Plum Vainqueur track bike (team WBV) from Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx

I moved to Ghent back in 1992 and most of my winter training hours were spent on the Ghent track. Not the current Wielercentrum (that was still an open air track, back then) but on the steep slopes of "Het Kuipke" (where the Six Days are still held). I didn't have my own track bike so I rented one from there. I'm pretty sure your frame is a resprayed version of one of those rental bikes.

They were provided by Plum (one of the oldest bike shops in Ghent area) but not made by them as, back then, they didn't have their own production any more. I'm not 100% sure but I believe the bikes came from Maertens (who built frames for about every shop that had it's own brand but also for professional teams back in the eighties). Intersting detail: Maertens is the builder behind the Jaegher bikes.

Here is how it currently looks. Replaced the fork since I got it from Obi after a dingus crashed into the old one.

I believe the frame was once owned by @titof. He might be able to give you some more deets.

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Maybe just me, but i think it look even nicer with the black fork!

Thanks Obi, Wim, Botherington and Crop for all the info and updates, bikes look super nice! The all black is pretty cool but love the Plum with the silver and age correct parts, we'll see how mine goes...

will email the guys in Ghent at some point next week. thanks again obi! not entirely happy with the thought that it was a rent-a-bike but still came from a great place of frame building, and still a pretty good frame.

Thanks

I love the black forks too!

but I do miss this iteration

Definitely my favourite of the builds it had.
Still need to try and get hold of some headtube stickers as well.

hey guys again,

Finished the bike a couple months a go, its a dream to ride, nippy and pretty fast. clearance is tight, chain is slammed and toe overlap is ridiculous.

one thing I had massive issue with seatpost its 26.something .... had to sand down a 26.4 for it to fit and the crank is so close to the frame it makes me nervous.

parts list;

• Flight saddle
  
• old handle bars from the parts bin with generic cotton tape and door nob ends for plugs
  
• ITM stem and seatpost
  
• some Miche headset ?
  
• campagnolo 111mm bb
  
• campagnolo record crank 170mm
  
• BLB cog with Miche lockring (to poor for the camp lock ring, one day....)
  
• pedals from the same parts bin
  
• record 28h hubs laced to Mavic open pros :} + gatorskins
  
  

please excuse the bad quality photo I don't have a proper camera :( but thought I would share

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this also happened today, super nice to meet you dude super cool to see them together! i'll get more confident cycling around town then can join for a cycle one evening!

:))))

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This is lovely.