Paul Smith x Mercian
80 years. Two British icons.
One shared passion for cycling. A very special collaboration between Mercian Cycles and Paul Smith.
80 years. Two British icons.
One shared passion for cycling. A very special collaboration between Mercian Cycles and Paul Smith.
1946 was a special year: Paul Smith was born in Nottingham, Mercian Cycles was founded in Derby, 15miles down the road.
Paul was a very good cyclist in his youth with dreams of going pro, and he rode Mercian bikes. In what is now an oft told story, Paul almost died on his Mercian when he hit a car, he broke many bones and spent the next three months in hospital. Cycling’s loss was the fashion industry’s gain as Paul met a fashion designer in hospital and the rest is history. Pauls’ battered Mercian still hangs on his wall in the Paul Smith HQ in Nottingham, a reminder of how his career in fashion was kick started – albeit not in the way he would have wished.
Paul has always been a big supporter of Mercian (and cycling in general) and we were honoured when he suggested a collaboration between us to help celebrate our 80th anniversaries together. The result is a pair of beautifully hand-built bicycles that bring together Mercian’s traditional frame-building expertise and Paul’s unmistakeable design.
Launched in September 2026, just 80 of these Paul Smith 80th anniversary special editions are available, each one numbered 1-80. When they are gone, they stay gone.
This brushed steel beauty is a classic road bike. Using long point lugs inspired by the Mercian Professional and previously seen on the 2006 Paul Smith/Mercian track bikes, the frame and forks are Reynolds stainless steel tubing silver soldered into the lugs, with the tubes given a brushed finish.
Paul has included the classic barber pole, with the lugs each individually painted in Paul Smith colours.
The classic look is enhanced by using rim brakes, Ritchey Classic silver components and Brooks leather saddle and bar tape.
Based off our Ventura Allroad bike but using custom long point lugs, this unique design features a distinctive pink ‘splash’ as if ridden through a pink puddle of paint – a nod to the famous Paul Smith ‘pink’ store on Melrose Avenue, LA.
Incorporating the iconic Mercian barbers pole, with the lugs subtly picked out, it is finished with the Mercian/Paul Smith 80year head badge.
One of 80. Make It Yours.
A rare collaboration, hand-built in Derby and designed to celebrate 80 years of Mercian and Paul Smith.
