I saw an ad in the local paper for an Eddy Merckx bicycle and called the seller, he's unsure about the model or year, says he thinks it is an 86 or so, that the bike is red and says 3-athlete on it and that it has shimano 600 components on it, the bike has sew up tires and he is unsure about the wheel size.

I was wondering what a fair price range on the bike would be and how I could better determine the model, I looked for information but couldn't find any, I did find pictures of an 84 on http://www.speedbicycles.ch/ and wonder what year to year differences there are if any,

I've been riding alot more and want to get a bike that I won't feel badly about replacing parts on when they wear out or brake, I tend to ride bikes I find in the trash but the one I have now is a rusty old motobecane mirage I got from the pawnshop I worked at for $5, it needs a new rear brake and maybe some other stuff soon, and I can't see putting too much into it, but it will make a good rainy day bike with a few parts.

thanks,