Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

Heh, interesting, once upon a time I had a BSA with an "umbrella holder" on the fork leg, I wonder if it was in reality the tennis racket clip in the attached brochure.

Been offered this old Merckx for a cheap price, thinking it could be a fine beater. Anyone recognise the model? It has a biopace crankset.

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There are a lot bikes repainted as merckx's out there. I'm not an expert but I'd say that's likely not a Merckx

His final team colours, C&A.
His own frames had logos on the seatstay cap and fork crown.
Get a pic of the bottom bracket.

Fuck yeah!

My mum had a Merckx "cyclotouriste" bike with the exact same decals. Not a fake Merckx , but a supermarket bought gas pipe one. Some French manufacturer (it was French made) must have negotiated a license to make these budget bikes at some point. Your one looks better made (nicer lugs, cast fork crown, and possible dropouts too... Doesn't look as gas-pipe-y either) but doesn't feature the pantos normally found on "proper" Merckx frames, as others have pointed out; and you'd expect brazed on shifter bosses also. The groupset looks like a later addition.
Looks good as a fine beater (as you say) if price is low enough.

There are quite a number of European manufacturers that had licenses to make bicycles with Merckx on it in the seventies.

Thanks for all the advice folks, it felt pretty lightweight but no tubing brand stickers which you would expect with 531 or similar. Will see what they're asking for it.

I think Falcon made cheap Merckx branded bikes.

Readers wives

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Cool

Very nice. I love those non-aero brakelevers.

Very cool

Yes that's a bit cute

Drop out are nice

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The Christmas miracle. Found on the kerb without wheels. As yet untested.

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wat!

Christmas present to my mum was getting her old bike back on the road.

I've left the paintwork tatty but replaced all the cables, swapped the steel wheels for alloy, added the basket, dymano lights, double kickstand and a nurses lock.

I haven't repacked the headset or bottom bracket because seemed ok and it's not a high mileage bike, but I'll check again in the summer when the temperature is a bit more conducive to working outside.

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Amazing!

Perfect bike.

Superb

I was sent this, shame it was only the picture and not the bike.

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Probably doesn’t really fit in this thread actually as I can’t get a guard on the rear now. I rebuilt the rear triangle a few years ago (due to rust) and at the time I positioned the brake bridge as high as I could to allow the current brake calliper to be used but it’s just a tad low to fit a guard through there. I have some longer drop callipers on the way and will try it with 700c wheels (current ones are 27”).

TLDR: not very functional but thought you might like to see it anyway.

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That's lovely!
I ve always wondered what would be the biggest tyre size,
or guards,
under some Mafacs.
What size are those tyres?