Comments on: Track Bike by Mercian and Paul Smith http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/ Design Crack: High Concept, Beautiful, and Clever Design, Fashion, and Architecture. Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:48:15 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jane http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-178552 Jane Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:23:22 +0000 http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/#comment-178552 Hi guys thanks for the post, and I know I'm late with the reply, but have just come across the post. Thanks AJ for the comments, you make good points. This isn't a sales mission, just a clarification really and in defence of the price of the Paul Smith designed bikes, they've had a hard time from people about the price of the bikes in some cases. Firstly, and most importantly, the frame: for the Paul Smith track frame, this was based on our Professional model with the spearpoint bottom bracket, Paul Smith really like this design and chose to use the spearpoint design on every lug - bottom bracket, seat lug, head lugs, forks and bottom bracket: all started off as a plain lug, but the framebuilder cuts, by hand, and files them into spearpoints, which are then welded onto the plain lugs (many hours of work). Fast forward to paint... all hand mixed in enamels by hand to swatches selected by Paul Smith and hours of masking and spraying to achieve the half-and-half and barbers pole look. In reality, this isn't a normal Mercian frame branded as a designer bike taking advantage of Paul Smith's name, its a truly bespoke, limited edition, hand-crafted product to their design that Paul Smith have specified from start to finish, with a considerable amount of work going into each one from the guys at Mercian. And the components are the best that you can have to suit the bike. All the best Jane Mercian Hi guys

thanks for the post, and I know I’m late with the reply, but have just come across the post. Thanks AJ for the comments, you make good points.

This isn’t a sales mission, just a clarification really and in defence of the price of the Paul Smith designed bikes, they’ve had a hard time from people about the price of the bikes in some cases. Firstly, and most importantly, the frame: for the Paul Smith track frame, this was based on our Professional model with the spearpoint bottom bracket, Paul Smith really like this design and chose to use the spearpoint design on every lug – bottom bracket, seat lug, head lugs, forks and bottom bracket: all started off as a plain lug, but the framebuilder cuts, by hand, and files them into spearpoints, which are then welded onto the plain lugs (many hours of work). Fast forward to paint… all hand mixed in enamels by hand to swatches selected by Paul Smith and hours of masking and spraying to achieve the half-and-half and barbers pole look.

In reality, this isn’t a normal Mercian frame branded as a designer bike taking advantage of Paul Smith’s name, its a truly bespoke, limited edition, hand-crafted product to their design that Paul Smith have specified from start to finish, with a considerable amount of work going into each one from the guys at Mercian.

And the components are the best that you can have to suit the bike.

All the best
Jane
Mercian

]]> By: Vintage-bicycle Mike http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-103689 Vintage-bicycle Mike Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:34:18 +0000 http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/#comment-103689 What I like most with this one is the colors. They sure are cool! Otherwise... well, my knees tell me they prefer a bike with plenty of gears, or they'll hurt. Soo, I therefore use a 21-gear Miyata myself - plain black though, not as super cool but OK, goes well with everything! What I like most with this one is the colors. They sure are cool! Otherwise… well, my knees tell me they prefer a bike with plenty of gears, or they’ll hurt.
Soo, I therefore use a 21-gear Miyata myself – plain black though, not as super cool but OK, goes well with everything!

]]> By: PEDAL ENVY | Orange Life Magazine http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-94985 PEDAL ENVY | Orange Life Magazine Tue, 27 May 2008 05:04:45 +0000 http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/#comment-94985 [...] design guru Paul Smith notes that, right now, many top labels are making messenger bags, even luggage deities like Louis [...] [...] design guru Paul Smith notes that, right now, many top labels are making messenger bags, even luggage deities like Louis [...]

]]> By: Brandon Thomas Baunach http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-28530 Brandon Thomas Baunach Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:48:22 +0000 http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/#comment-28530 All your comments seem fair. I would like to point out that for years I rode a bike frame made out of Leeds, England by a company named Woodrup who make very reasonable handmade lugged frames. I think I paid $400. It was about the most beautiful bike I had seen. Now, a typical frame goes for about $1400 bucks. I'm going to add a grand for parts. So, that's $2400. Add $1600 for Paul Smith's name to the bike, and you got the same bike. That's just my take on it. All your comments seem fair. I would like to point out that for years I rode a bike frame made out of Leeds, England by a company named Woodrup who make very reasonable handmade lugged frames. I think I paid $400. It was about the most beautiful bike I had seen. Now, a typical frame goes for about $1400 bucks. I’m going to add a grand for parts. So, that’s $2400. Add $1600 for Paul Smith’s name to the bike, and you got the same bike. That’s just my take on it.

]]> By: AJ http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-28505 AJ Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:18:49 +0000 http://designcrack.com/v2/2006/12/03/track-bike-by-mercian-and-paul-smith/#comment-28505 Is your opinion that Smith over uses a particular motif your only basis for comparing him to Hilfiger? You can't really compare Hilfiger's mass-market, high street, suburban wear for Smith's far more cultured and whimsical stylings. For one thing, Hilfiger has made an entire career selling clothes that look like a cartoon parody of Ralph Lauren's Polo collections from the early 90's. While I agree that the bicycle itself is on the upper end of the price spectrum I would disagree that a comparable bicycle could be found for 25% of the Mercian's price. The unfavorable exchange rate for our dollar notwithstanding, I know of no small frame builder that offers a hand made, Reynolds, lugged track frame for 75% less than the Smith bike is priced. The smith bike also comes with some of the nicest bicycle components available anywhere. As for the brake, that’s personal preference and easily removed. I still have my Panasonic track bicycle, which I raced in the 1980’s, and use it as a brakeless town-bike. Having said that, brakeless is not for everyone. The only track ready bicycles I can think of that come in at the price points you are suggesting are from companies like Bianchi, Fuji, Trek etc. While these mass-produced bicycles are competent, they hardly offer the level of finish and componentry offered by the Mercian. If your logic was universal companies like Aston Martin, Rolex and Pegoretti would be replaced by Honda, Timex and Trek. Having said all that, if you really think Paul Smith is comparable to Tommy Hilfiger it makes perfect sense that you don’t know the difference between a Mercian and a Fuji. Is your opinion that Smith over uses a particular motif your only basis for comparing him to Hilfiger? You can’t really compare Hilfiger’s mass-market, high street, suburban wear for Smith’s far more cultured and whimsical stylings. For one thing, Hilfiger has made an entire career selling clothes that look like a cartoon parody of Ralph Lauren’s Polo collections from the early 90’s.

While I agree that the bicycle itself is on the upper end of the price spectrum I would disagree that a comparable bicycle could be found for 25% of the Mercian’s price. The unfavorable exchange rate for our dollar notwithstanding, I know of no small frame builder that offers a hand made, Reynolds, lugged track frame for 75% less than the Smith bike is priced. The smith bike also comes with some of the nicest bicycle components available anywhere. As for the brake, that’s personal preference and easily removed. I still have my Panasonic track bicycle, which I raced in the 1980’s, and use it as a brakeless town-bike. Having said that, brakeless is not for everyone.

The only track ready bicycles I can think of that come in at the price points you are suggesting are from companies like Bianchi, Fuji, Trek etc. While these mass-produced bicycles are competent, they hardly offer the level of finish and componentry offered by the Mercian. If your logic was universal companies like Aston Martin, Rolex and Pegoretti would be replaced by Honda, Timex and Trek. Having said all that, if you really think Paul Smith is comparable to Tommy Hilfiger it makes perfect sense that you don’t know the difference between a Mercian and a Fuji.

]]>