tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post1255126199548237282..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Chuck Schmidt's '59 MercianBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-11390537865439895332016-01-08T20:41:08.435-05:002016-01-08T20:41:08.435-05:00I spent a lot of time riding with Chuck on that bi...I spent a lot of time riding with Chuck on that bike.<br />He's fast!philcycleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07037641086503534960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-24647033734397458642015-12-16T08:40:30.425-05:002015-12-16T08:40:30.425-05:00Awesome looking bike. Awesome looking bike. teamdarbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10730985048207207697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-44823505787523492282015-12-15T09:20:57.445-05:002015-12-15T09:20:57.445-05:00Front brake lever on the left!
That is a gorgeous...Front brake lever on the left!<br /><br />That is a gorgeous old bike. Those lugs are certainly taken to the minimum: the tube fitment had to be pretty much perfect to make that work. <br />I think I like the seat lug on the copper Mercian better than the ultra-trimmed-down one. I do appreciate the extra flourish with the lug-lining, though. It's a bit of attention to detail that you just don't see anymore.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Wolf.N/Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710395292374599493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-28211888274117598922015-12-15T08:51:40.224-05:002015-12-15T08:51:40.224-05:00Just to kick the hornets nest, the brake lever sho...Just to kick the hornets nest, the brake lever should definitely be on the right(if you're right handed of course).Phillip Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553979458131339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-59209124059410866492015-12-14T20:41:27.001-05:002015-12-14T20:41:27.001-05:00I probably wouldn't have the funds for it. An...I probably wouldn't have the funds for it. And, really, Schmidt probably appreciates it as much as anybody does. Oh well.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-49408277463489790832015-12-14T18:39:05.948-05:002015-12-14T18:39:05.948-05:00Chuck never mentioned putting it up for sale. If h...Chuck never mentioned putting it up for sale. If he did, it's probably a good thing that it looks a bit small for me.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-55089793103666394832015-12-14T17:20:47.245-05:002015-12-14T17:20:47.245-05:00I have four Mercians. Rational mind says I don...I have four Mercians. Rational mind says I don't have room for another bike. A bike like Schmidt's could get me out of my rational mind.<br /><br />After that, it's only a matter of funds and Schmidt's willingness to sell. Which would I come by first?Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-54744274747890985622015-12-14T13:03:50.707-05:002015-12-14T13:03:50.707-05:00Gorgeous! Some bikes just have that air of "c...Gorgeous! Some bikes just have that air of "correctness" for lack of a better term. A nice Mercian is one of two bikes I've always lusted after(the other being an 80's Colnago complete with garish 80's colors). They're around and available but the money always seems needed somewhere else first.It's time to get my priorities straight.Nothing popped out of a mold will ever top the allure of this kind of metalwork. Good One!Phillip Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553979458131339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-2042903251701892362015-12-14T07:27:26.308-05:002015-12-14T07:27:26.308-05:00Yes - I've seen your bike, and it's a pret...Yes - I've seen your bike, and it's a pretty one. Great paint job on it. Yours was certainly a custom-order frame, as it doesn't quite match up with any one model in the Mercian lineup. Mercian would (and still do) honor special requests like that. You have the extended bottom bracket tangs from the professional model, but with the "shot-in" seat stays which were used on the Superlight and the Strada Speciale. Those lugs are a very nice Prugnaut set, just slightly re-contoured.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-61589332117526191672015-12-14T03:40:27.515-05:002015-12-14T03:40:27.515-05:00I can't remember if I ever brought to your att...I can't remember if I ever brought to your attention my mid-80s Mercian. It can be seen on Cyclofiend, single speed gallery, #280, from 2009. http://cyclofiend.com/ssg/2009/ssg280-paulglassen1209.html The model is a Professional. I bought the frame new but second hand. It had been a custom order by a racer who wound up buying something off the shelf to go racing when the Mercian did not show up in time. It has the "shot in" seat stays, on the seat lug which incorporates the pinch bolt mount. The lugs are not as refined as on the 1959 Superlight, but they are lovely long points and the head tube lugs have just a hint of the curly cue design. Those bottom bracket ulta-long points are a stand out feature of the frame. Love this bike. I don't ride single speed much any more so have been considering how I might convert it back to a full range of gearing for my ageing legs (now over 70 years).Vancouver Island cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15150635169233877051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-66715133236947883292015-12-13T15:54:13.282-05:002015-12-13T15:54:13.282-05:00I know that bike, John. Keep an eye out for an ema...I know that bike, John. Keep an eye out for an email from me on the CR list. I may want to feature your bike here some time soon. It's another one that I think is pretty unique.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-9022729431399060122015-12-13T15:44:38.882-05:002015-12-13T15:44:38.882-05:00I have a 1950 Mercian Bi Lam with long point lugs....I have a 1950 Mercian Bi Lam with long point lugs. JohnUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528033142823718317noreply@blogger.com