I am looking to buy a beautiful Eddy Merckx at an absolute bargain price. The issue is a small dent in the top tube.
What do you think about it? Is it danger of failure?
Risk of failure = minimal.
Risk of failure = minimal.
Thank for the reply. Just bought it 😃
What is the chainset?
probably the only bike you can buy in 2024 with a decent air pump
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What is the chainset?
Probably either Nuovo Record or Super Record, probably 52-42 or thereabouts on a 144mm bolt circle.
OP might want to take a peek at the junctions between the drive-side crankarm and the spider. That’s a high-stress area, and Campagnolo typically manufactured those cranks with a very sharp interior angle at that spot. It’s a stress riser that was prone to developing cracks. A lot of people back in the day rounded the joint out as a preventative measure. (These cranks were very widely copied, and amusingly, a lot of the cheap knock-offs had the area rounded out from the factory.)
What is the chainset?
Probably either Nuovo Record or Super Record, probably 52-42 or thereabouts on a 144mm bolt circle.
It’s a Super Record chainset. Thanks for the tip regarding stress.
Is it the “Professional” model? Will you show up in “Eroica Cycling” event?
Almost looks too nice to ride, honestly; especially from a distance
Have fun and don’t let the others drool on it too much (the decals might come off LOL)
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Is it the “Professional” model? Will you show up in “Eroica Cycling” event?
I had L’Erocia on my bucket-list for 8 years and will do the event when it suits the race calendar 😃
Yes it’s the professional frame
Almost looks too nice to ride, honestly; especially from a distance
Have fun and don’t let the others drool on it too much (the decals might come off LOL)
I agree that it looks great from a distance. I bought it unseen (on winter vacation for Ã¥ week and didn’t believe it would still be available when I got back). The seller says its very nice, except from the dent, and he has perfect rating. I actually checked on pages for stolen bikes, because I thought the price of $500 seemed too good to be true. But no indications that it’s stolen either.
I bought a vintage Peugeot racer in decent condition a couple of years ago and will probably get around $200 for it so for a $300 upgrade I am very happy.
lovely bike - i’m still dreaming of racing one like that at l’eroica one day!
it it makes you feel better, i raced a steel frame with a similar (though bigger/deeper) dent on the top tube for a few years, and also toured on it. a '90s era rocky mountain hammer. absolutely no problems with the frame - never failed.
In the future, check with a competent local steel framebuilder. They may be able to roll out dents like that.
If it were lightweight steel tubing, this would probably be less good. Heavier steel means more safety margin.
In the future, check with a competent local steel framebuilder. They may be able to roll out dents like that.
If it were lightweight steel tubing, this would probably be less good. Heavier steel means more safety margin.Wouldn’t any “rolling out” of that dent have an adverse effect on the paint finish?
If “lightweight tubing” how much less good, and in your opinion, would that put it lower that the ‘perfectly safe’ threshold?
I assume this is 531 or equivalent (eg chrome-moly/Cyclex SL). You are implying that 853 or XCr are much less rugged (to a small dent).