Paul J

We are looking to down size as we look toward retirement later next year so I've been thinking about what that looks like for the several bike I have. I've had this early 80's Merckx since 1986 and it was my "go-to" for many years. I the early 2001 I purchased a mid 90's Merckx with SIS derailleurs and it became my regular ride. The older Merckx stayed tucked away in my basement shop and hasn't been ridden for 5 years or more. Yesterday I took it out for a ride just to see how it rode and it is and amazing frame. The biggest thing I noticed was the difference in bar set-up, the brake levers further down the bar took some getting use to again. Age too has caught up with me on it's gearing and bar height but I need to see how to keep it in my fold. Moving to a modern group is probably my best option to get the benefit of wider gearing with a compact set-up. Here's a picture from my ride.

Last ride 76 

Nice Might be surprised by a minor tilt up on the bars, making riding on the hoods more comfortable. I like old school gearing (even though I can't ride it everywhere). Are those non-canonical levers, or just the hoods?
Cheers, Eric


PS I know it's been a while, but you might want to tighten the RD cable Extra credit for the super short brake cables.

easyupbug 

I agree with 76, it will be worth it. I retired 9 years ago and moving to Campy compact cranks and ergos riding high with pre and post ride stretching have me very much enjoying my C&Vs.

delbiker1 

As for "upgrading", it depends on how much you want to invest. If you go to brifters, you would also need to switch out other components. I have an early 90's bike that has a lot of original parts still on it. I am using the downtube shifters with a 9 speed cassette. I have to keep the RD shifter in the friction mode to be able to use the 9 speed without switching out the shifters and the rear derailleur. That is no big deal for me, I got used to it pretty quickly. It also makes it very easy to keep everything tuned in and operating as a unit.

Paul J

The brakes are early Record which gave the option to use areo or with exposed cables. They came with black hoods. I still have the original Super Record brake levers in a box though the hoods were replaced with blue Modolo style ergonomic hoods. On the shifter, I have the retro-friction levers which have a very long throw, I need to see if I can tighten those up. They work so much better then the Campy levers, they too are tucked away in a box of take-out parts. :-)

Paul J

I hadn't thought about going with a wider cogset. Using friction shifters you wouldn't have an issue with shifting a 9 speed. My problem would be getting the Super Record derailleur to shift to a cog larger then 26. The hills here in PA get to me on a ride much further then 25 mile, that typically has over 1,000 feet of climbing. I wish I could find someone willing to trade with me a 10 speed compact Campy group for my Super Record. :-)

delbiker1 

Definitely in some hill country around Lancaster. I would be using 48/38 T chainrings with a 11/30 or 32 cassette. Running these different drivetrain components not much of a problem with the original shifters and crank. Easy to switch rings and cassette when the occasion arises. I really thought about going with modern drivetrain but now am glad I did not. I have a commuter/errands bike with a 9 speed compact crankset. I now have 46/34 rings and a cassette with 11/32 installed on it. These old legs and knees still do alright as long as I keep the stress level low.

Wildwood 

That's so sweet, as is.

I'd vote wall hanger over going modern. You already own modern.

But in the end, it's just a bike.

stardognine

You could always gift it to a friend (old or new, lol), so you could visit & ride that bike. 😁😉 Good luck in finding a good solution. 🙂

SurferRosa

That hasn't been a problem for me with "most" of my NR rear derailleurs and never with my one super record rear mech. But I'm only going up to a 28t.

PM me if you wanna rid your campy shifters.

Spaghetti Legs 

Hey Paul J,

You have a couple of options IMO if you want to keep a classic feel on that sweet Merckx. I have used a 28 tooth cog with Super Record RD on several bikes. On my Moser at Eroica last April I used a Velo Orange compact crank 48-34 with an otherwise standard Campy SR drive train. I can’t remember if I had a 28 or 26 freewheel, I think probably 26. I rode a 53-42, 13-28 the year before that.

At any rate, I’m not a fan of hanging a bike on the wall to look at and if you want to ride it, put whatever parts it takes to do that!

BFisher

I'm all for upgrading to suit wants/needs, but if the ride was long overdue, and the bike has some sentimental value to it then I'm with Wildwood. Your "bikes" list shows a 10 speed Merckx. Maybe this is one, as beautiful as it is, is a special occasion bike. Display it proudly, and then take it out for birthday rides and stuff like that.

Paul J

Spaghetti Legs, I've been giving this a lot of thought and wanted to ask you how things shifted with the Velo Orange compact crank 48-34? They have a 48-34 crank that tips it's hat to the Campy Super Record crank in looks that is interesting. I'm thinking with the Super Record rear derailleur I could go with a 28 but wonder what issues I would have with the chain wrap? As I'm thinking, I could go with a low of 34 chin ring and 28 large cog which would be a pretty good low gear. I'm thinking the freewheel could be one of the Ultra 7 speeds which would give a nice amount of cogs.

Wildwood 

Or you could trade with someone that has an EM Corsa Extra (repainted by CyclArt), with 48/34 rings and a NR that works well with a 14/28 cogset. Your choice of nice tubular or clincher wheels.
edit: currently running with different wheelset and freewheel.

squirtdad

My 2 cents is go for it with a modern group. As much as I love vintage the reality is that functionally the modern compact set up, brifters and dual pivot brakes all perform much better.

I love my 85 team miyata with 5800 105 group.

I also have an 84 team miyata with friction and faithful to, if not exactly the same, original build. It is a great bike, but the overal riding experience for me is better on the 85 with modern gear.

I thinks this is the best of both worlds a great steel frame that sings to you and modern convenience

The only thing to never do is put on a fugly threadless stem handle bar set up

Spaghetti Legs 

The shifting was fine. You'll notice the red jockey wheels and when I unpacked the bike that weekend, Bob Freeman took a 10 second look at the bike and informed me they were the wrong size. Indeed they were but I didn't notice it while riding the bike. I double checked that wheel and it has a 26 tooth freewheel on it. What's a couple of teeth between friends? I'd give it a try.

natterberry 

I run a bike with 52/42 up front and a 28 in back with a SR rear, no problems shifting to it.

Paul J

That's a beautiful bike!

Kabuki12

I just tried that set up on my 1972 ItalVega for the Eroica California ride. I just backed out the stop screws on the drop outs and it worked flawlessly. I actually found a new old stock Avocet 41 tooth chainring for my SR Campy cranks 175's with 144 BCD my rear derailleur is NR . I was told by Wes , the event's organizer that if I were to remove the stop screws all together a 32 rear cog will work . I would have to see it before I tried it. Now that I think about it the large chain ring is 53.
Shown with "big to big" and it works!

bwilli88 

Riding here in Cambodia makes me miss the rolling hills of Lancaster County, I have a house just down the street from the prison on King st.