I thought I would give CR listmembers a chance at this before it goes to ebay:
1981 Mercian "King of Mercia" frameset
with Mercian's deservedly famous baked enamel paint (flamboyant/metallic red), includes factory-installed "Mercian"-engraved Tange steel headset
Very nicely made, very attractive, nice riding, vintage frame with *very low* mileage
Reynolds 531 (tubes, forks & stays) seattube: 55cm c-t (53.5cm c-c) toptube: 55cm c-c chainstays: 42cm front center: 57.5cm rear spacing: 120mm (5sp/ultra-6sp) BB threading: English (of course!)
- long Campagnolo horizontal dropouts (eyelets front & rear) - 1 set of bottle cage mounts - brazed-on above-BB Campagnolo derailleur cable guides and RD stop - 3 brazed-on rear brake cable housing guides on the toptube - no downtube shifter bosses (small underside brazed-on stop for clamp-on shifters or barcon stops). - requires long (AKA "normal") reach, external nut attachment brakes (like Campagnolo NR) with 700C or 27" wheels. - lots of clearance for fat tires but somewhat short front center if you have large feet.
Photos at http://www.ventoux.com/
$415 (includes careful packing and FedEx Ground to lower 48)
Please email with any questions or requests for additional photos.
Lee Berg
Palo Alto, Calif.