Let's see your Eddy Merckx!
06-24-20, 03:42 PM
#776
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08-23-20, 12:45 PM
#781
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I finished building up my 1988 Reynolds 753 Merckx today. Massive thanks to my brother’s friend Jonathan in Ontario who shipped the frame to me in the UK, and after a long delay because of some pesky virus, I finished putting it all together this afternoon.I already own a Columbus SLX 1985 Team Panasonic Merckx with lashings of chrome, that I built up with modern 10 speed Campag Chorus. This new one is a rare chrome covered 1988 Merckx made from Reynolds 753, in a similarly rare green camo which had me swooning as soon as I saw it.
I wanted to keep this looking like most 753 bikes were throughout its years at the top of the racing peloton, so the shiniest silver parts I can find, down tube shifters, and pedals with clips and straps. But I wanted to make a few subtle changes that would make it function a bit more 2020, while still looking like an old school steel racer.
Firstly I don’t like the big loopy washing line brake cables of old, so aero brake levers it is. I’ve also opted for some slightly newer Campag Chorus brakes, think they are from the early 90’s, which have double pivot front brake for better braking. The rear is still a single pivot like brakes of old.
For wheels I found some NOS Campag Croce D’Aune 28 hole hubs, which I got built with Sapim spokes and some new Pacenti Brevet wide clincher rims for me. Super plush tubular feel without the tubular hassle. There is easily enough clearance for 28c tyres, but I’ve opted for some 25c which look less balloon-y and the suit the look of the bike more. So rear wheel still an old school screw on freewheel, but it has a 28 tooth rear for a large cog, rather than the 21’s those tree trunk thighed old racers had to endure, so I’ll be able to get up more hills.
I totally fell for the super slab of chrome 1st Gen Chorus rear derailleur, and scored an excellent condition 1st Gen Campag Chorus crankset, and some nice Campag pedals with original Campag leather straps, NOS 3T stem and 3T Merckx bend handlebar to complete the shiny ensemble.
Some pics
And here it is with its chrome covered brother, my 1985 Columbus SLX Team Panasonic.
I wanted to keep this looking like most 753 bikes were throughout its years at the top of the racing peloton, so the shiniest silver parts I can find, down tube shifters, and pedals with clips and straps. But I wanted to make a few subtle changes that would make it function a bit more 2020, while still looking like an old school steel racer.
Firstly I don’t like the big loopy washing line brake cables of old, so aero brake levers it is. I’ve also opted for some slightly newer Campag Chorus brakes, think they are from the early 90’s, which have double pivot front brake for better braking. The rear is still a single pivot like brakes of old.
For wheels I found some NOS Campag Croce D’Aune 28 hole hubs, which I got built with Sapim spokes and some new Pacenti Brevet wide clincher rims for me. Super plush tubular feel without the tubular hassle. There is easily enough clearance for 28c tyres, but I’ve opted for some 25c which look less balloon-y and the suit the look of the bike more. So rear wheel still an old school screw on freewheel, but it has a 28 tooth rear for a large cog, rather than the 21’s those tree trunk thighed old racers had to endure, so I’ll be able to get up more hills.
I totally fell for the super slab of chrome 1st Gen Chorus rear derailleur, and scored an excellent condition 1st Gen Campag Chorus crankset, and some nice Campag pedals with original Campag leather straps, NOS 3T stem and 3T Merckx bend handlebar to complete the shiny ensemble.
Some pics
And here it is with its chrome covered brother, my 1985 Columbus SLX Team Panasonic.
Last edited by botty kayer; 08-23-20 at 01:26 PM.
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08-23-20, 07:13 PM
#782
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Well done, sir!
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08-25-20, 06:03 AM
#783
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1972 or 73 "Kessels" Eddy Merckx
My Eddy Merckx, purchased new from Eddy's Belgian builder, Kessels, in June of 1973. I now believe it was a left-over 1972 model.
Eddy is on the record as saying that Kessels supplied him with bikes alongside Colnago and DeRosa from 1971 through 1976.
The irony here is that the Eddy Merckx branded bikes we are mostly familiar with were never actually ridden in competition by Eddy himself.
By contrast, in 1973 I was able to buy an Eddy Merckx frame identical to the ones actually used by Eddy and the Molten team.
I did not have the budget to equip it with a Campagnolo Record gruppo, but the frame is top-notch, Reynolds 531 with Campagnolo dropouts and beautiful workmanship.
Here's a more detailed description: https://www.flickr.com/groups/kessel...7624706263918/
1972 or 73 "Kessels" Eddy Merckx
Eddy is on the record as saying that Kessels supplied him with bikes alongside Colnago and DeRosa from 1971 through 1976.
The irony here is that the Eddy Merckx branded bikes we are mostly familiar with were never actually ridden in competition by Eddy himself.
By contrast, in 1973 I was able to buy an Eddy Merckx frame identical to the ones actually used by Eddy and the Molten team.
I did not have the budget to equip it with a Campagnolo Record gruppo, but the frame is top-notch, Reynolds 531 with Campagnolo dropouts and beautiful workmanship.
Here's a more detailed description: https://www.flickr.com/groups/kessel...7624706263918/
1972 or 73 "Kessels" Eddy Merckx
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08-25-20, 07:39 AM
#784
Senior Member
I finished building up my 1988 Reynolds 753 Merckx today. Massive thanks to my brother’s friend Jonathan in Ontario who shipped the frame to me in the UK, and after a long delay because of some pesky virus, I finished putting it all together this afternoon.I already own a Columbus SLX 1985 Team Panasonic Merckx with lashings of chrome, that I built up with modern 10 speed Campag Chorus. This new one is a rare chrome covered 1988 Merckx made from Reynolds 753, in a similarly rare green camo which had me swooning as soon as I saw it.
I wanted to keep this looking like most 753 bikes were throughout its years at the top of the racing peloton, so the shiniest silver parts I can find, down tube shifters, and pedals with clips and straps. But I wanted to make a few subtle changes that would make it function a bit more 2020, while still looking like an old school steel racer.
Firstly I don’t like the big loopy washing line brake cables of old, so aero brake levers it is. I’ve also opted for some slightly newer Campag Chorus brakes, think they are from the early 90’s, which have double pivot front brake for better braking. The rear is still a single pivot like brakes of old.
For wheels I found some NOS Campag Croce D’Aune 28 hole hubs, which I got built with Sapim spokes and some new Pacenti Brevet wide clincher rims for me. Super plush tubular feel without the tubular hassle. There is easily enough clearance for 28c tyres, but I’ve opted for some 25c which look less balloon-y and the suit the look of the bike more. So rear wheel still an old school screw on freewheel, but it has a 28 tooth rear for a large cog, rather than the 21’s those tree trunk thighed old racers had to endure, so I’ll be able to get up more hills.
I totally fell for the super slab of chrome 1st Gen Chorus rear derailleur, and scored an excellent condition 1st Gen Campag Chorus crankset, and some nice Campag pedals with original Campag leather straps, NOS 3T stem and 3T Merckx bend handlebar to complete the shiny ensemble.
Some pics
I wanted to keep this looking like most 753 bikes were throughout its years at the top of the racing peloton, so the shiniest silver parts I can find, down tube shifters, and pedals with clips and straps. But I wanted to make a few subtle changes that would make it function a bit more 2020, while still looking like an old school steel racer.
Firstly I don’t like the big loopy washing line brake cables of old, so aero brake levers it is. I’ve also opted for some slightly newer Campag Chorus brakes, think they are from the early 90’s, which have double pivot front brake for better braking. The rear is still a single pivot like brakes of old.
For wheels I found some NOS Campag Croce D’Aune 28 hole hubs, which I got built with Sapim spokes and some new Pacenti Brevet wide clincher rims for me. Super plush tubular feel without the tubular hassle. There is easily enough clearance for 28c tyres, but I’ve opted for some 25c which look less balloon-y and the suit the look of the bike more. So rear wheel still an old school screw on freewheel, but it has a 28 tooth rear for a large cog, rather than the 21’s those tree trunk thighed old racers had to endure, so I’ll be able to get up more hills.
I totally fell for the super slab of chrome 1st Gen Chorus rear derailleur, and scored an excellent condition 1st Gen Campag Chorus crankset, and some nice Campag pedals with original Campag leather straps, NOS 3T stem and 3T Merckx bend handlebar to complete the shiny ensemble.
Some pics
Where in Ontario did you find this? I must have been sleeping because, had I seen this for sale, I would have driven anywhere in the province for it!
Here is mine, a Corsa Extra that is custom built for Olaf Ludwig of Team Telekom for the 1995 season. Sorry the lousy pic, the colours are washed out, it is quite pink in person
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08-25-20, 08:43 AM
#785
Newbie
[QUOTE=reverborama;11441565]Did Merckx design or build the De Rosas he rode to victory in Le Tour? I'd value one of those more than any bike I will ever own. He did sign his name to a contract that allowed Kessel and Falcon to produce bikes in his livery and he got paid for it.
List of bikes ridden obtained directly from Eddy by Brett Horton, and it is as follows:
1965 - Superia (stock bike)
1966 - Peugeot (stock bike)
1967 - Peugeot (stock bike) and Masi
1968 - Masi
1969 - Marcel Van der Este (Belgian builder, possibly working for Kessels?)
1970 - Pella (or Pello) Torino, Italy
1971 - Colnago and Kessels
1972 - Colnago and Kessels
1973 - Colnago and Kessels
1974 - DeRosa and Kessels
1975 - DeRosa and Kessels
1976 - DeRosa and Kessels
1977 - DeRosa
List of bikes ridden obtained directly from Eddy by Brett Horton, and it is as follows:
1965 - Superia (stock bike)
1966 - Peugeot (stock bike)
1967 - Peugeot (stock bike) and Masi
1968 - Masi
1969 - Marcel Van der Este (Belgian builder, possibly working for Kessels?)
1970 - Pella (or Pello) Torino, Italy
1971 - Colnago and Kessels
1972 - Colnago and Kessels
1973 - Colnago and Kessels
1974 - DeRosa and Kessels
1975 - DeRosa and Kessels
1976 - DeRosa and Kessels
1977 - DeRosa
08-25-20, 08:50 AM
#786
Newbie
However, I don't think Eddy used Falcons in competition, even though he visited the Falcon factory to inspect production and was given a bike for his own use. He may have used it for training, who knows?
08-25-20, 09:38 AM
#787
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jet sanchEz Haha yes when I saw that green and all that chrome it melted my heart instantly. I'd never seen that colour before either.
I got the frame from eBay back in February, when the world was a very different place. The frame was actually located at the other end of the country, in Point Robert, but the seller would only ship to Canada and USA. I am in the UK but would not be denied, so the seller agreed to ship to my brother's friend who is in Ontario. Then Covid happened, and there was a long delay before it was finally shipped onto me in London, and then a 9 week wait while it cleared customs and the Post Office backlogs. I finally got it 6 months after buying it, so it was a long an nervous wait, but at least it gave me plenty of time to purchase all the components to go on it.
Yours is lovely too by the way
I got the frame from eBay back in February, when the world was a very different place. The frame was actually located at the other end of the country, in Point Robert, but the seller would only ship to Canada and USA. I am in the UK but would not be denied, so the seller agreed to ship to my brother's friend who is in Ontario. Then Covid happened, and there was a long delay before it was finally shipped onto me in London, and then a 9 week wait while it cleared customs and the Post Office backlogs. I finally got it 6 months after buying it, so it was a long an nervous wait, but at least it gave me plenty of time to purchase all the components to go on it.
Yours is lovely too by the way
08-25-20, 03:35 PM
#788
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Yowza! That is nice and I have never seen that colour scheme before.
Where in Ontario did you find this? I must have been sleeping because, had I seen this for sale, I would have driven anywhere in the province for it!
Here is mine, a Corsa Extra that is custom built for Olaf Ludwig of Team Telekom for the 1995 season. Sorry the lousy pic, the colours are washed out, it is quite pink in person
Where in Ontario did you find this? I must have been sleeping because, had I seen this for sale, I would have driven anywhere in the province for it!
Here is mine, a Corsa Extra that is custom built for Olaf Ludwig of Team Telekom for the 1995 season. Sorry the lousy pic, the colours are washed out, it is quite pink in person
08-28-20, 07:23 AM
#791
Newbie
I guess we can debate whether it is a Merckx or not , but sounds like Eddy used the Kessel for more years than most any other frame?, so it must have been ok? Now..this one needs some love for sure to get it back on-track, but it has a flat crown fork, Campy dropouts, etc., so it might just make for a nice project?
, but sounds like Eddy used the Kessel for more years than most any other frame?, so it must have been ok? Now..this one needs some love for sure to get it back on-track, but it has a flat crown fork, Campy dropouts, etc., so it might just make for a nice project?
08-28-20, 11:58 AM
#792
Senior Member
So Paul J's '81 Merckx Road "Classic" is now mine. Jacek dated production to summer of '81, so happy 39th b'day! Maybe I'll actually get some miles in and do it justice by its 40th? Was hoping I could squeeze in wider tires, but 27mm actual is max. Time for Rule #5/HTFU.
It was resprayed in '03 by Tom Kellogg as an '83 Molteni tribute, and I built it kinda period-correct, bit with wider/taller Nitto bars/stem to mesh with my aging bones, modern rubber and a DT RWS rear skewer to better resist rear wheel slippage. Pretty much where I want it build-wise, though I might look for a cleaner SR rder, and maybe previous-gen crankarms.
It was resprayed in '03 by Tom Kellogg as an '83 Molteni tribute, and I built it kinda period-correct, bit with wider/taller Nitto bars/stem to mesh with my aging bones, modern rubber and a DT RWS rear skewer to better resist rear wheel slippage. Pretty much where I want it build-wise, though I might look for a cleaner SR rder, and maybe previous-gen crankarms.
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08-28-20, 12:10 PM
#793
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That’s super pretty!
Love me some flat crown Merckx forks....
Love me some flat crown Merckx forks....
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08-28-20, 12:19 PM
#794
It's MY mountain
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08-28-20, 02:12 PM
#795
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Tell me about it. It is a 49t outer, so a little more mid-range there than you might think. 47t would probably be even better.
I wanted it to be a racey build, but my legs have evidently aged since the Reagan administration, so I pretty quickly put on a 13-24t instead. That, and staying under 1,000' or so of climbing ought keep me outta trouble.
I wanted it to be a racey build, but my legs have evidently aged since the Reagan administration, so I pretty quickly put on a 13-24t instead. That, and staying under 1,000' or so of climbing ought keep me outta trouble.
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08-29-20, 08:06 AM
#796
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10-13-20, 03:04 PM
#797
Senior Member
I picked up the Merckx Corsa Extra frame/fork recently off this site. I built it up with parts from my parts bin. It is all Dura Ace. I had to purchase a new chain, brake and shifter outer housing and one brake cable for a total of $30. This is my second Merckx. The other is a Motorola Team bike. I like the way it turned out.
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12-26-20, 08:33 PM
#799
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DiabloBrother sent me this vintage sign with a nice patina... not sure where he got it but I'm going to make up a story about a bike shop in Antwerp or something to go along with it.
Maybe someday when I retire my Corsa, I'll make a shrine, but the Merckx is still my main ride in the winter.
Found behind a wall in a coffee shop that was once a bike shop in Antwerpen.
Maybe someday when I retire my Corsa, I'll make a shrine, but the Merckx is still my main ride in the winter.
Found behind a wall in a coffee shop that was once a bike shop in Antwerpen.
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01-02-21, 03:45 AM
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Welcoming in 2021 with my ASLK CGER Merckx
Last edited by Seanaus; 01-02-21 at 03:46 AM. Reason: Got the year wrong #facepalm
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