Its been 8+ months since my original post on my Merckx, so its time for an update.
- 1988/89 Eddy Merckx Gran Prix Frame (Reynolds 753)
- Mavic drivetrain (631 Crank, 840 Rear Derailleur, Mavic 862 Front derailleur)
- Shimano Ultegra 9 Speed Hubs/Cassette laced to Mavic Open Pro rims, Tufo Tires
- Dura Ace downtube shifters + brake levers, Ultegra 600 Calipers
- Cinelli Campione Del Mondo bars, 1A stem
- Campagnolo Croce d'Aune seatpost
- Look 357 Pedals
I'm quite happy with it at the moment. I'm sitting on a set of Mavic 821 shifters, that just might be able to do 9 speed, but I'm thus far resisting the urge to test them out. Oh, and good news -- the 840 rear derailleur does a great job shifting across 9 speeds. Very nice + crisp.
Also in the "someday-maybe-never" box are a set of 453 brake levers (not as nice as the DA), the 440 brake calipers (single pivot -- no thanks) and a set of 645LS pedals (might move to them, but I'm wary of clipless pedals that old). Almost everything I need for a full period setup, EXCEPT a 571 cassette setup, in Shimano spline pattern (571/2 HG I believe?). Don't want to give up my 9 speeds, or the ability to get cassettes at a reasonable price point.
3 comments:
just set up my Ferremi Columbus SLX with an idential groupset, but running Royce hubs 7 speed and Campag shifters. How well does this mech hold up on 9 speed?
I'm very happy with it. Good, clean shifts, plenty of derailleur travel to cover the 9 speeds -- which really isn't any wider than an 8, it just moves less per shift. No complaints here.
EMC built frames from Reynolds 753 tubes between 1984 and 1994. The names: Pro 753 84/86, Corsa Extra 753 86/88, Grand Prix 88/90, again Corsa Extra 753 91/94, were "commercial" and not "structural" (the Grand Prix name appeared on the occasion of the introduction of the Century Reynolds 653 model - when R653 was withdrawn from the offer, the Grand Prix name disappeared and returned to Corsa Extra). This copy dates back to late 1988.
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