Mercian Cycles is a bicycle manufacturer based in Derby, England. Founded in 1946, it produces handmade cycle frames.[1]
History
The firm was founded by Tom Crowther and Lou Barker in 1946 and named after the ancient kingdom of Mercia.[1] Early Mercian frames were known as "crowbars", a pun on the surnames of Crowther and Barker.[2][3]
From the original founders, the business passed to Ethel Crowther, ex-wife of founder Tom Crowther, followed by Mercian framebuilder Bill Betton. In 2002, Mercian Cycles was acquired by Grant and Jane Mosely.
In 2010, production was around 300 to 400 frames per year, with 20% being exported outside the United Kingdom; in the same period, touring bicycles accounted for around 67% of Mercian's production, with track bicycles making up another 25%.