Current Projects chat and miscellany

Just finished rebuild of my 1996 ti Merckx. Converted to a 10 speed triple. Big thanks to Mamachari who I sourced a new straight bladed Columbus Max fork thro, and who also arranged strip and rechroming of another fork I had.

The new fork is the hamdywork of @Jimjam of this forum I think, and he's done a top job, the shiny chrome fork makes it look a bit less like nearly every other ti bike ever, and I tried to continue with that theme by having shiny silver over black/carbon where possible.

Also thanks to @arup of this forum who built me some new wheels, Campag Chorus hubs 28h front and 32h rear, Sapim spokes and H+Son Archetype rims, fitted with 30c tyres, and I could probably get 32's in there, a surprise for a road frame from the 90s.

Super comfy and fast all day bike, loving it already, roll on spring.

TlDR https://imgflip.com/i/8fcstd

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That's lovely

Thanks, I thought it might turn out a bit 50 shades of grey and look a bit shit, but very happy with it.

A couple more...

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Beautiful and a tasteful build.
I think I can only get 25s on my '92 Corsa Extra.

bit shit

Not a chance

Can you reach those bottle cages though?

Yeah of course, and I'd not considered myself particularly gibbony.

Waa great bike. Good job on the tape and saddle too

That's great

Nice !

Who built the Merckx Ti frames, do you know? It was one of the US builders as I recall, but I don't remember which one.

Amazing

It was Litespeed that built his one, I contacted them and they confirmed this one was made in November 1996.

It has the same bullet style ends on the ends of the chainstays/seatstays, as my On one 456 ti mtb, that was also built by Litespeed, but about a dozen years later.

Thanks. As I understand it, Merckx provided the geometry, and Litespeed the titanium knowledge.

It's a beautiful looking bike, enjoy!

Thanks, and yes you're right on the details I think as that's what I'd heard too.

This one is the EX version which has the biaxial ovalised main tubes or whatever they were called, the AX ones had regular round tubes I think. These EX main tubes are shaped like Columbus Max tubes, and from my observations the seat tubes and down tubes are in the same orientation as on Merckx's Max MX Leaders, but the top tube on this ti is also biaxial ovalised whereas on the MX Leaders the top tube is just a regular round tube, that was probably Columbus SLX .

The TT on Merckx MXL Leader frames is in fact ovalised, but it‘s a minimax tube with smaller diameter and the ovalisation is the other way around compared with the usual max position.

Seatstays on MXL frames are SLX. With the differend oriantation and Diameters, they redesigned the lugs as well. Before the MXL, they offered a „full“ Max Version of the Corsa Extra with the normal Max TT and ovalised Max seatstays.

Ah cool info, cheers.

Always a pleasure. Great build as usual. Speaking of MXLs, how come that‘s missing from your Max & Merckx focused collection?

I've got 2 MXLs :)

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Pure porn

So good!

Nice, thanks mate. I reckon it's tb14s

Inspired by your great builds, I dusted down my Corsa Extra and got out in the sun today. Here it is, refreshed with Shamals and a Selle Italia Century.

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Thanks, and your Eddy's looking good with its Shamals. Enjoy the sunshine, sadly we're not going to be seeing any of that here for the rest of the week by the looks of it.

I like this verry mutch !

Gorgeous. The cassette with the blue glow (maybe reflection of sky or filters?) is chef kiss. Is that because it's ti also?
Matches the decals perfectly