E. Merckx Team Capri Sonne + Campa 50th Anniversary

I have put my other Eddy Merck project on hold because I want to do this one first.

Here's the story:

Last sunday I went to a 2nd hand market, like I mostly do every week. I was there early, and people were still arriving and unloading their "for sale" stuff. As I arrived, I saw a big white van full of bicycles. I followed it until it was on it's place and checked it, but there was nothing special inside. I walked back, and I saw another bicycle at a place that wasn't there when I passed that place 5 minutes earlier.

This is the bicycle I saw there:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/Gazelle%20Champion%20Mondial%20AA/IMG_2885_zpsda283228.jpg

A Gazelle Champion Mondial AA frame. Serial number dates it back to 1980. It's in perfect condition with almost no rust, just a lot of dust.

I immediately noticed the Campagnolo 50th Anniversary group. It had the crankset, dustcaps, pedals, brakes, seatpost, rear derailleur, front derailleur and shifters on it (so I'm missing the hubs, toe-clips and brake levers)

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/Gazelle%20Champion%20Mondial%20AA/IMG_2886_zps7b20424f.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/Gazelle%20Champion%20Mondial%20AA/IMG_2888_zpsac754166.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/Gazelle%20Champion%20Mondial%20AA/IMG_2894_zps4635e5aa.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/Gazelle%20Champion%20Mondial%20AA/IMG_2892_zps20c53c8a.jpg

At that moment I started to realise I woul never be that lucky again.

I ran into some fellow bicycle collectors and had a chat. They were jealous as fuck, and for once I was happy that I was the one with the luck. I continued the market at a relaxed pace.

With the end of the market in sight, I couldn't believe my eyes. In the distance I saw another bike that looked very familiar. I walked faster, and this is wat I saw:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/E%20Merckx%20Capri%20Sonne/IMG_2903_zps92ee33cd.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/E%20Merckx%20Capri%20Sonne/IMG_2904_zpsc51063bb.jpg

The seller told me he changed some stuff to make the bicycle more rideable for his wife. All in all, it has still most of the Super Record stuff on it.

It's a very early Eddy Merckx Professional, featured in the 1981 catalog as a Professional Road Model and ridden in 1982 by the Capri Sonne pro-team. Handsigned seatstays, flat forkcrowns with EDDY and MERCKX. Serial number G4-722.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/E%20Merckx%20Capri%20Sonne/IMG_2905_zps537fffa5.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/E%20Merckx%20Capri%20Sonne/IMG_2906_zps434daf47.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/E%20Merckx%20Capri%20Sonne/IMG_2907_zps55e33781.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/E%20Merckx%20Capri%20Sonne/IMG_2908_zps1c8ab858.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/E%20Merckx%20Capri%20Sonne/IMG_2909_zps0bb09450.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/xbonzox/E%20Merckx%20Capri%20Sonne/Page102_zpsb28be114.jpg

I will never be this lucky again to find all this on one particular market.

I had a long thought about what to do, and this is what I came up with: the Campagnolo 50th group on the Gazelle is nice, and the Gazelle is a good looking frame. However, it's Gazelle, and not anything fancy Italian or Merckx. So I decided to combine the best of the two.

I'm going to build up the Merckx frame with the Campagnolo 50th Anniversary group. The biggest thing I'm missing are the brake levers. Should I be on the look-out for a pair (and spent a loooot of money), or would it be acceptable to use a regular Super Record pair instead?

After that is done, the Gazelle will get it's own CP topic. I'll build that one up with Super Record (containing parts of my other Merckx build) or Nuovo Record (would this be appropriate?).

All feedback is welcome. Let me know what you think or what I should do!

Peter Winnen won stage 17 of the 1982 tour to Morzine on this bike.

ridiculous bargains you lucky man

So lucky, really enjoy.

Lucky man, The last Merckx you were building up was 60cm and now you're building this up which looks to be 54cm? do either fit you?

you cheeky git. well done, but keep those prices to yourself next time. jeeebus bargainz.

Lucky man, The last Merckx you were building up was 60cm and now you're building this up which looks to be 54cm? do either fit you?

Yes, but that project goes in the fridge for a while. I want to do this Merckx first. It's a size 55, and chances are big that it will be too small (the size 60 is OK). I'll try, and worst case scenario my girlfriend (or wall) will have a nice bicycle.

you cheeky git. well done, but keep those prices to yourself next time. jeeebus bargainz.

Yes, you're right. I've deleted them. I didn't have any problems with being honest (no need to lie about it) but after all, I also don't want to offend or annoy someone.

You won the bike lottery !

What market?!

What market?!

A regular 2nd hand market on a sunday morning in Flanders.

Wow, what an incredible find. That would certainly make my day (never mind my year).

Great story!

What's the problem with knowing the price paid for bargains?
Which we can't see now anyway...so the good luck story is diminshed.

^not what i was aiming at tbh.. bit of joke taken too seriously, i doubt anyone would be annoyed or offended..;) looking fwd to where its going, gl!

What's the problem with knowing the price paid for bargains?
Which we can't see now anyway...so the good luck story is diminshed.

^not what i was aiming at tbh.. bit of joke taken too seriously, i doubt anyone would be annoyed or offended..;) looking fwd to where its going, gl!

Oh ok. Well, I paid 110 euro for the Gazelle with Campagnolo 50th group, and 50 euro for the Merckx.

Turns out the Merckx is an early one, from the first months of production in 1980 (source: Oldcampy on Flickr has the same frame)

I'm leaving for Italy, I'll be back in a week. In the meantime, here are some more pictures:

Progress has been made. Will do a big picture update tomorrow!

Anyone who has experience with glueing tubular tubs? I know there are lots of tutorials online, but if anyone has done it before and could break it down to me, it would be much appreciated!

That is off the chain, bloody well done! There's hope for us all!

Wooot! 110euro for a Gazelle with campy 50th anniv groupo? That groupset alone would sell £1,500 mark! Congrats pal! You won bike lottery indeed.

Bicycle is done! Photosession tomorrow due to rain today. I love it.

ill add to the woof. looking fed to pics!

i hate this guy, i'm from the same country and he probably found this at the only fleamarket i didn't visit!!

nah looking forward to pics too

i hate this guy, i'm from the same country and he probably found this at the only fleamarket i didn't visit!!

Mattias, I doubt we do the same fleamarkets :-)

For those interesed, a full map of pictures can be found here: http://imgur.com/a/ffUba

Frame: very early, first months of production Eddy Merckx, size 55 C-T. Eddy Merckx signature pantograph on the seatstays, Eddy Merckx pantograph on the fork crown
Headset: Campagnolo
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo 50th Anniversary
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo 50th Anniversary
Shifters: Campagnolo 50th Anniversary
Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo
Crankset: Campagnolo 50th Anniversary
Pedals: Campangolo 50th Anniversary with NOS Christophe Special toe-clips & NOS straps
Brake levers: NOS Campagnolo Super Record with NOS Campagnolo brake lever hoods
Brakes: Campagnolo 50th Anniversary
Stem: Cinelli 1A
Handlebar: Cinelli "Campione Del Mondo"
Handlebar tape: NOS Benotto white
Seatpost: Campagnolo 50th Anniversary
Seat: Turbo 1980 Model
Water Bottle Holder: REG Italy
Front wheel: Mavic GP4 tubular rim, Campagnolo Record hub, Vittoria "Eddy Merckx" tubular tyre
Rear wheel: Mavic GP4 tubular rim, Campagnolo Record hub, Vittoria "Eddy Merckx"

reeeeaaally nice
contact "de stalen ros" because people will want to see this!

So nice!!

Just discovered the thread now. What a great find!!! Good work on polishing these parts!!

That Merckx frame is lovely, but somehow I can't stop myself from thinking that maybe that anniversary groupset deserves an even better / more sophisticated / extravagant frame...

But anyway I love what you are doing with the bike lottery! Bravo!!

Thanks for the nice words guys!

That Merckx frame is lovely, but somehow I can't stop myself from thinking that maybe that anniversary groupset deserves an even better / more sophisticated / extravagant frame...

When I first got the Gazelle I was thinking "well, this group deserves a more special frame". A bit later I found the Merckx, and I was sure immediately sure that was the one.
It's one of the very early ones, with the signature seatstays etc.. You don't find them easily these days. That combined with being Belgian was a great choice I think.

I am however on the lookout for someting more "eighties exotic", as I have a Croce D'Aune groupset with Delta brakes laying around :-)

Amazing, now buy this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-VINTAGE-1982-CAPRI-SONNE-CAMPAGNOLO-MERCKX-RETRO-TEAM-CYCLING-JERSEY-SHIRT-/380704501248?pt=UK_Cycling_Clothing&hash=item58a3c1ae00