Few names have an impact like Eddy Merckx. He's a true legend of the sport, racking up innumerate victories over all imaginable terrains, on the road at least. Given that we've just seen the relaunch of the Eddy Merckx bike brand, nowadays owned by Ridley's parent company, Belgian Bike Factory, it seemed as good a time as any to knock up this gallery.
The bike is an Eddy Merckx that Merckx himself raced back in the day. Early in his career, Eddy Merckx frames were repainted Colnago Super's, but the 'EM' monogram on the fork crown is the giveaway that it's an original Eddy, in this case in Molteni livery. The year is unknown, but the late '70s to early '80s is the best guess I've got. In '75, the team was still on Colnagos, and later in the '80s, the tube shapes and lugs changed, especially the fork blades, which became deeper and more aero (by the standards of the day).
(Image credit: Will Jones)
While I was visiting the Belgian Bike Factory HQ for other reasons, I couldn't resist snapping a gallery of one of The Cannibal's actual bikes.
(Image credit: Will Jones)
I'm not saying he's got an ego, but he does have a portrait of himself on his headtube... Also note the marker pen on the stem to get the bar height just so.
(Image credit: Will Jones)
The vintage branding is bordered by the rainbow bands of a former world champion
(Image credit: Will Jones)
A pink stripe for a pink jersey from the Giro
(Image credit: Will Jones)
EM monograms on the fork crown indicate this isn't a rebadged Colnago Super
(Image credit: Will Jones)
All Campagnolo everything back then. Headset and brakes here.
(Image credit: Will Jones)
The campagnolo front derailleur is incredibly skeletal compared to modern electronic units
(Image credit: Will Jones)
A chainstay protector would have added unnecessary weight
(Image credit: Will Jones)
While the components are all Campagnolo, the bars are from Cinelli, another Italian brand
(Image credit: Will Jones)
Even the seat post is a Campagnolo unit
(Image credit: Will Jones)
Too many watts, or perhaps a rogue weight saving tactic?
(Image credit: Will Jones)
Downtube shifters have long been retired to vintage builds and niche bikes, but they don't half look good still
(Image credit: Will Jones)
It's a far cry from the wide range 13sp cassettes on offer from Campagnolo Ekar today
(Image credit: Will Jones)
It's been a while since these tyres, tubular units, held any air
(Image credit: Will Jones)
A yellow stripe for a Tour de France victory
(Image credit: Will Jones)
Campagnolo Nuovo Record. Super Record hadn't come around just yet.
(Image credit: Will Jones)
We suspect the zip ties are modern, but the pump peg isn't something you see on any modern race bike
(Image credit: Will Jones)
No clipless pedals here, just toe clips and straps
(Image credit: Will Jones)
23mm cotton tubulars... tyres have come a long way but the Vittoria Corsa is still a model seen in the peloton today
(Image credit: Will Jones)
While cotton tyres remain, cotton bar tape is definitely a thing of the past, as are classic round drop bars for the most part
(Image credit: Will Jones)
Grease ports in the hubs, now that's a throwback!
(Image credit: Will Jones)
The tubeset in question isn't known, those we can at least tell it's Columbus.
(Image credit: Will Jones)
Merckx was apparently a real stickler for saddle height, so the line of tape is so his mechanics could keep things just so.
(Image credit: Will Jones)
I think we'd all agree that brake hood ergonomics have improved a bit
(Image credit: Will Jones)
Peek-a-boo! Why have one portrait of yourself on your bikes when you can have two?
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Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.
