Custom built Mercian Vincitore road path bicycle

Matts Mercian Vincitore Custom build,Bicycles,Components,Adventures

This is the end result of a 1958 Mercian Vincitore track iron we found concealed and abandoned under thick blanket of hot pink powder, its chromed ends winking at us and beckoning us in close. In truth there was never any doubt this was a beautiful frame - the quality of the filework on the lugs and the wrapover was obvious even through the congealed-Wham-bar finish. For a number of reasons, the best frames are the easiest to paint right - there's already so much good stuff going on with them that the only thing required of the paint is to allow those details to speak for themselves, and to complement them subtly.

Of course, other people have a different take on that thinking. There are certainly those who subscribe to the more-is-more school of refinishing and building. The most ornate and complicated lugs, chromed and meticulously lined. Paint in two or three contrasting colours. Built up with the shoutiest kit you could afford. It's not really our vibe though. We prefer to keep things a bit more under the radar.

Matt likes to keep his bikes minimal but distinctive. We've previously built him a 3 speed path bike with a seatpost mounted shifter, and this time he was adamant about not spoiling the lines of frame with cabling, but preferred to avoid a fixed or single- speed set up. Exacting briefs are usually a joy to work within, because everyone is on the same page, because choice is restricted, and because the criteria for success is clear. In this case, the clear choice in determining how to meet the brief was the Sturmey Duomatic 2-speed kick-shift rear hub, which offers derailleurless, cableless shifting between the two adequately spaced gears, and an integrated coaster brake to keep everything looking as clean as humanly possible.

The result is a bike with the clean and stripped-back lines of a thoroughbred track bike, with some user friendly touches to keep it easy and fun to use on the seafront and around town. The crown jewel, on this slickest of weekend runabouts, is the stunning, brand new Ideale 90, perched proudly, just a little haughtily - reminding other manufacturers just how well it is possible to make a saddle.

'Timeless' is a cliched and overused term, but sixty-plus years on from its conception, this Mercian looks and feels as good, as fresh and as appropriate as ever. The vicissitudes of time seem unlikely to change that.

Leslie's Shorter Redesign

Anja's Jack Taylor