April 26th 2020 - Merckx Corsa Extra - Local Lockdown ride

While it has been a long time between posting my Merckx rides, there have been many rides in-between, so I thought I should rightly update the blog.
I managed to get out for a ride this afternoon, though the weather wasn't great up here today at all with it being quite overcast and showery. We could see it raining in different parts around us but we only had a shower at lunch so managed to get out on the Merckx later on. Didn't go too far just out towards John O'Groats direction back near to where we used to live and then doubled back along the coast.
Decided to take the Merckx out as it has been a short while since I rode it and with chatting about it in a few other threads this week regarding the frame number decoding and the build card numbers etc, as posted above, I was itching to ride it. It didn't disappoint as usual. It is such a sure footed quick handling machine and still feels as it always has in that it is a race bike, not a tourer or randonneur, which is more my style these days, but a bum up head down racer which was a real pleasure. It just fits like a glove and makes even an effort not seem like it. Still love it and still feels to me like it's something special to ride. 
Definitely good to get out and put a bit more of a quicker effort in, as the bike just encourages you to get stuck in.
Will try not to leave it so long to update the Merckx next time.
Hope you and your families are all safe and well.

Jamie

April 26th 2020 - Merckx Corsa Extra - Frame number information and my paperwork

Well I will also post up some of the following posts from a thread on the main road section of Retrobike where they pertain to my own Merckx Corsa Extra. This was interesting as the codes tied in with what I knew from my own frame and the fact I purchased it new from the factory slightly more than the vague ID from the Cadre site.
It was a very enlightening conversation.
The following are excerpts:

EMpatology:
 The symbols to the left of the BB cover ("technical") are divided into 3 categories:
- a letter denoting the EMC employee responsible for the final "smoothing" of the frame before painting (A,B,F,G,M,P,T,D,Y,L,N,J,S,H,K, unusual 0, ^)
- a number indicating the length of the seat tube in cm measured c-c (for example 2 means 52 or 62, 8 means 48 or 58)
- letters indicating tube type, geometry or model:
   R = Reynolds 531
   C = Corsa
   X = SLX/SPX
   CX = Criterium
   TT = TSX
   M = Strada (Matrix/Cromor)
   TTB = Century TSX
   XB = Corsa Extra SLX century geo
   WW = Strada since 1992
 other types/models did not have "own" markings; a clever observer noticed the "double" M: until 1986 (~A1500) it was an employee code, since 1987 the Strada model designation.
The symbols to the right of the BB cover ("statistical") form a serial number, it consists of a letter and a set of digits. A letter means another series of frames, a number is another frame in the series (001-9999). The exception is the production from 1980 (there is no letter, and in the prototypes even digits, and there are just over 1000 of them).
E - 1981-1984
Z - 1984-1986
A - 1986-1988
B - 1988-1990
C - 1990-1991
D - 1992-1993
F - 1994-1995
G - 1996-1998
H - 1998-2000
J - 2001-2002
K - 2002-2004
L - 2004-2006
P - 2006-2008
In addition to such markings, there are unusual ones:
CS - Capri Sonne
ED - Europ Decor
W - Winning ?
KE - Kelme
HL186P - Hans Lubberding 1986 Pista (Panasonic) and similar - his teammates
Have a good time

Myself:
Well that is interesting as my own Corsa Extra was bought new by me in 2001 when the factory said it was stopping production, or going to cut back on steel frames.
I had held off because I needed what they termed a ‘custom’ frame size in 48cm which because they were made in small batches cost more. Now with the sale they had two that had been sitting around for a long while they said, two colour choices and a price that was far cheaper than a standard Corsa. I couldn’t get back across so did final emails and then sorted payment and shipping through Schils shop Intabike in London.
I bought it later in 2001 but the numbers say it’s 96 -98 so it had been sitting waiting for me for a while ;)
And to think I was going to buy a Flyer instead, it was only because of such a huge discount I could buy what I had wanted for a long time.
All my bikes can come and go but never that one.

Myself:
Well that means mine was sitting around patiently waiting for me to come and collect it :)
Mine is in SLX new.
I hear what you are saying about steel being out of fashion as when I came over from Australia back in 2001 and wanted a steel Merckx, even back home I was being laughed at, my friends thought I should be going for carbon or Scandium and couldn't believe I would come all this way and buy steel. Though I was lucky as looking at the old price list for Intrabike the standard Corsa Extra was £495 with the custom, basically anything under 50cm and over 60cm was £599   :shock:
In the end I ended up paying £350 all in delivered to Scotland. Paid a deposit and then balanced it through Interbike, who I must say were and I imagine still are the coolest most helpful guys that ever worked in a bikeshop.
It's still my pride and joy, and while it has been well ridden especially in it's earlier days, it still to me feels like my new bike. I do baby it a bit these days but we have been through a fair bit together and since my adventure started in this country it has been the one constant.
Jamie


Price list from Interbike 2001


EMpatology:
Thank you. Very interesting information.
The table shows that the lightest steel frame offered at that time was...Mx Leader (I did not expect this) and Arcobaleno (the most technologically advanced EMC steel frame) is no longer on offer. There is also no Alu Mega, Alu Team, Alu Carbon.
Build card contains a lot of interesting information:
G4478 was built in early 1997
48 - height of seat tube
BX(B) - SLX New, century geo
A - FD mounting
SG - type and arrangement of slides on top tube
PB - additional holders for the bottle on seat tube
STI - slides on head tube
A - chrome-plated FD mounting
C - chrome plating right chainstay and dropouts
DRW - painting design, DR is the general design code used 1996 - 1997, W = white
KC - stickers pattern
This bike is beautiful...

Myself:
Thank you very much, while some of this I know from the bike and from ordering I didn't realise what they all meant on the build card, so thank you very much.
The price list above were for frames that was for the end of 2001/2002. I'm glad I printed it out back then and just kept it in a small folder with the other paperwork. Shame I didn't keep all the correspondence.
I will add this information to the folder :)
I still think it's funny that when I bought it I just liked steel frames and of course, this to me was my favourite wish frame, and while steel was going out of fashion it wasn't considered 'retro' or 'old' like it is now. So it is funny to have something from new, that doesn't feel that old to me, to be considered retro. I bought it because when I originally rode one it was light and fast, it still is light and fast.
Jamie





EMpatology: 
You have the best EMC framework documentation I have ever seen

Sunday 19th April 2020 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman - lockdown excercise ride

 Today was a glorious day up here and while the wind was pretty ferocious it wasn't as cold as it has been and without it the day would have been perfect.
Had a few things to do this morning, one of which was start prepping the shed door and frame for repainting,  it will soon be white frame with a terracotta door.
Heather also decided to do a bit of painting but she was far more ambitious than me as Caleb and I came in for lunch only to find the wallpaper in the kitchen half stripped. :shock:  
With this in mind, after lunch we beat a hasty retreat back outside.
We had to take the cover off the wooden HW Old Town canoe and make a plan as we have to sand the gunwales and varnish again, they weren't as bad as I remembered so that was a bonus, a light sand and we should be right to go. We also decided to repaint the white on the hull, though instead of the off white it currently is we decided to redo it in the bright white it left the factory with, and leave the burgundy stripe and redo the monogram. We eventually want to have a pattern on it that we have on a catalogue poster from back in the 30's but for this, it's centenary year, we thought best to put it back to how it left the factory. The little man will soon understand sanding, wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off...it's a big canoe  :lol:
Meanwhile I had the can of Canuba wax sitting in the sunshine softening to wax the Jack Taylor so I could try and protect the 'patina' or 'rust' as I say. So after this I joined Caleb on his ride up to the end of our singletrack road where I then headed off away from the coast to head southwest for a bit of a ride to try and find the cause of a creaking sound in the BB area. After many miles and a bit of time I concluded it was the BB!  Elementary chaps ;)
The back roads were nearly all single track farm roads so pretty quiet, not that the main roads were busy at all.
The Jack Taylor was its usual pleasure to ride, with maybe the creaking bottom bracket letting it down for once, though not enough to spoil a lovely ride. This bike I must admit is one of my favourite rides, some frames ride well and do everything faultlessly but this has it's own feel and for the way I ride now it just feels perfect, it is quick handling, very stable, but has to be the most comfortable, relaxed feeling frame.
It seems that maybe that's what happened to my mojo with some of my recent mock ups, maybe I lose interest because I have such a great ride sitting ready to go, either that or it's my ADD  ;)
Hope you have all had a great weekend and everyone is staying safe and healthy.

Jamie

Saturday 18th April 2020 - Flying Scot Ventoux - build started

Well I have the weekend off and the weather this afternoon was nice and sunny, if a bit windy and cool still, and so after getting a load of stuff done around the house I thought I would get my Flying Scot Ventoux out of the loft and have a play around to see what would be needed to put it back together and finish it off.
This is such a lovely frame and one of the 'racier' models, which isn't usually my leaning these days as I get older but these just handle and ride so lovely.
I realised I still have to varnish over the Flying Scot decals I put on it last year. I am glad I went with the Flying Scot downtube decals as opposed to getting some Ventoux ones made. Just a personal thing but I am pleased with how this looks as I wasn't sure before hand. The paint itself is wearing a few chips etc but nothing that would warrant a respray. I also could still see the remnants of the white lug lining in places.
This was a good time to put it together to see what suited it and what didn't and to try and work out what components I had in the spares box and what I may need to get.
I have been a bit unmotivated with the Mercian for some reason,  mainly as I had decided a while back I should sell the blue one as I have a  new project incoming and this will go a fair way to paying for it.
Anyway I found the box that was buried when we moved labelled :Scot parts. Well that box was pretty bare as bits had been robbed, borrowed but not returned for some time. So with that in mind, the bits were added to from one of my Dura Ace boxes so all was not wasted.
I ended up scrounging the seat and post from the Jack Taylor and fitted my spare B36 Nitto randonneur bars with the Mafac levers and Racers, I had put aside for it. I use the 7400 DA crank, downtube gear levers and rear derailleur. Unfortunately I couldn't find a band on front mech, I have a couple of DA ones but they are braze on fitting. I was positive I have a 600 tricolour one somewhere but I couldn't find it for the life of me. Tomorrows another day :)
Once together, which didn't take long but was a nice chance to sit outside with the family, none of us were sure on the brown Brooks, I think it needs a black seat but not as chunky as a B17. Original idea was brown seat and brown bar tape but not now, not sure, I do have white and also black bar tape??
Used the wheels and tyres from the JT as well as while I have different wheels, they are still 7 speed with the same large volume Jack Brown tyres.
So a couple of bits still needed which I will have a look out for. I have a couple of Shimano 600 pieces that may go well on this so will be back to this one quite soon.
Anyway just thought I would share a bit of pointless afternoon mucking about, but in sunshine ;)
Hope everyone is doing OK with all that's going on with regards the Covid 19 situation, and sincerely hope you and your loved ones are safe and well, wherever you may be on this planet.

Jamie

Sunday April 12th 2020 - Mercian - King Of Mercia Tourer - mock up build.

Not much from me to be honest, a quiet weekend as yesterday was rubbish weather so spent the day doing family stuff, and almost the complete opposite of Friday, nearly all indoors. Today the weather was again pretty rubbish and we needed to finish the garden but most work to the house was again indoors. Certainly lucky with Friday being so nice and Saturday, while the odd shower was nice and warm, so grateful for the ride out on the Big Dummy for groceries.
I had to go to Tesco over in Wick in my van tonight as Heather had a Click and Collect organised, from two weeks ago ffs, anyway it felt so weird to be driving so far and first drive in my van since before lockdown and of course a two mile this morning. Thought I was organised and running early, then realised I hadn't been in it since before the clocks changed.
I did do several cycling related things today, though I was really struggling with motivation, which not sure where it's coming from as have been putting in the miles lately and really enjoying it, just cannot be arsed for some reason to do several things I keep putting off build wise. If that makes any sense.
I am excited for another project that I may have coming and have to wait until after lockdown is over to pick it up. I say may be coming but hopeful it will come eventually.
Meanwhile I found a bit of time to mock up my Mercian tourer as I thought I might set this up for commuting. I changed the Weinmann cantis to a set of Mafacs I had, Stronglight triple chain set etc. I got so far and then had to go but it was coming together nicely. Then after I was back I made a start and laced up my SPDynamo front hub for the Big Dummy. So not riding as such but a bit of cycle related activity before back to work tomorrow.
I hope you guys have had a good Easter weekend and managed a ride or two in, for exercise of course.
Stay safe and hopefully we will be riding together in the not too distant future.
Jamie

11th April 2020 - Big Dummy cargo hauling Easter groceries

Well today I had to go to town for some shopping and so the Big Dummy was put into cargo hauling duties.
There had been a few showers about was looking good for a while with the darker clouds hanging out over the sea. The wind from the west certainly made it slow going into town as I slogged mile after mile directly into it, but I just thought of how nice it might be riding home if it kept up.
There were still a few cars travelling about and I am sure I got a few intentionally close passes by a couple of right ar**wipes, but still they didn't spoil my ride.
I seen someone I knew across the parkway when I came into town and they shouted that they hoped I wasn't going to the co op as there was a two hour line waiting to get in!
I was luckily heading for Lidl and thankfully was pretty quiet and after parking up and getting my bags I was in and out pretty quickly, managing to get everything on my list and a couple of other items, so not bad at all. I can't imagine the co op being that bad as it's only a small town.
Anyway I was fully loaded with everything from 4 kilos of dog feed to cat feed to Easter Eggs and everything inbetween. So with a bit of juggling with packing everything was balanced and after a quick stop at the Bike Shop to pick up a couple of cables I was thankfully back out town and headed home.
I was grateful to have the benefit of the tailwind but it was a nice warm ride regardless as it must be the first time in short sleeves this year.
Was soon home and sitting out the back unpacking the bike and disinfecting me, the bike and every piece and bag of shopping before it could go near the house.
The Big Dummy was a blast as usual and was good to have it back doing a semblance of what it was meant for. As Caleb is not on it now I do wonder whether to sell it, keep it, put an electric Bafang motor on it, or just keep it as it is nice to ride.
I swapped out the saddle for my B66 Brooks the other week and this was the first decent run with it and it was so much more comfortable and needed no adjustment after my original setup on a short ride, so that was cool not having to stop and fiddle round with the seat.
So that was my exercise and shopping essentials in one, hope everyone is alright and you and your families are staying safe and healthy.
Jamie

The view from across the road from our Lidl, loaded and heading back through town to head home.

5th April 2020 - Lockdown ride on the Pugsley round local coastline

After not getting much commuting in this week due to the snow on Thursday/Friday I needed to get the legs turning.
I didn't want to go anywhere near people so I decided to head for the local coastline just across the field from us. I knew it would be deserted as it is fairly out of the way and while there is a tiny access road, the gate is locked. We just go across the field and onto the dirt track just above the cove.
I got the Pugsley sorted and was going to change the gearing as it was still running the Puffer 36/22 gear combo but then thought that might be better for the trials type stuff on the mainly rocky coastline.
Anyway had a good couple of hours out riding round the shore at a leisurely pace and the only person I even came close to was a farmer about 150 metres away in his tractor.
Pugsley was a pleasure as usual, though I think I need a new set of front hub bearings soon. It rolled across the sand, climbed the slab rock and picked it's way round the coast from rockpool to rockpool. I was very tempted to fit the XT rear mech as I have a cassette and a 9 speed thumbshifter sitting in the spares box, but in the end decided not too, glad I did as I really like the simplicity of it singlespeed, especially when doing the slow technical type rock work.
The afternoon was dry but still quite cold, especially after having that late snow during the week.
Back home and a quick hose down to get the salt water off, dry, then lube and good to go next time.
Hope everyone else and your families are doing OK and keeping sane if your on lockdown.
Stay safe and take care of those around you.

Jamie