1983 Mercian Olympic

[sjcprojects]

In a suitably autumnal colour, a Mercian Olympic from 1983 (serial number 99283). This was bought from someone who was only about 10 miles from Derby, and being in south Sheffield, I'm only a little over 35 miles away myself. A Mercian has been on my list of bikes I'd like for a while, so although I hadn't planned to build up another bike, I couldn't resist this one. It can take mudguards so this will be my retro-autumn/spring bike, I think. It won't be a proper winter bike because although I know some people do use steel bikes throughout winter, I've done that myself before and it did not end up well. It ended up very rusty (even with full mudguards).

The Olympic was near the bottom of the Mercian range, but it still feels like a very well made frame.



I knew straight away that I would keep this fairly period, so the choice of parts was obvious. It will be mainly Shimano 105 Golden Arrow, with some 600 from the same era, inspired by the rather lovely classic Mercian lettering.

 

[sjcprojects]

It's coming along. There was some conflicting information about the best BB length for the Golden Arrow chainset, I opted for a modern sealed one which is 119mm, and it looks like it's giving a good chainline, fingers crossed. The wheels are not matching, but I already had them in the shed and they are in nice condition so they will do for now. Mudguards are in the post so will be added soon. And the saddle and seatpost are not staying at those positions, it's just to get them on the frame for now.

I did a little touch up of the scratched 531 fork decal with the highly technical use of a thin permanent marker, which turned out quite well.

 

[bikeworkshop]

View attachment 896707

The wheels are not matching, but I already had them in the shed...
I did a little touch up of the scratched 531 fork decal with the highly technical use of a thin permanent marker, which turned out quite well.

You could argue the different mavic rims are for front/rear specific use, just need to use a "black permanent marker" on the front hub

 

[sjcprojects]

You could argue the different mavic rims are for front/rear specific use, just need to use a "black permanent marker" on the front hub

Well, I have just had a lot of fun trying to get a 23c tyre on that rear Module 3 rim, before realising they are for 28c+ tyres (every day is school day round here). Then I had some more fun getting a 28c folding tyre on, which I only just managed, as my aching thumbs can attest to (despite trying all the usual tips to avoid thumb ache). I've never run 28c tyres before so it will be interesting to see how they compare with my other bikes, looking on the plus side.

Anyway, if anyone does have a rear Open 4 CD wheel (with a Shimano freehub), I'm in the market for one after that malarky.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Those module rims have a shallow well, although I didn't know that 28s are an easier fit than 23s.

On a positive note, 28s are considered narrow nowdays so you are entering the modern era!

 

[sjcprojects]

Mainly done now, just the chain, and shifters to add and set up. Well, plus the RD will obviously not clear the 32T I have on the back, so I will use a hanger extender on there. Seeing as there's no granny ring up front, the RD won't have to take up much slack, it just needs to clear the big sprocket. The mudguards could also do with some flaps, but that can wait for now.

 

[sjcprojects]

All done, and straight afterwards I took it out for a nice 30 mile ride. Unsurprisingly it's a comfortable ride, and all-in-all rather nice. The only thing I might change is the rear derailleur for a Suntour Cyclone GT, as the Golden Arrow one seems a little noisy on the higher gears. I wonder if this is due to the hanger extender, but I might just need to adjust things a bit. There is a long cage version of the Golden Arrow but they tend to be silly money, and a Cyclone is one of my favourite retro components.

 

[sjcprojects]

I got a short lunchtime ride in today on one of my usual routes which as it happens takes me near to this monument in Dore, which is relevant to Mercian. Although it's in Sheffield, Dore is in fact just on the Mercian side of the old boundary between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria (after all, Sheffield is only just in Yorkshire). So, this is a Mercian, in Mercia:



This monument commemorates the victory of Ecgberht, King of Wessex over Northumbria, meaning he was briefly sort of the first King of England, as he was at the time the king of both Wessex and Mercia – until the old Mercian king won his kingdom back again later that year. And there ends this particular history lesson.

 

[sjcprojects]

Frame and Fork: Reynolds 531c with Campagnolo dropouts
Headset: Stronglight A9
Stem: Cinelli 1E
Handlebar: Cinelli Campione Del Mondo
Bar Tape: Velox Guidoline Soft Perforated
Saddle: San Marco Rolls
Seatpost: Kalloy
Brake Calipers: Shimano 600
Levers: CLB
Shifters: Shimano 105 Golden Arrow
Front Derailleur: Shimano 105 Golden Arrow
Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 Golden Arrow
Chainsest: Shimano 105 Golden Arrow
Cassette: SRAM 7 speed 12-32T
Chain: Clarks
Bottom Bracket: RPM 119mm sealed bottom bracket
Pedals: Shimano PD-R540
Rims: Front - Mavic Open 4CD Rear - Mavic Module 3 CD
Hubs: Front - Shimano 600 Rear - Shimano Deore LX
Tyres: Continental Grandsport Race 28C
Mudguards: Oxford 31mm full length

 

[greytyke]

Hi sjcprojects,
I love the photos. This is an inspiring thread. Congratulations for putting together
a retro project but using 28c tyres and a 32T rear cog. Surely, this is one advantage
of modern stuff ie fatter tyres and lower gears. I'm not sure that narrower tyres are really viable given the state
of the roads.