Merckx MX Leader Pista (finished)

Front fork has been signed by big Maggy. On the topic of which i'd like to run it on the road for a bit so I need to obtain a drilled front fork. I'll measure the length of the steeper tube but I guess it's going to be long. Anyone thinks they have a 1 inch fork with a quite long steerer that they can let go drop me a message. It doesn't have to be Merckx (though that would be nice) so long as I can mount a brake calibre in it.

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Looks great and a superb purchase!

Gorgeous. Don't touch up the paint chips

Definitely leave the chips as it will be impossible to colour match.
Found this stuff in an Art shop, it's a thin clear model varnish and should stop any rust forming and the paint chip getting any bigger. I've used it on a white frame.

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Thanks Bob, that's very useful. I've got a Corsa Extra I put back on the road last year which carries a few battle scars. I've been wondering what would be the best way to safeguard the parts of the frame that are down to metal/underfoot. This should do the trick.

In other news an internet trawl revealed some NOS 80's steel forks drilled for brakes (unbranded but cheap) they may get the bike road legal so I can preserve the original track fork.

Sorry about the delay in updating this but now there is a little more to say on the project. The biggest issue facing me was sorting out a drilled road fork. The fork that came with the frame looked as though it had a centre for a drilling but there was no way I was going to take a drill to it. Instead I placed a wanted advert on the forum and waited...and waited...I did consider getting a new one but tbh unless you have deep pockets the bottom end stuff just looked like it was made out of boat anchors. Luckily for me @Kalkhoff saw my advert and sent me the fork pictured below for £30 posted.

He said it had come off a lightweight Peugeot and when it arrived I was so surprised by how light it was I popped it on the scales...see below. The picture shows it sans fork crown and rubbed down for spraying so it was about 30g heavier when it arrived but a full 70g lighted that the Merckx fork...

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The paint on the fork from @Kalkhoff was baby blue and tbh if there hadn't have been a couple of scratches down to the wood i'd probably have left it. As I was (and because i'm on a fairly tight budget) Mr Holts was invited around and for less than a tenner i've given it 4 coats of black and 3 of lacquer...considerably more than it left the Peugeot factory with..

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Another shot front on...

I' m no Rembrandt but modern paints and lacquer make this sort of thing far easier than it used to be...

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I've also acquired a new chain Ring from Tredz (yes Tredz!) Cost with their ubiquitous £5 voucher was about £30.After missing out on a couple of forum bargains it seemed a reasonable deal. They also sent me a 10% off voucher and i contemplated getting some Miche x press wheels from them but they slap you for a £20 delivery charge to the IOM on larger items so it negatated the discount and then some!
Wheels are the next acquisition so if you have something reasonably priced you don't mind posting then DM me...

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Hey John,

Glad the fork arrived safe and that it's in good hands as well as being fitted to a cracking frame. I have no idea what the tubing was, as the frame was also powdercoated the same colour. The frame had some tinworm so it was given away... Perhaps 753?

Maybe, it's quite light and has sprayed up a treat. Looking for a campagnolo fork crown now. I don't want to extract from the original fork and it would be nice to swap over reasonably easily if the bike goes "indoors".

Glad to see this thread, think I saw the frame posted on Bäckstedt's twitter saying it was for sale and remember drooling over it.

That's the one @jambon. It's a bit of a slow burner at the moment. One update is that i've ordered a campaign fork crown race from the cycle clinic. When that arrives i'ĺl take it and the dura ace chain set and bottom bracket down to my LBS for assembly. I don't have the kit to remove the campag square taper and don't want to bodge it.
Feelers remain out for wheels which I now equate to the hobby of fishing...tremendous patience is required.

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Bit of an update:
The campag fork crown race has arrived do it will be time to head off to the LBS to get that set and the campag bb removed and the dura ace one installed.
My quest for wheels is temporarily over. After fruitlessly chasing nice wheels with not a lot of money (God loves a trier) I decided to get a budget pair and save up for some nice ones. To that end I've bought a pair of those Planet X Gipiemme wheels off @fixedwheel123 just to get the bike up and running. Long term i'm going to get a nice pair built up for silly money with Royce or Phil hubs.

Of course I don't have the money that's why you'll see i'm starting to flog stuff off in the classifieds so please buy and by so doing do your bit for the Merck Pista restoration fund.

I also had a go at the Profile stem which came with the bike. Maggy was obviously a sweaty bugger judging by the corrosion...

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Anyway a couple of hours with rags and autosol helped bring the stem back to something acceptable. Unfortunately the Profile transfers on the side of the stem were a victim of war but hey ho..

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The script font used for the riders name, is that something from Merckx or just standard font for transfers from this period? I ask because I have the same on my Merckx Corsa 01.

It is 'Brush Script', the most basic "handwriting" face ever.

Also, if you happen to own this book:

... it is number five in 'The eight worst fonts in the world (not including Comic Sans)".

But that's not what I asked, fam.

Sorry, 'the most basic "handwriting" face ever' was intended to imply that it is the standard 'script' font for lettering stickers from this, and any other period.

Got yer. Book does deserve a re-read, will put it into stacking group.

Update time.
Whilst i was away the wheels I bought from @fixedwheel123 arrived. Unfortunately there was some minor damage in transit and i've got a couple of loose and slightly bent spokes where the axle of one wheel has worked its way into the other wheel. No matter it' s not the end of the world.
The wheels came with wimp conti's which may give a sweet ride...but they are too big for the frame so they'll be swapped.

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I also disappeared off to my LBS to get the forks and cranks sorted. The crown race needed fitting and the campag square taper bb removing. I was happy to leave it but the boys decided to do it there and then. Hey presto forks and crank fitted...

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Just a quick mock up of the bike on wheels. I could probably get away with the tyres (just) and they do Gove it a bit of a gangsta look but i think I have some GP 4000's somewhere.
Next job sort out front brake parts and sort out tyres...

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Awesome frame but it deserves nicer wheels. Make sure the seatpost is long i.e. inserted beyond the seattube extension or you’ll risk cracks around the seattube lug.