We've seen multiple examples of how Eddy Merckx makes for a great subject on a t-shirt but I've never seen something like this! Last week while I was in Philly, I met Dom, who was wearing this Crucifixed shirt; a local bike club. When he rolled up to the Water St. Sessions, it was the first thing I noticed. Scrawled across his chest in black metal-inspired typography is "Cannibal" with an image of Merckx below. You'll recognize the image from the famous Stephan Vanfleteren's photo of Eddy in his Molteni jersey.
Philly produced some awesome content for this week's Merckx Mondays. Check out some more below!
I remember seeing Bryan's Merckx last time I was in Philly. There it was, hanging from the ceiling of Bicycle Revolutions in all its glory. A crispy clean 1985 Merckx Professional. I find myself looking at the serial numbers of frames almost immediately. Using the Cadre.org Merckx Serial Number decoding system, it's easy to see if the frame is original or a respray. This one is 100% legit and gorgeously kept! P denotes a professional model and Z denotes 1985. It's a pretty simple system.
I don't think Fuzzy could have built a bike with any more character. He's even got some of the early Eddy Merckx Adidas shoes hanging from it. Fuzzy, tell us a little about how you acquired the frame and how long you've had it in the comments please!
One last shirt design that's relevant to today's entry is this House of Pistard Cannibal shirt. Sure, you've probably seen it before. I know I have, but it still rules!
Comments
This bike also has the first outboard bearing track bottom bracket, non-drive side.
Posted by: wilis | May 24, 2010 4:34 PM
I was in Barcelona for CMWC, aka messenger worlds, the summer of 1997. We took a ride up to the Olympic velodrome and found a bike shop near by so we had to check it out. They had 2 track frames my size, a yellow 53 and a white 52, both Merckx Professionals from the same era. After a little broken spanish mixed with french we came to a deal for BOTH frames and I rode away a very happy boy with two brand new Merckx frames.
Some years ago I sold the yellow one... But the white one will never be sold. I have only ever raced the white one on the velodrome.
The build goes like this:
Campy Nuevo Record Large Flange Hubs (NOS) 24h
Mavic CXP 30 Tubular rims
Sweetwing Cranks (From Mr. Nothstein TTown Swap)
Salsa Cromo Quill Stem
Sakae Custom Anatomic Handle Bars(also from Marty)
Stronglight Needle Bearing Headset (ick)
Campy Fluted seatpost
Selle Italia Flite, perforated black.
oh yeah, Campy 14t cog
Izumi Mark V chain (super toughness)
Sugino Mighty 46T ring
and I also picked up the Shoes at the TTown swap.
The days of such deals seem to be long gone, we can blame ebay...
As soon as they build the indoor velodrome in Chester Pa I will bring it out of retirement, I just can't make the schedule for racing the TTown Season. The downfalls of being a small shop owner.
Posted by: fuzzy | May 24, 2010 5:46 PM
That's one epic story Capt'n Sweat Hog.
Posted by: prolly | May 24, 2010 6:48 PM
what is that drive train? It's looking fine.
Posted by: Eric | May 24, 2010 7:08 PM
Thanks, that was the short version...
Drivetrain synopsis;
Sweetwing Cranks
Campy 14t cog
Izumi Mark V chain (super toughness)
Sugino Mighty 46T ring
Posted by: Fuzzy | May 24, 2010 10:00 PM
Trust me, that IS the short version :)
Posted by: WIlis | May 24, 2010 11:09 PM
omg this is beautiful. i am now addicted to these merckx mondays! especially as i got screwed recently trying to buy EM frame and losing my money, i now can't wait for the next monday to watch some bikes through tears bwahahahaha
Posted by: scorch | May 25, 2010 10:00 AM