eBay finds: Merckx Hour Record replica

We've been scouring the web for retro bike deals and have dug up this Merckx Pista track bike for sale on eBay.

The bike, a replica of the machine that Merckx rode to take the Hour Record in Mexico City in 1972, is priced at £2,750 ($3,384) with free shipping for much of the world. It comes in the famous orange colour of the Hour Record bike, plus a good deal of the same components.

<a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pista-Track-Bike-Eddy-Merckx-52cm-1985-Hour-Record-Tribute-Campagnolo-C-Record/264652312460?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3d9e81cf8c%3Ag%3Ao68AAOSw3thbUYxD&enc=AQAEAAACUBPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qWSeAxGOhltayxMpWOVlM8LhQCml4d3rUuNIrJWk%2FNPxIqf9v9623%2F26RxIupewLvullue%2B2n515rdHJ8vFsbZDWpuVQknpSIhqRPKAdQRm9S4t1S65mL8tNz1mnZGIDDbJnmwOQbviRDeZ2eBzn9WHsfv2ggfUhOsxjAZrSU87wiVeBW17KLlwZq%2Bu1s81S%2BC%2BP6Nudm1U2Dh1a7Iz5ze7CPigb2PQOV%2F2XUklvApujL9kCbaMfIkOkpB%2BGt3GUd6GcPmXuzVnkvNSGaZhbM9Om1sms81U7wA9fVjhthwq7QlRFmNwqFy5sqjemafvJ9nAIRaN66vyqwYJvW6N4%2B4Xcq6D%2Bi03dvJYFEIGwymjeQ09ZHiREvfIhThC8gV8RuRSZrC0GYN%2BSvXnOAuYDG9tgvVUOGVj6InGCZA%2BG5QaSWac2qG56N3DOKJavVNskWuEeXAQaQWyyXjXd5LZEroMWl8uaudvN%2FPk7UpRZ%2FyYQrtdbU%2BetC4VKnMe68reyqGDgjTzEfQu5oeX5yKU3znF01VzmWmnk0qK8Kayrvz1zg3fWQJUUH76czRucP7fTFhmjcL9%2FQCQ2amu49LB1BVo8HQYKCs2FXZRuoPA6drSH0jagnrjXIgYa4Dl5hg4R9PfALAlX6sFN7btGBjq%2B0qIqQlDNJM74zipD3xm8Gnl3smaCegBv5KwSlbOqLL64H5TVW3BidU9u5ULpkGMmO7B4Gk5ChGnVp3HiiVxZxQ4eaPqX22Jt%2BjJUceBhKFYAuw%3D&checksum=26465231246042f97c30123e4762846b5d3e79d5d6d0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5337827784&customid=hawk-custom-tracking#viTabs_0" data-link-merchant="ebay.com"">Check out the bike on eBay here

The bike itself dates to 1985, so it's a vintage frame itself, despite being a replica. The farme is an Eddy Merckx Pista track frame, with Merckx's name adorning the downtube. It's classed as a 'show bike' by the seller, "ready to use or hang on the wall" according to the description.

While the bike is Merckx-made, there's plenty of Italian components bolted on, too. The toe strap pedals are Campagnolo Record, as is the seat post. The wheels also feature Campagnolo Pista hubs with Delta rims and a 14t sprocket at the back.

Meanwhile, the chainset features Campagnolo Record 175mm cranks with a 52t chainring. A custom-made titanium stem, Cinelli 64 handlebars, Regina Record chain and Cinelli unicantor saddle finish off the build.

Merckx set a long-standing hour record in October 1972, with his effort atop a traditional, non-aero bike was not bested until 2000. Then, Chris Boardman went a mere 10 metres further using a carbon bike with drop handlebars and wire-spoked wheels. There were, of course, other Hour Records set in the interim, though the likes of Francesco Moser and Tony Rominger used high-tech aero equipment to do so.

Merckx's record was 49.431 kilometres, set on the Agustín Melgar Olympic Velodrome in Mexico City. Afterwards, Merckx, who in his neo-pro year outlined ambitions to win the Tour de France and set a new Hour Record, called the effort the "hardest ride I have ever done."

The original Merckx Hour Record bike is currently on display in a glass case at the Eddy Merckx metro station in south-west Brussels.

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