Mercian Audax

[Rhythm Thief]

Most of what is donated to Enviroability is, to put it politely, junk. Lots of worn out crap-when-it-was-new stuff, some of which has been left outside. Then every so often, someone donates something nice, like this 2004 Mercian Audax. I am really struggling not to take this one home with me...

 

[DCLane]

@Rhythm Thief - I wouldn't be struggling at all with that decision.

Ah, that's not quite what you meant.

 

[Jameshow]

Most of what is donated to Enviroability is, to put it politely, junk. Lots of worn out crap-when-it-was-new stuff, some of which has been left outside. Then every so often, someone donates something nice, like this 2004 Mercian Audax. I am really struggling not to take this one home with me...

What size is it? 22"
Where's the store?
Are they open Saturday's?🤣🤣🤣

 

[Gillstay]

I wouldn't struggle, just take it where it belongs.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Inevitably, it has come home with me. It's not quite as nice as it looks - there's a nasty rust patch on the BB shell and some cable rub on the head tube, and it needs recommissioning with new cables and whatnot - so I paid £150 for it. I'm currently thinking it will replace my slightly battered Dawes Audax as my "if I could have only one bike" bike.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

What size is it? 22"
Where's the store?
Are they open Saturday's?🤣🤣🤣

It's 59cm, store is in Ross on Wye and you're too late!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Started stripping it down today. It's been used exclusively on a turbo trainer for a while, and it shows. Corroded bottle cage bolts and aluminium oxide deposits on the bars and front hub from sweat 🤢 are the telltale signs.
It's mostly back to a bare frame now. Annoyingly, one of the rear dropout screws is rusted in place, I can't extract the bottom bracket (mostly because I've left the relevant tool at work, but I suspect it'll be a bit of an arse to shift) and I can't undo the screw which holds that daft chain keeper thing in place so will have to (carefully!) Dremel it off.
Any tips on how to extract the dropout screws are very welcome! Last time I tried drilling one out all I achieved was to break a drill bit and get the remains stuck in the hole.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I always give the cable ferrules a smear of copper grease when I install them. I wish whoever built this up had done the same!

 

[Jameshow]

Such a tease!🤣🤣🤣

 

[Rhythm Thief]

It's not every day you get to attack a Mercian with a hacksaw. The cable stops on the top tube were badly rusted, and try as I might I could not extract the cable ferrules without breaking the stops. Fortunately, I found some clip on cable guides in the bits box and have very carefully sawn off the old cable stops. A bit of touch up paint and it'll be fine. I know this is sacrilege, but the alternative (which is still available to me, down the line) was to have new cable stops brazed on, which would be £80 at Argos, followed by refinishing and decals, which would be £300+. Which is financially untenable, and in any case the rest of the paint is too good.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Headset rebuilt with new bearings. I always rebuild headsets using loose ball bearings, rather than caged, as you get more bearing surface. This should cure the brinelling this headset was suffering from.

 

[Gillstay]

Drop out screws I last got out had the serious penetrating oil and heat alternating over several days plus tapping with a punch to try to loosen and I got lucky. The penetrating oil was either german or Bilt hammer stuff.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

This is where we're at so far.

 

[Ratchet Cat]

How did you get on with the rusty bottom bracket shell?
It’s looking rather good now.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

How did you get on with the rusty bottom bracket shell?
It’s looking rather good now.

Not really looked at it yet. I'll probably wire brush it and slap some touch up paint on.