Merckx Corsa Extra - C Record

About a month ago I purchased a Merckx. It was sold as a Lotto Emerxil from 1986. This seems to be on the basis of a sticker on the top tube. However, a bit of research seems to show that in 1986 the Lotto team were riding all red Merckx's. This particular paint scheme was being ridden by TeVe Blad in 1986, before being adopted by Lotto in 1987 (although they don't appear to have been sponsored by Emerxil that year). Much as I'd like to think it was a team frame, I have to accept that it probably isn't. This hasn't diminished my pleasure at owning it however.

In addition, the frame came with a combo of parts. A C Record chainset, seat post, front derailleur and 1st gen Syncro levers. The brakes were Dura Ace calipers and levers. Since purchasing the frame I have managed to swap a 4 hole Nuovo Record front mech for a set of C Record levers. In addition, I have a set of Delta brakes that were bought a year ago as an object of lust and a NOS Biodynamic waterbottle and cage that was foung in Berlin 2 years ago. So all in all this looks like a C Record build to me.

The questions and dilemmas...

I'm assuming that 1st gen Syncro levers are 6 speed? If so, only compatible with a 1st gen fully shrouded rear derailleur?

Given that this looks like a C Record build, it will be a slow one from here on in given the price of parts (even 2nd hand).

The main source of confusion is the frame. Do I restore or not? I can't afford NOS parts, so aside from polishing they will still look slightly scuffed etc. However, seeing LN74's Peugeot and Colin the Bald's Gios, I'm minded to got down this route...

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Should be lovely. Frame looks in pretty god nick from the pictures.

So this has been a slow burner... Having gathered some parts together, financial considerations put a stop to the momentum that it once had (at least it had in my head).

Firstly, I can't afford to have it refinished. I wouldn't want to estimate the cost, but I suspect with decals etc it would be upwards of £300. There is also the argument that it should be left as is. As mentioned before, the seller indicated that it was a team frameset, so any 'battle scars' are part of its heritage. Having looked at cadre.org, the frame is what it is - an 86/87 Corsa Extra, I guess the only unusual feature is the race number hanger. So with no new paintwork happening, the fine grade paper and nail polish has come out this afternoon. Once I've secured a 7mm allen key, a trip to Halfords and some Waxoyl might also be purchased, just to be on the safe side.

On the component front, I will be looking for a 2nd gen C Record rear mech, but getting slightly nervous about what this might cost. The bike came with 1st gen synchros, so thinking I might have to go down the Simplex Retrofriction route.

I also now have a wheelset. Having missed out on a couple of cheapish C Record hubbed wheels, I managed to secure a pair of Mavic SSC/Mavic 501s.

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Slow and steady wins the race this looks great!

Looking forward to seeing this built up. Heres a pic of my Teve Blad Merckx that I had, which was unfortunately hit by a car and wrecked.

So a minor update in this slowly does it project. A trip to Ripley Cycle Jumble enabled me to make two purchases. Unfortunately, this did not include a rear mech, but that is a payday purchase if ever there was one. Campyoldy did have a NOS C Record 1st gen on display, but £300 was a little rich for me.

So we have pedals - I didn't want to go the toeclip and strap route, and by 86/87 clipless pedals were slowly becoming the norm thanks to Mr Hinault/Mr Lemond. I saw a couple of period correct Looks, but instead, found the magnificent Campagnolo SGRs. Perfect! These are true bad boys. As we all know, C Record appears to be a combination of aesthetic perfection and technological folly. Brakes that don't brake (discuss) - you can have them. Gear indexing that doesn't index - you're welcome. So for £15 I now have a pair of clipless pedals that weigh 630g a pair, and have the distinction of preventing you from clipping in or out should anything larger than a grain of sand land on the cleats. They are so heavy that the wife told me off for putting them on the glass surface of a garden table, lest it break!

In another news, £10 saw me the owner of some Synchro 2 levers. Should I want to swap the non-working Synchro 1 system for the next non-working generation.

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sorry, again: colors Team Lotto - 1985 and 1986: all yellow, 1987: all fuchsia, 1988: your beautiful frame ... the serial number would explain everything, but it is something around A5000 or end of 1987 / beginning of 1988 (brake bridge type 86/87, number hanger type 87/88); cadre.org is a dubious source.