See. # looks like this;
7 Z
A 490

Where can I find out what these numbers / letters mean?
Thanks

First thing that google brings up: https://www.cadre.org/Merckx/

57cm frame, my guess would be an '82-84-ish based on over-the-BB cabling and flat top fork. Nice!

Thanks for that google page. So at least now I know that it was a 57 cm frame, pro, built in 86-87 and I guess number 490 of that run. Thanks for the website.

Nice bike! I have no info to add, but I am curious about your Tom Kellogg Ross - I have a road version. Can you tell me about your bike? Any pics? Thanks in advance!

Nope, earlier than that. Over-the-BB cabling ended by '85, flat top forks I think were only available until '85 then everything came with the slope top crown.

Merckx serial numbers are notoriously unreliable once you move away from the size (in your case, '7'). It's almost like the builder grabbed whatever number stamp was handy at the time.

I've got five of them (and had several more pass through my hands), and the numbers just don't make much sense.

Good to know, and I hadn't noticed the bb routing. It seems flat crown forks were still an option later on... I have one from 1991.

BUT, later flat crows would have had the logo stamped on them, not the "Eddy/Merckx" script, I'm pretty sure.

This is the only picture I have of the Ross (lost others in house fire). This photo is from the WA. State junior track championship points race (Marymore park velo). I am on the wheel of Carston Hagen. I raced for Columbia Racing Team (CRT) / Island Spring Tofu. The bike is a Tom Kellogg ( Signature) which he designed for Ross. his signature was on the top tube. Ser. # 001. In 1997 I loaned it to a senior trackie (Paul) from Missoula MT. who was going over to Seattle to race in the senior nationals . Never saw him or my Ross again....I keep my fingers crossed that Karma will return it.

This is most certainly a 1985 bike. It was one of a limited edition Molteni replicas made. It has full pantographed Campagnolo Record components, and milled brake levers. This is a fairly valuable bike, one of about 200 made. It was made when Eddy was having a hard time breaking into the market, and relied on replica bikes to enhance the brand name. There was an earlier Faema replica, as well. Same components.

Over the BB cabling was offered at least to 1985, and flat fork crowns were in the 1990 catalog.

That stinks, I once "sold" a Team Stumpjumper to a "friend" on his way to college, he was to pay me later. Never saw him, or the bike again.
That bike has to be pretty rare, and I don't wanna start rumors, but have you seen this thread? https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...oss-Track-Bike
Looks a lot like your old bike.