Hello bikeforumites.

Long time lurker, former MTBer (but pretty much only riding the road these days) here!. I'm currently riding a 1976 Raleigh Super Course Mk II (town bike) and a slightly newer Defy 1 for longer jaunts.

I have a question regarding a bike I just inherited - It's believe it's an Eddy Merckx Professional from the early 80s (serial number, over BB cable routing, engraved signature on the ends of the stays, flat crown folk with engraved "Eddy" and "Merckx" and other pantographed parts suggest this). However, the wheels are in really bad shape.

I am able to pick up a set of used Mavic GP4 tubular rims on Campagnolo Record hubs or Ambrosio 19 Extra clinchers on Miche hubs locally at a decent price. Both are 80s era I believe.

My question - which wheels to go for and why? Any help and advice from you guys would be really appreciated!

Will post some photos next week (when I've got the bike in my possession)!



Thanks, N

If you want to ride tubulars buy those.
If you want to ride clinchers buy those.

Sigh.

I'm not dead set on either. Was more hoping to learn which would be closer to original spec.

Thanks for the input though.

Signature seat stay caps indicate a very early and quite rare Merckx Professional. I am looking forward to seeing pictures. Mine has Mavic tubulars mounted. A tied and soldered gray anodized 32 hole GP4 on the rear and a gray anodized 32 hole Special Service Des Courses on the front. I believe the bike was raced early on. The GP4's would be appropriate, but many don't like the trouble and expense of running tubulars. Lots of threads here about that.

And the bike almost certainly originally carried Record hubs.

Can't wait for the pics.

I have built quite a few sets of tubulars with GP4s and Record hubs.

They build up great, stayed true and were all around decent performers.

I raced on these for several years when I weighed 160 pounds.

As for the Ambrosios, I never built a set with Miche hubs. However, I did build them with DA and Record hubs and I liked them quite a bit. Pretty durable for me, but I was rail thin back in those days.

You shouldn't have to overpay for either set.

What color is your Professional btw?

Get the Record hubs.

Anbrosios (as a rim goes) in my experience are a BEEYATCH to get tires on....no experience with tubulars.

Agreed it's likely that it would have come with Record hubs and certainly not Miche ones unless it was sold as a frame set and outfitted to the original owners specification. Signature Merckx frames are rare, whoever left that to you did you a real favor.

BTW if you want to go clincher and Record, I have a set of Record hubs laced to Campy Hardox Strada anodized rims and they are in very nice condition. Rims are a few years newer than when your frame was probably built, but worth considering and very rideable.

Tubulars, and use tape. No big deal to mount, ride, or maintain, and you'll love them.
I even have some never-ridden gumwall tubulars that would look great on those.
I pulled them off some wheels I sold here on BF.

Went with grey G40 rims laced to record hubs. After a couple of months riding, I'm very pleased with how it has turned out (excuse the bottle).

Certainly you didn't mean to tease us with just one pic of that pretty Merckx.

Great bike.

I have read/heard that many times. I have not found them any more difficult than any other rim.

Try putting a Veloflex tire on one.

Ugly affair, only surpassed by putting a Veloflex tire on a Campy Neutron rim.

I guarantee it will turn you into a very crabby man.

I have not tried those tires on an Ambrosio rim. I don't know how much it would effect me. I AM ALREADY CRABBY.

Super nice merckx�� I'm currently in the process of cleaning the glue off of some Ambrosio Montreal rims for a build but am loosing steam

Get the tubulars, with new tires matched to your road conditions.

Conti Sprinter Gatorskins in 25mm carcass are pretty hard to beat, unless you ride cobbles on a regular basis.

that was the only rim i ever had a problem mounting tires. i found folding paselas almost impossible to mount. glad to be rid of them.

nds pics are the worst.

That's a beautiful Merckx.

Nice! I've never seen a Merckx in that color scheme. Reminds me of a 3Rensho scheme that was popular at one time.

Yeah, that's beautiful bike! Congratulations!

Oops, this thread is not what I thought it would be. I mistakenly thought it was the cannibal himself asking for advice. And I was very willing to provide it. Very disappointed!

^^^+1