The Radavist

Artist Chris McNally, like many of us have a long withstanding love for Eddy Merckx, his legacy and his bicycles. Maybe not his modern machines, but rather the years of classic racing. Specically, Faema and Molteni.

As part of a giant undertaking, Chris is working on a new watercolor painting project: a bike shop of life experiences both fiction and non-fiction. Inside this gem of a idea will be bikes he’s owned and bikes he’s yet to own. Case in point: a Molteni Merckx…

There’s more to come from this unique undertaking, but for now let’s just appreciate the detail he put into this classic race steed.

@Ben.Scruton on Instagram has unknowingly provided a prime piece of Merckx Mondays with this Molteni team car illustration. If you don’t follow him on Instagram already, you should check it out. Nicely done, Ben!

While many collectors would take a vintage road frame and spend hours upon hours sourcing parts to complete the perfect “period correct” build, others simply take a perfectly good mix of components and turn a bike with a bit of beausage into a commuter.

That’s what a recent customer at Golden Saddle Cyclery did with this Eddy Merckx road bike. There are at least a dozen different brands that are currently making this bike roll. From Modolo to Mavic, it’s got a good mix of components adding to what I would consider a very sensible build.

One last part is in queue: a Wald basket…

Check out a few more below!

Rapha recently published a look into the history of racing’s eyewear including the Cannibal. See Eddy’s profile, Lemond’s, Coppi’s and André Leducq at Rapha. Great find, Tracko!

“Eddy Merckx embodies that spirit of excellence…”

Last week was Eddy’s birthday and to celebrate this excellence, the folks at River City Bicycles in Portland made an homage video, showcasing their in-shop shrine of the Cannibal.

It’s been a while since I’ve owned a Merckx… and the timing couldn’t be better. Here are a few teasers from my Eroica California ride.

… the cannibal! Brought to you by Secret Awesome.

Photos by Andy White

Don’t ride up grades, buy upgrades.

Leave it to FYXO to deliver a clean and crispy Merckx Mondays. This Eddy Merxkx pista, is built with a panto’d Cinelli XA stem, Record components and even filtered air in the tubes! See more at FYXO.

So, a reader sent this over, with the subject line “I think this is ok to share” and all that was in the body was this photo. A quick glance at the Eddy Merckx Facebook reveals it’s a tig-welded steel bike, commemorating Eddy’s 70th birthday, which would make sense, but details like pricepoint, country of origin, tubing, etc, etc, etc, seem to be missing.

Personally, I’d rather see a lugged Columbus frame with a steel fork. As far as pricepoint, I’m gonna guess this bike is upwards of $10k, complete… Does anyone have any more information on this?

Turns out, Peloton has the full scoop. Head over there to see more information. It’s stainless steel, hence the tig welding and made in Belgium. Oh and it’s $17k!

This one’s too good to not repost. Thanks for the heads up Tracko!

“A print series celebrating cycling’s legends in op art portraits. Each print colour is inspired by the team jersey in which they achieved their greatest successes and includes their detailed palmarès.”

See more at Victory Chimp.

What are these people thinking, posting a video of Eddy Merckx on a Wednesday of last week?

“First across the finish line 525 times, Eddy Merckx is the most successful cycle racer of all time. Jacky Ickx’s career is one of the richest and longest in the history of motorsport. His list of achievements is unrivalled in its variety. In 2015, Eddy Merckx and Jacky Ickx both celebrate their 70th birthday, as well as their long friendship. So it’s high time for the first major exhibition about this pair of Belgian sporting legends.”

Photos by Antton Miettinen

Jon Azkoitia has been a reader of the Radavist since the early blogspot days of PiNP and one of his favorite features is Merckx Mondays. When he began riding track bikes, it was due to his father’s love of track racing and Jon didn’t have just any introduction, he was given a Molteni-team Colnago track. For those who weren’t aware, the first few Molteni Eddy Merckx frames were made by De Rosa and Colnago before Eddy began making his own in Meise, a small town outside of Brussels.

Prior to Jon’s father, this bike was owned by Milano-SanRemo winner Michele Dancelli, who raced it for a number of years in the Molteni livery. The bike was then raced by Jon’s father for nearly 40 years! Needless to say, once Jon was handed down the frame, he felt it was time for a restoration, so Jon looked to the original heritage of the frame and did an amazing job.

See more photos below and follow Jon on his Flickr!

Yeah, this was probably better for last week’s Merckx Mondays, due to Halloween and all, but I missed Simon’s email. Seriously though, I’m stoked he used Merckx Mondays to inspire a series of illustrations at his site, aptly named Merckx Mondays.

From time to time, enthusiasts, hobbyists and collectors get an itch. An itch to make a vintage “replica” bike, modeled after any number of liveries or teams. For Andy White of FYXO, he really, really wanted a replica Molteni.

A frame came up in Eddy’s exact measurements, 58cm TT, 60cm ST, but it was from the wrong era, so he filed off the front derailleur hanger and painted the seat stay caps to resemble Eddy’s team bike. From there, fresh paint and decals were applied by Sun Graphics. He’s even got a flat crown fork, instead of the sloping crown.

Then, well, life happened. He had a kid and has to let her go. The frame, not his daughter.

This Molteni replica is available and I thought it’d be a perfect Merckx Mondays post. Holler at FYXO for more info and head to the FYXO Flickr for more photos.

Eddy Merckx and Jacky Ickx? Sure!

In cooperation with Tijdsbeeld & Pièce Montée, 9000 studios will make the new website Mercxickx.be. Eddy Merckx and Jacky Ickx might be the greatest sports icons Belgium has ever produced. In 2015, both gentlemen are blessed with 70 candles on their birthday cake, which is celebrated with a grand exhibition.

Grand, like the careers of both gentlemen. Eddy Merckx, the best cyclist of all times, won everything there was to win, including five GC victories in the Tour de France, The Giro, The Vuelta and seven times Milaan San Remo. Jacky Ickx is one of the most complete car racers to ever press down a throttle pedal. Amongst other things, he won 8 F1 grand prixs, six times the prestigeous 24 hours of Le Mans and the Paris Dakar rally. Two international sports icons, two proud Belgians. If anyone deserve’s an exhibition, it’s them.

See more at 9000.be. Nice find, Tracko!