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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Giles Builds a Bike…...(and about time too......).....

    Hobbies and Pastimes
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    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      Hope that you do not mind that I am dedicating a thread to this, but from a purely selfish point of view, I'd like to document the build in one place.

      About 30 years ago I had this frame hand made for me by Mercian.  It was built specifically for a long tour I was planning, so has pretty lazy angles etc.  My life moved on and I never built the bike up.  The frame has moved from house to house with me ever since.  We have a customer/friend staying with us from Switzerland at the moment and he is a classic bike nut.  We have done a deal, he will source as much original (to the era) stuff as poss and I will pay him with clothes.  I have phoned Mercian to try and get the exact specs of the frame out of them, as I have long forgotten….I am very very excited......

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • GilesG
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined:

        My first "care package" will be inbound soon….

        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • FridayF
          Friday
          Joined:

          good to hear.. G-San.. wishing u all the best in completing yet another long lost dream… Caaiiiiyoookkkk!!!

          Tough, heavy and ready! = IRON HEART

          ~Shinici Haraki~

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • M
            MikeC
            Banned
            Joined:

            He's got a bike, he can ride it, if he likes….

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Finn666F
              Finn666
              Joined:

              looking forward to the final pic…should be interesting and fun to watch!

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GraemeG
                Graeme
                啓蒙家
                Joined:

                Nice frame, Giles.

                A friend has got a similar Mercian, albeit in black, which now sees a lot of duty as a commuter in London. I can't remember how old it is, but he's had a lot of use out of it.

                Paul Smith did a collaboration with Mercian a few years back. Is the Haraki version coming soon? 😃

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • thomasnunnallyT
                  thomasnunnally
                  Joined:

                  This is awesome G!  Can't wait for more updates!

                  Out with the new! In with the old!

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • natehateN
                    natehate
                    啓蒙家
                    Joined:

                    g we think to much alike i have the same brooks saddle on my single speed/cross bastard bike
                    b17 honey leather with copper hardware right?

                    don't you know there ain't no devil? only god when he's drunk!

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                    • S
                      stever
                      Joined:

                      Beautiful frame, G. Are you going to lace up your own wheels too? Has been on my to-do list forever…

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • RocknRollR
                        RocknRoll
                        Joined:

                        I imagine it will look something like this when completed.

                        Right?

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • GilesG
                          Giles
                          IHUK Crew
                          Joined:

                          @natehate:

                          g we think to much alike i have the same brooks saddle on my single speed/cross bastard bike
                          b17 honey leather with copper hardware right?

                          Actually that is a Gilles Berthoud…

                          http://www.gillesberthoud.fr/anglais/fiche_detaillee/fiche.php?refArticle=201GB2ARA/N

                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • GilesG
                            Giles
                            IHUK Crew
                            Joined:

                            @stever:

                            Beautiful frame, G. Are you going to lace up your own wheels too? Has been on my to-do list forever…

                            Had not thought of doing that, but now you have me thinking…..

                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • GilesG
                              Giles
                              IHUK Crew
                              Joined:

                              @RocknRoll:

                              I imagine it will look something like this when completed.

                              Here's hoping…...

                              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • U
                                unharmed
                                Joined:

                                I laced my own 29er wheels and it's fairly straightforward as long as you take your time and follow the instructions carefully. I wouldn't want to do it without a proper truing stand though.

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Finn666F
                                  Finn666
                                  Joined:

                                  any updates G-San?

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • GilesG
                                    Giles
                                    IHUK Crew
                                    Joined:

                                    I have a load of bits piling up…..

                                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • tatmantallT
                                      tatmantall
                                      Joined:

                                      bummer… thought this as going to be motorcycle related.

                                      "I know to you it may sound strange, but I wish it would rain…"- The Temptations

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • Finn666F
                                        Finn666
                                        Joined:

                                        should still be interesting to watch 😉

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • S
                                          Snowy
                                          Joined:

                                          @tatmantall:

                                          bummer… thought this as going to be motorcycle related.

                                          As a cyclist, I'm pretty glad it's not motorcycle related 🙂

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • veloaudioV
                                            veloaudio
                                            Raw and Unwashed
                                            Joined:

                                            @Snowy:

                                            @tatmantall:

                                            bummer… thought this as going to be motorcycle related.

                                            As a cyclist, I'm pretty glad it's not motorcycle related 🙂

                                            I'm with Snowy.

                                            Can't wait to see the finished product G.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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