juvela

oops, did not look carefully enough at the drive side photo of the bottom bracket area. [embarrassment icon goes here] the easiest way to pull the fixed cup would be with one of those compression type fixed cup tools that work on all fixed cups. they do not employ jaws the way Campag and VAR tools do for example. home mechanics are well advised to consider the purchase of one of these. otherwise you could go to the lbs.

the combination of the cycle being made in Belgium and the presence of Japanese made bb fittings would tend to indicate a BSC threading. so you would want to turn the fixed cup clockwise to remove it.

3speedslow

Hey Blitherbike,

My bike looks very much like yours. I had a quick shot of it built up on this thread. It is the Rapidix, purple coloured. When I get back from my trip, I will post more pics of the frame. I received the frame pretty much stripped so built it up as I saw fit.

Schlug

That thing is sweet. How is the aluminum on *****ey, chattery roads? Some days I don't want to ride the Airplane aluminum frame I have on the road.

Schlug

If I recall correctly, those are Team Panasonic colours, but they rode Raleigh in 1985 and switched to Merckx in 1986. But (and it has been a few years and many pints between) I thought they were straight lettered decals back then. Like this?



The Dutch Panasonic team was my all time favourite team as a teenager. Probably because of Phil Anderson to start. If I ever see a Panasonic team Merckx at a decent price in 58 (or 57) there'll be no stopping me. (although I may end up sleeping in the garage a few nights)

Schlug

My apologies.

Alright well a quick check of the web means I am incorrect.

two photos from 1986 confirm that your frame is their frame:



And this one




Like I said, many pints.

Note: In order to be accurate I'll have to build it with Record C and cello tape (blech) and non aero levers. And a number tag.

gomango

Thanks, it's a fun bike.

Stiff does not begin to describe this frameset.

But tire pressure transforms the ride!

That's the trick.

I usually find myself riding Small Block 8s in the 700x35 size, instead of the pictured Speed Maxs.

I deflate them down into the 40s for off road and then reinflate them to the 70s when I hit asphalt for the ride home.

So far, so good.

Vonruden

I believe the straight letter one may be the Professional model. You can view some 1985 in the link below if you scroll down. There are some 1985 Panasonics listed.

https://www.cadre.org/Merckx/

Schlug

I know this is from a long time ago but I have to say that is pure sex on wheels right there.

Schlug

I get it. I have precious little time on cross bikes, but I have a pair of 28s on my Airplane frame for the same reason. They only clear the rear brake bridge by a couple mm's but they make the ride so much better.

Vonruden

Sweet photos. I can't wait to see yours when built up. Will keep an eye out!

Schlug

Thanks for posting that link.

I can kiss several hours goodbye now.

blitherbike

Thanks for the info juvela, especially for the fixed-cup rotation direction. Hopefully I can just leave that side alone and just clean it. But if it's pitted, I can see me now just staring at it- afraid to try to turn it either direction! It looks like I have what I need tool-wise. I did stumble across a guy who makes a tool for that fixed cup, but it seemed kinda pricey. I'll see if I can find it again I'll post a link in case anyone else might be interested.
I've seen a few rear brake bridges that were plate style, I guess that's all I was thinking about when you asked about bridges. I totally forgot about the cs bridge (this is where I can insert embarrassment icon).

I'll probably leave the bike as stock as I can except for the crummy pedals and plastic shift levers. The saddle is a Selle Italia Grand Prix minus the vinyl cover. I've been buying up old, trashed leather saddles on ebay. I'm going to try making my own leather tops. I may put one of those on this bike if I ever get to it.
I'll post some "during" & "after" photos when I'm able.

If anyone out there has any old leather Brooks (or any other brand) saddle with leather that's too far gone to save, and you're willing to let it go cheaply, let me know, I'm interested!

blitherbike

3speedslow- I just found your earlier post. I started at page 1 and looked through all the pages to finally find it immediately before my first post! It was great though, I got to look at all the Belgian beauties again.

I'd love to see more pics of the Rapidix. I'm blown away at how many brands are out there that I've never heard of before. If you think it may have been built by Superia, maybe you could include a picture of the serial number and it's location. Maybe if I could find enough of them along with approximate build dates based on components, I could get an idea of their system.

Dawes-man

CYCLES WEMBLEY, ANTWERP
Not mine but it's Belgian and so perhaps of interest.

I came across this in an antique, mainly clothes, shop in Tokyo the other day. The light was bad and I only had my iPhone with me so the quality of the photos isn't very good but you get the idea. Not a brand I've ever heard of, or been able to find anything out about but I'd say it was pre-war, perhaps 30s. The Brooks Challenge saddle, if original, places it around that time. I might go back with a camera and ask if I can take it out into the light to get some better photos...

The name, being that of a football stadium in London, the UK, seems to me to be an odd choice for a Belgian bike but perhaps they felt it gave a certain cachet, as Wembley used to house a cycle track in the 1920s and 30s… The price tag (picture 3) is rather optimistic, I think...

[IMG] Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG] Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

Schlug

That is really neat. Wonder how many miles are on that. What the fellow was like who built it by hand...

Thanks for posting.

non-fixie 

Thanks for posting that Wembley, Dawes-man. Price is a bit too much for me, but otherwise it's right up my alley.

3speedslow

Blitherbike,

Sorry about the hunt job you had to do to find the one tiny pic of my Rapidix. I'll make up for it now with some more snaps. Finally got back to the world of the internet.

blitherbike

No problem about hunting for the photo, it was just typically ironic of me to start searching at the beginning of the thread when it was directly above my first post.

I'm really glad you posted these recent pics though. Our bikes had to have been built by the same manufacturer. I've looked at thousands of photos recently (it was driving me mad) and every bike that I've found that has that style and shape of seat-stay crimp also has the stippled dropout (except possibly the American Arrows), plate style chain-stay bridge, and visually identical or nearly identical heat-tube lugs and bottom bracket shell. They've all been built in Belgium, all have been Montgomery Ward Elites, Rapidixes, or American Arrows- which actually say "by Superia" on them. I'm waiting for a response from a former owner of an American Arrow to see if he remembers if it had the stippled dropouts. Here's a link to that thread:https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...9#post16137579

Here's a link to a thread started by a guy who has/had a Rapidix the same color as my MW with identical components: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hat-Do-You-Do?

This is another interesting thread about bonderized Superia frames:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Frame-Superia?

Your Rapidix is really sharp- I love those hammered fenders and bar-end levers.

3speedslow

Thanks Blitherbikes,

hammered fenders are sharp but would really just like some plain alloy fenders for it. The Suntour barcons are just perfect for it though, the shifting is right there when I need it and work spot on !

At the moment, the brakes are Weinmann, if I can, I will be changing those out for the Atenburghs that came with the frame or could use some MAFAC racers I will be getting soon, need levers though.

Keep up the search for the answer to your question. I kinda think Superia is the answer and frankly would be happy to find it so. Have no idea why...

Thanks for the links. 3SS

gregaz

A while back, I posted about my Libertas mixte find. Well, this weekend, I finished the build and posted some photos in the original thread (so as not to clutter up the forum). Check it out: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post16233637

Orvis

'85 Merckx ...rides like butter. It responds faster than I do..Rollers keep me on my toes.

non-fixie 

Nice Merckx! Like the yellow accents.

emy_knopfler

Hi everyone!

I just bought this Flandria, and I'd like to know if any of you recognises the model and year, since I'm pretty new in this
Here the pics:

Thanks!!

jimmuller 

e_k, welcome to C&V!

I believe I've posted this bike here before, but that never stopped me from posting something again. From yesterday's ride, a Belgian Bertin:

emy_knopfler

really nice bike