: Re:
Excellent! Bluemels are lighter anyway and don't look half bad. I tried them on:
t47b":20t8ovne said:It's half that price but he wants to keep the mudguards
I've emailed him a few questions and requested a few close up photos, I'll post them here if you're intested, thanks for convincing me that I need another bike :roll:
Excellent! Bluemels are lighter anyway and don't look half bad. I tried them on:
t47b
rBotM Winner
Re:
The red one looks pretty good too
Here is a link to the close up photos she has sent me, let me know what you think please...
http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/photo ... ry/mercier
The red one looks pretty good too
Here is a link to the close up photos she has sent me, let me know what you think please...
http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/photo ... ry/mercier
non-fixie
Senior Retro Guru
Still looks good. I really like that colour. It looks terrific with the red cotton bar tape.
The decals are in surprisingly decent shape. The frame has some scratches, but nothing that would bother me. I would expect it to look very nice after cleaning and polishing.
Some of the smaller brake parts seem to be missing (the stepped ferrule for the front brake hanger, the cable stops for the levers and the cable hangers). They probably came off when the cables were removed. It would be nice if the owner still has them.
The front rim is steel, the rear looks to be aluminium. One of them is obviously a replacement. I'd replace the front with an aluminium one, as braking is decidedly sub-par on those steel rims.
A previous owner was apparently a drillium fan, and had a go at the chain set and brake levers. The chain rings look like 50/38, I like that. Combined with a 14-28 FW it gives you a very useful range for touring and everyday riding.
I've no first hand experience with the Svelto, but it has quite a following, and I certainly like Hurets I have.
MAFAC brakes are simply the best vintage brakes available. I love them.
The Freccia d'Oro saddle is an 'ass hatchet' according to most. Me, I'd find a nice used Brooks or Ideale.
The one thing I can't see in the pictures is the state of the headset and bottom bracket. But even if they're worn there are some tricks to keep them usable. In the worst case scenario they'll need to be replaced.
The decals are in surprisingly decent shape. The frame has some scratches, but nothing that would bother me. I would expect it to look very nice after cleaning and polishing.
Some of the smaller brake parts seem to be missing (the stepped ferrule for the front brake hanger, the cable stops for the levers and the cable hangers). They probably came off when the cables were removed. It would be nice if the owner still has them.
The front rim is steel, the rear looks to be aluminium. One of them is obviously a replacement. I'd replace the front with an aluminium one, as braking is decidedly sub-par on those steel rims.
A previous owner was apparently a drillium fan, and had a go at the chain set and brake levers. The chain rings look like 50/38, I like that. Combined with a 14-28 FW it gives you a very useful range for touring and everyday riding.
I've no first hand experience with the Svelto, but it has quite a following, and I certainly like Hurets I have.
MAFAC brakes are simply the best vintage brakes available. I love them.
The Freccia d'Oro saddle is an 'ass hatchet' according to most. Me, I'd find a nice used Brooks or Ideale.
The one thing I can't see in the pictures is the state of the headset and bottom bracket. But even if they're worn there are some tricks to keep them usable. In the worst case scenario they'll need to be replaced.
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