its ALIVE!!!

This Frame was meant for other things but on arrival I discovered that she was in much MUCH better condition than first thought! NO way could I strip her back and redress her just for the sake of it, this is one beautiful original ol school Merckx!

I had just the answer for my latest addition to the stable, Shimano Dura Ace grouppo 7402 8spd with down tube shifters, that's wright campers...DOWN TUBE SHIFTERS! ah bless!!!



With a full Dura-Ace group including seat post I was (still am) at a bit of a loss to solve the problem of bars and stem for this ride. In the end I had to just throw on the only combo I had lying around which really doesn't do this bike any justice at all but will have to do for now.

Besides there are many beautiful aspects to this bike to distract one from pointing out the bars and stem! Take the number hanger for example, how many of these do you ever see these days? Who cares if they make the frame weigh 200grams more, number hangers on steel frames are functional pieces of artwork in my book!!!



I have always found it interesting yet disturbing that SLX frames just aren't as nice to ride and are heavier than their SL brothers, the last Merckx I actually rode was a SL and it was stunning to ride! This SLX is very Very niiiice don't get me wrong but just doesn't have the same rolling smoothness of an SL.

That said its one HOT bike, ridden today for the 1st time and on a sunny CHCH morning almost every cyclist I saw turned there heads to see what I was riding. I imagine some of the younger riders have never seen a bike without STI or Ergo power shifters before!




Ya just gotta love the lines of a classic geometry steel frame, the engraved lugs and brake bridges to the fork crown, simply magic!

To be fair I'm running out of things to say about this bike, its simply a joy to ride and I love it! the pictures say it all so here are a few more....






Just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to Jason Rico and Ski for getting this bike to me from the US, wouldn't have been possible without you guys helping out so big BIG UPS to you both, Cheers G

Ride safe....G

Merckx Mania

Ok...so here comes a really special Merckx project!


Just won this lil beauty on eBay this afternoon, currently sitting in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, and soon to be on its way to lil old NZ for a FULL make over, PIMP MY RIDE Merckx styles!

The plan here is to get a full strip back to the bare metal, treatment against the evils of the "R" word (rust for all those not in the know) then a full custom paint job so its a "one of a kind Merckx", new decals (some custom treats there too) and a couple of clear coats to make her shine baby shine!

Dress her up in full Shimano Dura Ace 7403 8spd STI.

Watch this space for further developments as they come to hand, until then a few more photos for the "before phase" of the project.




As you can see she ain't in the best nick but give us some time to work a little magic and this frame will look brand spanking new again hopefully in time for Xmas!
What a mean Xmas gift it will make as well.

Ride safe....G

17 yrs in the making!

The newest edition to my humble lil Steel Stable.....1993 TSX Motorola Eddy Merckx


To all the "Purists" out there, yes I know the Motorola Team didn't use Rolls saddles and I know that they didn't use Campagnolo rims or Mitchelin tyres, but please bare with me, I am only temporarily using this bike until summer when I will then strip her down and do a 150% overhaul of this master piece.

I have in waiting a set of Wolber Rims, Avocet Saddle, Cineli engraved E.Merckx stem (too short for me to ride with).








Fully loaded with Shimano Dura-Ace 7403 components this little baby is a very close working ride able example of a 1993 Team bike that I have seen in yrs. Number hanger and bolt are at the ready for the TdF replica number of the most winning rider Le Tour has ever seen, one Mr L.Armstong, 1993 TdF no#34!

The next series of photo's are simple....only thing better than 1 Eddy Merckx is...well 2 Eddy Merckx!!!

































I haven't yet had the chance to ride Eddy yet, as always something to do with work takes over, but I am praying to the weather God's for another fine day tomorrow to test run my new toy!

Ride safe ....G

Giants FOR SALE

Two different Giant TCR Advanced bikes for sale both in excellent condition any questions please contact me, cheers G


2003 model Giant with Dura Ace 9spd groupset. NZ$1500.00

Brand new rear cassette,chain, and chainrings and all cables replaced, rides as new.

Groupset is in excellent condition as are the frame and forks. This would be an excellent bike for the coast to coast or as an entry level racing bike.

Frame size is Med compact, I am just under 6ft(184cm) and is a great fit for me.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



2009 Model Giant TCR ADVANCED. NZ$4250.00

3mths old and not a great amount of use this bike is for sale as a frame & fork combo OR as a full bike as you see it in the pictures.

Frame size is 53.5-M/L (compact) for more details on frame size check out Giant website on the following link.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/road/232 8/32039/

Reason for selling is due to serious business committments and serious lack of time for training plus other more important cycling projects this awesome bike is collecting dust instead of kms.

This is without a doubt the stiffest lightest and smoothest ride I have owned and would recommend this bike to anyone for a complete training/race bike package.

Bike is equipped with Shimano Dura Ace 10spd (7800 older version) sti levers front mech cranks, rear mech is Ultegra 10spd, brakes are Dura Ace 9spd model, Easton wheels and Race Face Bars & stem. The bike will come with a brand new Fiziki saddle (white with green stripe-factory issue model)

Ride safe G

Eddy - SOLD!!!

Hi all, this Columbus SL Hitachi Merckx (57 ctc) is up for sale as either a frame set or complete bike. The complete bike will be finished in Shimano Dura Ace Sti 8 speed (condition on grouppo is not that flash)....for the purest out there, yes I know this bike was equipped with a Mavic groupset but try finding one of those these days!



The frame is in average condition but rides like a dream, SL tubing is/was one of Colubus's best offerings, smooth and not as heavy as SLX still a bloody nice ride after 22yrs!!!
Get this baby resprayed and you have yourself a mint ride just waiting for a nice new retro grouppo.



Contact me by leaving a comment below and leave your email address and I will be in touch. Frame & forks NZ$500 complete bike as mentioned above NZ$1000 shipping costs for international is very expensive from NZ please take that into consideration.

Ride safe G