Merckx corsa extra *pic update page 4 - April 2020*

[Jamiedyer]

Re:

Today before a ride in to the hellish westerly wind I fitted some new wheels to the Merckx.
For years I keep saying I will build up some blue Open Pro rims but just never get round to it. Mainly due to having a great set of Open pro's built onto Ultegra hubs that I had Edison cycles in derby build when I first got the Merckx. Eventually after the blue rims getting higher in price I eventually could never find any when I tried the last six months.
So I purchased these from mark (maverick) on here. They are Mavics own Cosmos set, which is basically Open pro rims laced onto Mavics own hubs. I used to bypass these as I wasn't sure about blue hubs but these are really nice in the flesh. They are virtually brand new as Mark bought them for a build that didn't happen and before that Gil was the original owner and he barely used them, if at all.
So well happy, especially as they were very, very reasonable, price wise.
Being the same rim as what was previously on there and both having good hubs there is not any real difference in ride quality, which was already superb. I can also give a high recomendation to Edison cycles as these wheels have done many, many miles over the last 13 years, and a lot of that on roughish Scottish backroads and they are not out at all. To the mm.
Just thought I would share.

Jamie

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re:

Here is a update/some thoughts I posted elsewhere but thought fitted in here as well.

I have bought a second set of wheels for mine and decided to raid the parts box and change things around for a while, especially as mine has been in its current spec for near on 13 years.
I dug out a mixture of 7400 and 7403 with a choice of STI or downtube so pretty much right to go.
Might just try a few different setups out in the next few weeks. Just need a bottom bracket.
Most is in good to very good condition.
I also have some brakes and mechs from 7700 DA as well so could always mix that with my current Ultegra gear. I would fit my 7700 mechs, brakes, chainset and keep the Ultegra STI's or even mount my 7700 downtube shifters but doubt I would go to the expense of the DA STI's when I have a perfectly good set of Ultegras. This is really about changing purely for changes sake as I am happy with the way everything works.
random thoughts I thought I'd share

Jamie

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re: Merckx corsa extra

Here is a copy of some info I posted in a discussion with someone on the forum. It was a back and forth about some things and I spoke of when I bought mine. Interesting to me so I thought I would post it here seen as I have updated some stuff.

''The Team Sc is a high end alloy frame not steel. Domo did use them but I am not sure which year. It was used by a couple of smaller conti teams around 99/2001 I think but by then Merckx already had a well established carbon selection for its sponsored teams to use as well. The paintjob on Heathcliffes is a 2001 for sure, I think it went for a year before and a year after, though not 100% on that. It was the top line in alloy frames made from Easton Scandium tubing, it came in either sloping or standard geometry with paint dependant on year and whether it was sloping or not.
I know when I got mine it, besides carbon, it was the ultimate Merckx everyone wanted. My friends back home thought I was crazy or broke for buying a steel frameset I just always wanted a classic type Merckx even back then and so when I came to Europe it co incided with merckx stopping making steel and they could not get rid of the steel frames, nobody really wanted them. To give you an idea of the worth of the Team Sc and also the value of unfashionable steel the TeamSc was worth £1150 as a frameset with a carbon fork and a Corsa Extra was £495 Either could be had in what they called ' custom' sizing, ie: anything under 50cm and anything over 60cm. This would cost £1250 for the Team Sc and £599 for the Corsa.
To give you an idea of the love for steel at that time,and also the good deals the factory were doing, mine was a custom 48cm and I paid £350 total. That included a slight commision to Interbike race services in London who middlemaned the payment and forwarded the frame to Scotland as I couldn't get back to Belgium at the time. Thats some saving
Mine was bought to use and thats why mine is fairly workmanlike in spec as at that time I was not long here and had no idea whether I was going to stay or where I would end up, so it had to be usable and reliable. It was not as cool back then.
I almost bought one of the aluminium Flyers in the same paint as Heathcliffes as I was in France to see the end of the Tour in 2001 and a kiwi girl who was with us had bought her Flyer, non sloping, the week before meeting us. I thought it was the loveliest bike I had seen at the time, so was tempted when I went to see about buying a frame but the fact they announced they were stopping steel production, large scale anyway, tipped the scales. I do still keep an eye out for one now and again
Anyway, thats probably more of an answer than you bargained for
I was due to ride this lunch but we have pea soup fog here so am hoping it goes later this afternoon so I can get some miles in''

Jamie

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Re: Merckx corsa extra *update page 3 - April 2015*

Where do you go riding that you need to carry a hatchet? I didn't realise the far north was that wild!

Sweet bike though Jamie, but you knew that anyway.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re:

Firedfromthecircus wrote:

Where do you go riding that you need to carry a hatchet? I didn't realise the far north was that wild!

Thats outside the house before I set off and was handy in the gardening box.

It is a sweet bike and I realise I've had it a long while now, despite the many miles it still feels like my 'new' bike. Hope you are getting on with yours just as well.

Jamie

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re:

Firedfromthecircus wrote:

Where do you go riding that you need to carry a hatchet? I didn't realise the far north was that wild!

Though it could also be carried to stop the chainring eating bunnies up this way

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

That's a sweet looking bike Jamie, and thanks for the info regarding Merckx Sc variants. Just an idea for you, how about red bar tape to go with the stickers?
That rabbit is looking nervous. Did you have the camera in one hand, hatchet in the other? :shock:

Mike

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re: Merckx corsa extra *update page 3 - April 2015*

Red bar tape could be good, never really thought of it before, but with the wheels now blue I see it could work quite well. One thing the anodised wheels do, and this was mentioned by my wife, is that they really make the pearlescence in the paint stand out. Doesn't come out in the pics unfortunately, it never has, it always just looks white in the pics
Most likely be blue for a while as I have few boxes of the blue Merckx bar tape in the spares box.

Jamie

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re: Merckx corsa extra *update page 3 - March 2017*

Thought it was a couple of years since the last update, though the machine does get ridden regularly. It's definitely me number 1 machine.
Here a few pics from around the coast this evening. A short couple of hours with no real destination, just a plan to head out and enjoy the Merckx after riding my much loved but heavy Long Haul trucker, Big Dummy, and even the Mercian lately, just missed the nice crisp ride and fit like a glove, old friend feeling of my Merckx.

Jamie

DSCN3464 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3469 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3475 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3481 (2) by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3478 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3483 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3484 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Great photos Jamie!

Feel free to add to this thread,


viewtopic.php?f=12&t=344872


Mike