My Mercer CX Build

[BenReaper]

Congrats, that is one beautifull bike you got there.

 

Sent from my S40 using Tapatalk

[Matchstix]

Awesome bike! Love the walls

 

[ZakAttak]

This took a while to get to this point but very impressive...

 

Well done, gorgeous bike and I'm sure it's bound to bring you plenty smiles with the miles you planning on...

 

Thanx for the very detailed write up as you went along, it was a real pleasure to follow...

 

Many happy safe miles... enjoy your trip...

[Monark]

Lovely project now get some dirt on it!

 

What wood is that on the walls? How is it fixed to the wall?

[DJR]

I would love some more close up pictures of the detail of this beauty if you don't mind. 

[FrequentFaller]

Thanks for the kind comments - much appreciated!

 

After 400+km, I can say things are getting settled and I'm starting to appreciate the ride. I'll hopefully get to the ride write-up this week...

 

 

What wood is that on the walls? How is it fixed to the wall?

 

Garden-variety pallets, sourced for FREE from a nearby nursery.

 

I used supawood cut into 5cm strips and anchored to the wall to provide a base onto which to hammer the planks to.

 

This really turned the room from a space we avoided to one with character and versatility (read: "bike room").

 

 

[seanp]

Remember how you started this post..... burnt out from work and requiring an extended lay-off? Bet you feel a thousand times better than you did back then. Felt the same way you did earlier last year. Then embarked on a rebuild of my own. Something that had been gathering dust in the garage for close on 14 years. The project lasted me 5 months. A mixture of five months of both frustration and pure pleasure combined. The experience of searching websites, visiting bike shops on a Saturday morning, spending an hour after work on "the project" and getting your hands on that long-for searched part. Meeting people who know what "down tube shifters" are, speaking to strangers for an hour about crank arm length; the list goes on. The whole experience was pure bliss and provided a much needed mental break from the daily work stresses. My wife simply could not understand the logic in spending all that time and money on a bicycle 25 years old. She did however come around and would say " as long as it makes you happy my dear". Could not have phrased it better if I wanted to. She still has no idea of the money invested, but what she doesn't know, won't hurt her.

 

Your regular posting has provided much pleasure. Can't wait to read your post on the ride write-up. Here's hoping that the new baby will provide you with many thousands of kilometres of smiles. It surely is a beautiful build.

[FrequentFaller]

Wow, nice summary Sean - very similar to my experience ???? My wife ventured into cost territory once. R1250 babes. Exorbitant what bikes cost nowadays...

 

 

Of course, the REAL adventure is still to come...Europe 2016!

[Loose cog]

Hey, we are riding our classic and retro bikes at the Cradle on Sun am. You are invited to bring the Mercer along. The guys and girls would love to see the bike in the steel!

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/46935-retro-bicycle-thread/page-305

[FrequentFaller]

I'll be there ????????, thanks for the invite!

[FrequentFaller]

I'll level with you. The first ride was terrible.

 

It had little to do with the bike though, and everything with the man who did the build.

 

Consider a first date with Scarlet Johansson - you've idolised her from afar for years, you've been looking forward to the date with great anticipation. On the days before, anxiety kicks in. What if she's not FUNNY? What if she has a weird laugh? Bad teeth? Can't hold a conversation? Doesn't like to braai?

 

Then, on the night, the restaurant lost your reservation. Once sorted, you discover you're seated by the kitchen. Your waiter is in training. Noise, you know.

 

Well, almost exactly like that.

 

To this end, its proper to separate the first ride from the FIRST ride. The first, first ride is really a configuration ride. Getting used to brake setup changes, getting used to a new seat and then cutting the ride short due to a slipping seatpost.

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/1stRideSwitchBacks-1024x768.jpg

 

The REAL first ride happens when you're not even planning it. When the frame actually disappears underneath you and you realise you've settled into the 100,000-revolution mantra of just riding. This happened after I've added about 400km and everything has settled. The setup is sorted out, brakes are bedded in and the seat is 1/4-way ridden in. I've gotten over the changes in how a tourer feels compared to my Ti racing rig. On swinging my leg over the top tube in the early hours of the morning, barely awake, I suddenly realise its a familiar place, one that I love to be in and start my day with.

 

What a delight!

 

The frame feels solid, bullet proof. There's enough road feel for me to stay connected to what is happening under the wheels, but it comes without a sense of fragility.

 

The steering is quick when the fork is turned, but when leaning (like at speed through fast corners) feels planted to the line. A mid-corner correction is met with keenness and an instant movement, without feeling like we're getting anywhere near the limits of grip. Its almost like I can tighten the radius infinitely without losing control.

 

I discovered that there is no toe-overlap on the front-wheel, with a margin to spare. Moving backwards, the bottom bracket is low (no doubt adding to the planted-feel of the ride) and the length of the stays further lends stability to the ride. Its almost like the bike is made up of two parts: The front is racy and invites me to push harder, to take that gap there. The back is more laid back, and easily follows the course set out before it, but with a reluctance to change.

 

This duality is not easily married, but comes together extremely well in this package.

 

There is a group ride in Gauteng most days of the week from the Engen garage in Bryanston off Main. Tuesdays are HARD. I decided to join as a comparative. Well, it was blood-in-the-mouth HARD. I dropped sooner than usual, as can be expected having just added 4kgs of weight, almost half of it in the wheels. What was a revelation though was that this machine will run like a racer if you're up for it. If it feels like a racer, looks like a racer and (mostly) stays with the pack, I think its fair to call it a racer.

 

Back to the first ride though.

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1stRideChilly-1-768x1024.jpg

 

To give you an appreciation of what's at play: I changed the setup of my brake levers, swapping left and right. Imagine my panic when I grabbed a handful of "front" brake to feel almost no effect at all. Yep, front is now rear AND the discs have not been bedded in yet.

 

Then, I flipped the stem for a more upright position (touring, you see). Well, I HATE it! My legs aren't used to the position and I can't seem to get any power out. I also developed lower back pain after 5km - WHAT??

 

Shifting is razor sharp, but I'm so worried about dropping a chain or pushing the derailleur into the spokes that I overthink every shift.

 

On what I believe is the only climb with proper switchbacks in Gauteng, I discover the seat post is moving in the seat tube. Yep, too much grease and too little torque when tightening it. I promptly decide to cut the ride short and sort out the setup.

 

Adding carbon compound grease to the seat post and properly tightening the bolts sort out any movement. I also lift the saddle slightly to account for the sag inherent in Brooks saddles' mid sections.

 

The step is slammed and, while still higher than on the racer, it feels much more familiar. Suddenly, the back pain is gone...

 

The brakes take a while to get used to. The new standard I'm applying on all my bikes has front shifting and braking on the left. Time will sort this out soon, I'm sure...

 

Visit http://mudcakedface.com/

[FrequentFaller]

And so, the trip came to pass...

 

While I won't do a write-up here, I will post some pictures and narrative. Mostly to try and do the bike and the scenery justice.

 

For an approximate blow-by-blow, find my Facebook page - "mudcakedface", dedicated to my travels.

 

THE BIKE

 

It behaved better than expected, under conditions never expected...I used Google Maps to do my route planning beforehand, and it included bike paths where this was possible. By "Bike Path", I actually mean Bike Trails. Like this:

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image12-1024x768.jpeg

 

Or this:

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image15-768x1024.jpeg

 

Of course, these were the exceptions, but taking a fully loaded bike over this kind of surface will make you sweat with worry. No need though, and I quickly realised this machine is well capable of taking it in its stride.

[FrequentFaller]

"Normal" terrain included the smooth tar surfaces, but pitched up or down for distances to make your eyes water.

 

Stelvio:

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/14073288_1727193830876273_1319659610_n.jpg

 

Or, my personal favourite of the trip: Lac du Long:

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image9-1024x768.jpeg

 

From afar:

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image11-768x1024.jpeg

 

 

Actually, I think my favourite DAY of the trip was a chance venture onto Strada dell Assietta, an old military road connecting the mountains between France, Italy and Switzerland.

 

Mostly gravel, it offers unbelievable views and extremely challenging climbing. Exactly like it should be (in cycling heaven):

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/14128940_289451614755104_239291633_n.jpg

 

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image13-1024x768.jpeg

 

 

Aubisque, a huge challenge, but totally stunning climb, with a convenient Hotel (serving icecream and coffee) 1km from the top.

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image7-768x1024.jpeg

 

Dropping down the other side (towards Soulor), is pretty awe-inspiring too, of course. I'll admit that I shed a tear at this very location.

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image8-1024x990.jpeg

[FrequentFaller]

At some point, I realised that I have grown an inappropriate emotional bond with this bike.

 

I guess it was inevitable: The long wait for it and the trip, the actual trip and everything it was, as well as the bike operating with zero hiccups, whatsoever.

 

For some context, I had approx. 28kgs loaded on the back wheel, 5kgs on the front (handlebar bag). Some downhill sections would run at 8-12%, ensuring 50km/h+ becomes a regular occurance and with no effort.

 

Naturally, these sections are followed by corners and switchbacks, requiring a pretty sharp braking effort to survive.

 

Man, I love this bike.

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/B-005-1024x976.jpeg

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/B-003-1024x768.jpeg

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image5-1024x768.jpeg

 

 

 

http://mudcakedface.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/B-004-768x1024.jpeg

[DJR]

Fantastic feedback. I promise not to complain if you post more pictures!

[Loose cog]

A few weeks ago Eddy, like in Merckxx and I had the good fortune to ride around the cradle followed by a lazy breakfast with D when we heard all about the trip. So, so jealous. David Mercer is the country's top steel magician. The Mercer frame is a beaut. Thank you for sharing D!