Sunday, April 30, 2006

Bikes I Love: Merckx MX Leader 1998

The bike of champions made by the greatest champion himself. Bright orange, with lairy pink and yellow championship bands, retrofitted with authentic Campagnolo Record components from the era.

The same frame took a youthful Lance Armstrong to a world championship on the road. Brutally heavy, and in a world of carbon fibre, titanium and magnesium, this bike records the last time steel was used in anger to win anything.

The frame weighs three times a Bianchi FG Lite, but rumours that Nigel weighs three times Brent have been reliably scotched.