It was a dream come true to visit the Eddy
Merckx factory and ride the Eddy
Merckx route afterward.
The factory surprised in that it was no musuem with only low key references
to Eddy Merck’s vast history of success and adventure, the walls do hint at
his legend, but space is equally given over to riders who have won on his bikes.
More about Merckx – at www.multimit.com/fkm/eddymerckx/index.shtml
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There are two Merckx routes we rode the factory loop
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Plenty of cobbles
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Graeme Freestone takes a call
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Andrea Hofling loved the cobbles so much she had to
give them a hug (No, she didn’t crash) |
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The Merckx Way took us down a forest road
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Graeme Freestone and Andrea pose out side the Merckx
factory |
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Graeme and John get their pose sorted
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John was given a team bike for the ride & he really
wanted to keep it |
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On the way home we hit the Brugge Ice Faor – lots of
chocolate and Gluehwein |
A painting of Eddy Merckx welcomes you to the factory
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The latest Merck TT bike
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Robbie McEwen’s Tour yellow jersey
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A number of paintings hang on the walls
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Merckx bikes now express his ethos
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Carbon SXM frame
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Lance Armstrongs’ World Championship jersey
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Ready to be shipped frames
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Aluminium frames coated with primer await painting
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Carbon frames just before the rear triangle is fitted
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Top of the range carbon frames will next be polished
& then coated with laquer |
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The jigs catch the eye, as they highlight that all frames
get that personal touch |
Little heaps of aluminium on this machine tool.
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One piece carbon wishbones make for a stronger rear
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Painting of the bikes is taken very seriously and frames
are treated with individual care. These frames are masked ready for paint. |
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In this pile is a Flanders winning bike, a Tour TT,
plus more & all with history. But a corner of the factory floor is there home and not a glass case in a musuem. |
Almost ready to be sent off to some lucky soul
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We got to ride a pros race bike
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