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A NEW HOME FOR THE MERCIER GENT
The actual finding of the Gentleman is hardly
spectacular. In the fall of the year, Bicycles for Humanity was
conducting its annual bicycle drive. Actually, the organization
tries to hold two drives each year - one in the Spring and one in the
Fall. This particular year, there was a single drive and conducted
in October. Anyway... The
month before Bicycle Donation Days and for the month after, a few of us
are busier than two flies on a pig's butt picking up donated bicycles.
On a busy Thursday morning, this lovely old Mercier presented itself,
along with a brief history of how it was used.
Apparently, and this comes as a bit of a surprise when
the vintage of the bicycle is taken into consideration, the bicycle was
purchased new, by a young lady at the end of the 1960s or beginning of
the seventies. Most young women of the day would have opted for
the step through model, or even one of
Mercier' Mixtes. At any
rate, the young lady had purchased the bicycle, just before beginning
university studies. Her mother, the person who actually donated
the bicycle to B4H, told me that her daughter had ridden the bicycle for
many years until she could finally afford a car. The bicycle had
then
been put away, and had remained in questionable storage for nearly
forty years.
 Close
to half a century in hiding and the patina of age presented would
suggest that storage conditions were less than perfect, if any kind of
preservation was the goal. The Mercier had experienced widespread
surface oxidation, sporting a patina of vintage paint, art and surface rust.
The cosmetics were boarder line, with one exception. The bottom
bracket housing and chain stays had not weathered the weather well.
The pitting was not apparent, paint peeling and ugly blotches of
oxidation were. To paint or not to paint. A question I asked
myself, more than one time, as I considered restoring the bicycle.
   Yes,
even though the bike is, more or less, entry level, it did offer one
redeeming feature - cantilever brakes. This was the first Mercier, I had stumbled upon, that sported cantilever
brakes. It was the first Mercier that offered upright handlebars.
The first one to present a wonderful ornate chain guard. And the
first one to come fitted with generator, tail light and head light.
 Actually, that last statement is not exactly accurate.
Though the generator was present, only parts of the
fender mounted headlight and
taillight remained. I had great confidence that I could find the
correct electrical components, which, once again supported my interest
in restoring this unusual old bicycle. And I must clarify my
definition of unusual. I speak of this bicycle and my relationship
to it only. Apparently, these old touring style Mercier roadsters
were not all that uncommon, in Europe. But certainly few and far
between on this side of the pond.
 Adding
to what was amounting to a heap of vintage charm, the original French
alloy fenders were in great shape and suited the bicycle perfectly.
So too did the
  original
luggage rack fitted over the rear fender. The luggage rack,
incidentally, was mounted to both drop and braze-on stay eyelets.
The brazed on stay mounts being just one more characteristic common to a
vintage touring bicycle. This old bike was just too cool. I
must admit that I really liked it and the thought of Street Restoring the
bike.
To all of this vintage charm, add an understated but
elegant color choice, some very vintage art and a wealth of pin
striping. This modest French road bicycle even came equipped with
a period correct vintage hand pump. What more could a vintage road
bicycle enthusiast ask for.
And that is exactly what happened. A fellow
enthusiast asked, at just the right time, and the Gentleman Mercier was
on its way once more.
NEXT -
RESTORED ELSEWHERE
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