amedias

I’ve got a few frames in the build queue at the moment but next up is a 1979 Mercian, dark metallic green with chrome socks at the rear and a chrome fork.

Sitting near it are 3 boxes of components...

1. 1980s Dura Ace 7400 bear complete groupset, chainset, mechs and shifters, brake s and some slightly newer 105 levers.

2. 1980s Campagnolo Chorus complete groupset, but with the option of running friction or later (but visually consistent) indexed shifters.

3. Mixed 70s/80s bunch, Suntour Cyclone mechs, Simplex SLJ retrofriction shifters, SR royal chainset, currently NO brakes

Several options for wheels and I often swap wheels around so no quandary there, I’ll use what I want and when appropriate.

the quandary is what to fit, I have other bikes with indexed shifting and friction so I have no strong preference there, but I love the Cyclone/Simplex pairing but theres a strong pull for fitting a complete group.

What Would BF C&V’ers do and why?

compelling arguments will be given more weight than personal preferences as I’m manufacturer agnostic and love variety.

repechage

Option 3

Last ride 76 

+1 (but add some brakes)

The Golden Boy 

Option 3.

Add Superbe levers and brakes.

Or Gran Compe levers with Superbe brakes.

Chombi1 

Simplex Retrofriction shifters are always a great addition to any friction shifter derailleurs.
So good that many pro team riders in the mid 80's openly combined them with their non-Simplex derailleurs in many of their pro tour races....despite them possibly not entirely approved by their non-Simplex component sponsors.
Just do not go more than 7 speeds with them, as the barrels on the shifters are not big enough in diameter to provide enough cable pull for more than 7 speeds. Campy did make a Retrofriction shifter of their own, in the later 80's with a bigger pivot barrel on the right side shift lever to address this problem, so you can consider their shifters too if you are going with more than 7 speeds on your bike. But they are crazy expensive like most things from Campy.

ridelikeaturtle

I'm completely besotted with the look, quality, and feel of top-end Suntour stuff. I just love it.

Salamandrine 

Another vote for door number 3.

3alarmer

.
...you don't need brakes. Brakes just slow you down.

bikemig 

Ignore what everyone else has said. This is a thread on a 1979 Mercian and not one pic. There is no way anyone can vote on the group set until they've seen some pics of the bike.

nesteel 

Option #2 with the shifters from option #3 . Done.

niliraga 

Option #3 , which is already mixed enough that you can go with any brakes that take yer fancy. (my current crush is on gran compe sidepulls, which are way better finished/looking than they have a right to be, given how cheap you can find them in co-ops etc)

Salamandrine 

I voted for #3 because mixed components were the norm in 1979. The only common 'groupset' was Campagnolo NR or SR. A mixed group of high end mostly Japanese parts would have been a common way to set up a Mercian or similar frameset of the period. The result is going to look much less jarring than a matchy matchy groupset of later non-period parts. Obviously it's your bike and if you prefer the function of the later parts then that's your call. (but personally I cannot stand early campy syncro junk)

cinco

I'm doing my 1980 Mercian with a Huret Jubilee shifting group, TA Professional 3-arm crank, and CLB Professional brakes. Gotta vote #3 .

amedias

Thanks for the comments so far everyone, I’ll sort some pics of the frame later in the week.

i think I’ve ruled out the Dura Ace for sure now, I have another 80s frame that it’d work better on.

so currently leaning toward option 3 anyway as that does seem the better option and nobody could ever not enjoy riding with Simplex retros... ;-)

amedias

Not had a chance to take proper photos, but here's a teaser shot from last weekend

amedias

making progress...

Mr. Spadoni 

I am with Salamandrine. Go with option 3. That’s how the frame was first built. And the Campy synchro shifters? I had some In early 80s. I paid good money for them, and they remain the only Campy part that I have ever thrown away. Yes, they were that bad.

RobbieTunes

If you are going to ride it with any regularity, put on whatever works best. Period.
There is no substitute for operational capability.

amedias

Ended up with a total mish mash build but with roughly period correct parts that I enjoy functionally, just need need to put a very slightly longer stem on and wrap the bars now

jamesdak 

Looking good!

Fahrenheit531 

Suntour option.

thinktubes 

Wow - that turned out great!!!

I would have gone with the 7400 stuff personally, but I don't think it would looks as nice.

repechage

i will tell what I see:
reduce the right brake housing "loop" to the height of the left.

on a bike like this... and here is the money is no object comment:
brown "honey" color saddle, natural color hoods, toe straps and light brown or tan cable housing
i think veloorange sells the housing still.

the dark metallic green and black... not enough value/ hue contrast.

i like the mechanical choices very much.

amedias

Thanks for the critique repechage, cable lengths both need trimming and the rear cable needs rerouting on the other side of the bar, that was all a bit rushed to get it rideable and I’ll sort it when I change the stem.

The black stuff is staying black for now, I’m not a fan of coloured housing, but I do like a nice dark brown saddle and matching tape sometimes...

The green is greener in real life, it’s very sparkly in the flesh especially with a bit of sunlight (lacking in November in the UK!) which doesn’t show up well in the pics

francophile 

Glad you chose option 3.

I have a box full of calipers but not all have matching levers. Some may be roughly period-correct. Happy to dig if you're looking for something specific.