Although it was a long wait as I know the firm have been very busy, it was worth it in the end. The bike can be seen in the images below. I know that you have a gallery of images but I also think it is nice for people to be able to see recently built bikes. The quality is superb. The frame is very light Reynolds 853 Pro Team which feels fantastic on the road, especially when compared with my alloy winter bike. The ice blue metallic pearl paint looks fantastic in the sun. The barber's pole is in lemon yellow pearl and deep blue intenso pearl.
The Brooks Swift saddle is the first that I have owned and I sat on it for the first time with some trepidation! It is amazingly comfortable. I am training for the Etape du Dales currently and I plan to use the Mercian. I took it on a 70 mile loop from Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales on Monday as the sun was shining brightly. It took me up Fleet Moss and the Coal Road without problems (rider fatigue aside!) and the saddle was incredibly comfortable. The bike felt very stable on descents and the Campag Chorus groupset is pure quality.
It is fitted with Look Keo Max 2 pedals and the bottle cages are by Velorange. They are new but made to look retro if you see what I mean. Service in the shop was great and what I like about the Mercian shop is its understated nature and the quiet dedication of the staff. It doesn't feel like some big chain store (naming no names) where they are just trying to flog products as fast as possible.
The bike has generated much interest in my local cycling club in Harrogate. Many people there own steel bikes and love riding them. I honestly don't know whether I shall bother going back to carbon. This is a bike for life and I am completely blown away by the quality. Yes you will have to wait if you order a Mercian, but good things come to those who wait and one has to remember the whole thing is being built from scratch.
So thanks again to all the Mercian team- to Ray for the expert fitting and the lad who fitted the cages and pedals when I picked it up although I apologise for not remembering his name. He also advised me on a route back to the railway station avoiding football crowds as Derby County were playing at home!
Thanks again, best wishes and happy cycling.
Paul from Harrogate

Thanks Paul for your email and pictures.