perhaps that is who makes the tubing

I have a basement where most of them are kept...I have 6 on hooks, 3 live up stairs (the three I ride most often) and 5 are in the basement on the ground...the triplet lives in the guest room. Pics in a minute.

Minute is up.

And here we go...

Merckx Corsa Speciale - 86', 87' according to the serial number:

Lemond

Litespeed

holy cr*p! nice haul, and all that Mavic stuff on the Lemond, to boot! What clues you that it was Billato-built? Never seen that particular GLx Excell tubing (or sticker) before. It has to be extra rare and I'd bet very light. Wonder why the US flag on a French tubeset (and Italian builder)...was all this down to Greg?

I had a feeling it was Billato just from the build quality, the panto and the style - but came across this when I did some research:

https://forums.roadbikereview.com/tre...ds-170629.html

As far as weight - I think it's hard to tell because that Mavic group is CHUNKY! It looks OS and stiff to me - which I like. On the down side, it has a dent in the driveside seatstay and the little tab inside the seatstay seems to have snapped off. I've never known what those were for.

I'm debating keeping the Lemond, but the Merckx and Litespeed are not destined to stay with me long.

Excellent. Is the Litespeed a MTB or CX/Tour?

Chain hanger, maybe?

Nice haul. The Lightspeed is crying out for a better fork, though.

Excell. A curious company based in France, who knows where actually manufactured. Masi used their stuff on the early 3V's and some Prestige models, on those a row of "pearls" was embossed along the tube. Always very light. I saw one bike that stated basically advanced tubing reinforced with Kevlar, no idea how that was done.
It reads as a team or team replica bike.

That Lightspeed is too cool. I'm curious about the geometry too.

Sell them all & buy that Pugsley.......

Holy cow Aaron! That's quite a haul! ... Mind telling us how your stumbled on a triple score like that?

My first instinct was Team bike because of the hanger, but it seems some were sold with it. The Mavic parts also indicated team bike to me...as well as who I bought it from. I even thought it was possibly a Roland DS, but the serial doesn't seem to indicate it.


That's EXACTLY what the plan was, but the wife's car killed an engine this morning...so it might have shifted

Auchen - lucky

The Litespeed is a MTB, 135 rear spacing, 18inch ctc ST, 22 inch with the slant TT. I don't have much experience measuring slanted TTs, so I'm not sure how to give an effective TT length. I'm assuming it's the measurement of the TT IF it were straight across. It's a VERY cool frame, and I think it would make the ultimate SS winter beater.

I have a 1993ish Litespeed MTB and it is all the MTB I will ever need. And my advice, diplomatically turned, is to screw the Pugsley. I also find them interesting and, though I have never ridden one, tend to agree with those who point out the incredible amount of mass in the wheels and the effect on performance. Instead, I suggest that you build out the Litespeed with drops and barends, and get an extra set of wheels -- fatties on one set and 26" 1.35" CX tires on the other. I suspect you would ride that bike far more than a Pugsley.

I understand why you're saying that, but I think a Puglsey would be more fun - and capable of doing some things this wouldn't be capable of. I rode one last year and have wanted one ever since.

Then, to quote Obi Wan (with a slight wave of his hand), "No more need be said."

So... you're selling that Merckx, eh? Hmm.

The Merckx was already listed - it's not my kind of frame. I would, of course, work with an interested member. I'm far more tempted by the Lemond, but I think I can let that go without too many regrets. I have too many dang bikes - and the simple truth is that between the De Rosa and Marnati (which I got a set of tubulars for along with the frames above...silver 36h record hubs), I really don't need any other steel road frames.

Can't. Stop. Drooling. That Eddy Merckx is gorgeous. There is something about a beautiful yellow paint job that can really set off a bike. On another note, it must be going around. I sold my Schwinn Unicycle and my Mercier frameset this week. I didn't think either of them would sell.

If you get a pugsly, you can do this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-_pAVNwfT8

I don't think the Lemond would take too kindly to that. The Litespeed should not be taken "lightly" though.

I'm surprised the Litespeed is the one garnering the attention - I thought it would be the Lemond!

Chef - the only thiong that looks as good as a yellow bike is an orange one. I LOVE the Merckx colors on that frame, but the tubing isn't for me.

great looking frames! if you going to toss out that chunky Mavic junk let me know, we'll have to talk.

Finally the pictures! It sure was worth the wait! Congratulations! The bikes are just expectacular! The Merckx an the LeMond are my favorite! True racing bikes, just what I love!