Mercian Rally GT 1981

[Velorum59]

In 1981 I gazed longingly at the Mercian Rally GT in the Freewheel catalogue. However the asking price of £267 was way beyond my budget so I ended up with a second hand Claud Butler Majestic for my daily 20 mile commute.

Fast forward 45 years and I have finally got one!

One owner from new with all original paperwork - well used but always looked after. Has completed at least one Lejog.

All original components aside from the Shimano rear hub with 8 speed cassette, rear derailer and Stronglight chainset.

I dont intend any major mods.

So far I have replaced the original rather worn Madison saddle with my favourite B17 and replace the plastic rear brake cable clips on the top tube with some stainless steel ones. I am going to fit a Spa super compact 44/28 chainset with MKS pedals. The Continental Gatorskin tyres are in good order but I have some Panaracer Pasela PT's 27x1 (25-630) on order.

This will now be my daily utility bike and I fully expect it to outlive me!

 

[Sharky]

Very nice.
Have a soft spot for Mercians, I'm riding one in my profile picture.

 

[a.twiddler]

I actually ordered one via my LBS in 1982 in red but had to cancel due to financial considerations. Got my existing frame refurbished instead. Fortunately a fellow clubmate took over the order. It's possible he's still riding about on it now!

 

[Drago]

Looks like factory lug lining, and not the godawful DIY type people insist on inflicting upon defenceless bicycles. Pleasant.

 

[midlife]

Nice Haden lugs like the Campionissimo but better built

 

[Once a Wheeler]

Frank Colden on his BAR-winning Mercian in 1962. Maker's name carefully obscured
with a strip of tape to meet the anti-advertising rules of the day. The frame had a compact
seat cluster with the seat stays butting directly into the seat tube just below the saddle
clasp. Probably one of the lightest frames of its time.

 

[midlife]

Shot in seat stays .

 

[Velorum59]

I now have it just how I want it!

At the moment this is my only mode of transport so it needs to be able to cope with the local terrain (very hilly!), carrying shopping etc, journeying between home (Newquay) and places like Truro. Thats why the gearing is so low (20" bottom gear and 68" top gear with the smallest 11t sprocket locked out as I never use it) and there are rigid panniers permanently attached to the rack.

On the subject of the Velobin panniers, I bought my first set of these 20 years ago (when they were called Bikebins) and have been a big fan ever since. Its great to be able to leave things in there and lock the lids and they make excellent mounts for retroreflective strips and LED lights.

Also as regards mudguards. If there is one component that I have found irritating over the year its these! Often heavy, difficult to fit and needing frequent fiddling with to stop rubbing and rattling. I really like the modern clip on alternatives that you can buy now. I have adapted a clip on deflector intended for downtube fitting and secured it to the Blackburn rear rack where it works really well. The SKS clip on front guard is really secure and is also really effective. No more fiddling needed!

I guess some of the way that Ive configured this classic bike may offend some purists but I find it ideally suited to my needs whilst still retaining some of the flavour of the kind of bike I valued so much in my 20's!


















Mercian Rally GT 1981 23.5”

Headset: Campagnolo Super Record (original)

Seat pin: SR alloy (original)

Stem: SR alloy quill (original)

Bars: SR Randonneur (original) + leather bar tape

Brake Levers: Weinmann (original)

Brakes: Weinmann 605 sidepulls (original)

Saddle: Brooks B17 Special

Rear carrier: Blackburn (original)

Changers: Sun Tour power shifters (original)

Bottom Bracket: Stronglight (original)

Crankset: Spa Super Compact 33/24

Pedals: MKS alloy

Front changer: Microshift Marvo 2x9

Rear changer: Shimano Sora

Rear hub & cassette: Shimano Deore 8 speed

Rims: Rigida Sputnik 700c

Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Plus

Mudguards: Rear (rack attachment)- Zefal clip on, Front - SKS S-Board


Luggage: Velobins rigid lockable rigid panniers

Lights: Cirycase 2026 front and rear daylight flashing