The Cannibal - Merckx Team SC
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- Posts: 1272
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:12 am
Hi everyone,
Been gone a few years due to injury but recently picked up a used but seemingly good condition Team SC in Molteni Orange(?). At first I wasn't in love with the color, but must admit it's been growing on me. I present:
Was built up with a number of parts I had lying around, wheels and crankset are new. Build theme was to stick to roughly period correct stuff from the mid 2000s, and to stay away from too much carbon.
Build list off the top of my head:
Frame/Fork: Merckx Team SC
Wheels and skewers: Mavic Ksyrium Exalith Pro SL (aka SLR; Thanks to Starbike! Excellent pricing and service)
Cassette: 1 piece Token CNC 10 speed 11-25
Tires: Mavic
Brakes: Zero Gravity Ti
Chain: Record 10
Fr/Rear Derailleur: Record 10
Chain Catcher: Deda Dogfang
Pedals: Look Keo
Cranks: Record UT
Seatpost Collar: Tune
Headset: FSA
Shifters: Chorus
Stem: 3T Arx Team
Bars: 3T Rotundo Pro Alloy
Saddle: Becker
Seatpost: Ax Daedalus
First ride this past weekend was electric; the bike is fast and much more responsive under power than my old Alu Team Merckx, without feeling bone-jarringly stiff like an old Cannondale. Note this is the later version with the larger seatube. The only other bike I have to compare is my late 2000s Giant TCR (non-advanced). Night and day, I hated the Giant and in fact raided it for parts for this build. The geometry never agreed with me and I never felt stable/confident on it.
Bad news is that under power the front end was all over the place, took it apart and the fork was cracked at the steerer tube junction. Risks of buying used on ebay I suppose. Also the brakes were never designed for 'wide' wheels (the mavics are 17mm internally i believe) and with the stock holders there was almost no space between pad and rim. I ordered a set of ultra low profile Zero Gravity holders from Irish Cycles and it seems they will work. Still fiddling with them to get the centering right.
Bike is out for a few weeks, and an Enve 2.0 has been ordered by the shop. I'm going to miss the sweet matching paint job so I'm leaving the door open down the road to having the Enve fork painted orange. Also since this picture I've replaced the AX/Becker combo with a cheap and heavy Fizik Cyrano alu seatpost and a not-cheap Arione 00. So far so good, I'll save the WW post/saddle for special events.
If you guys are interested I'll post more pics once I get the bike back with the new fork. I can also try to throw it on a scale at the shop.
Been gone a few years due to injury but recently picked up a used but seemingly good condition Team SC in Molteni Orange(?). At first I wasn't in love with the color, but must admit it's been growing on me. I present:
Was built up with a number of parts I had lying around, wheels and crankset are new. Build theme was to stick to roughly period correct stuff from the mid 2000s, and to stay away from too much carbon.
Build list off the top of my head:
Frame/Fork: Merckx Team SC
Wheels and skewers: Mavic Ksyrium Exalith Pro SL (aka SLR; Thanks to Starbike! Excellent pricing and service)
Cassette: 1 piece Token CNC 10 speed 11-25
Tires: Mavic
Brakes: Zero Gravity Ti
Chain: Record 10
Fr/Rear Derailleur: Record 10
Chain Catcher: Deda Dogfang
Pedals: Look Keo
Cranks: Record UT
Seatpost Collar: Tune
Headset: FSA
Shifters: Chorus
Stem: 3T Arx Team
Bars: 3T Rotundo Pro Alloy
Saddle: Becker
Seatpost: Ax Daedalus
First ride this past weekend was electric; the bike is fast and much more responsive under power than my old Alu Team Merckx, without feeling bone-jarringly stiff like an old Cannondale. Note this is the later version with the larger seatube. The only other bike I have to compare is my late 2000s Giant TCR (non-advanced). Night and day, I hated the Giant and in fact raided it for parts for this build. The geometry never agreed with me and I never felt stable/confident on it.
Bad news is that under power the front end was all over the place, took it apart and the fork was cracked at the steerer tube junction. Risks of buying used on ebay I suppose. Also the brakes were never designed for 'wide' wheels (the mavics are 17mm internally i believe) and with the stock holders there was almost no space between pad and rim. I ordered a set of ultra low profile Zero Gravity holders from Irish Cycles and it seems they will work. Still fiddling with them to get the centering right.
Bike is out for a few weeks, and an Enve 2.0 has been ordered by the shop. I'm going to miss the sweet matching paint job so I'm leaving the door open down the road to having the Enve fork painted orange. Also since this picture I've replaced the AX/Becker combo with a cheap and heavy Fizik Cyrano alu seatpost and a not-cheap Arione 00. So far so good, I'll save the WW post/saddle for special events.
If you guys are interested I'll post more pics once I get the bike back with the new fork. I can also try to throw it on a scale at the shop.
Last edited by brianwchan on Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I love it!
You may remove the sticker from the seatpost and try to also remove the stem logos with acetone. Is there any way you can save the fork? It is so beautiful and it keeps it original. Another fork will not look that right and the frame will loose its actual value. You could maybe try to find the same fork on ebay and paint it to match the original.
You may remove the sticker from the seatpost and try to also remove the stem logos with acetone. Is there any way you can save the fork? It is so beautiful and it keeps it original. Another fork will not look that right and the frame will loose its actual value. You could maybe try to find the same fork on ebay and paint it to match the original.
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- Posts: 1272
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:12 am
Perhaps there are carbon specialists in the area that could take a look at it... however given the mission critical nature of the part and the sensitive location of the crack I'm reluctant to try to repair it... potentially throwing good money after bad.
I think that the most promising route would be source a replacement fork on ebay, but it's not a high priority for me. My understanding anyways is that the Enve will be a much better fork overall. Lastly resale is not really a concern, not planning on ever selling this one. Still riding my Merckx Alu Team from the 90s! That is now the "B" bike.
One thing I will say is, the Team SC does not have a replaceable derailleur hanger - incredible oversight in my mind. What were they thinking??
I think that the most promising route would be source a replacement fork on ebay, but it's not a high priority for me. My understanding anyways is that the Enve will be a much better fork overall. Lastly resale is not really a concern, not planning on ever selling this one. Still riding my Merckx Alu Team from the 90s! That is now the "B" bike.
One thing I will say is, the Team SC does not have a replaceable derailleur hanger - incredible oversight in my mind. What were they thinking??
- Frankie - B
- Admin - In the industry
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- Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2003 8:17 am
- Location: Drenthe, Holland
Welcome back Brian! that is a great looking bike.
If you want to see 'meh' content of me and my bike you can follow my life in pictures here!'Tape was made to wrap your GF's gifts, NOT hold a freakin tire on.'
- maverick_1
- Posts: 742
- Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:20 pm
- Location: Tokyo
Beautiful Team SC! Personally, I think it's one of the best framesets out there.
And so sorry to hear about the damaged fork. Btw do you have any pics to share? Would like to know exactly where and how did the failure occurred.
Cheers!
And so sorry to hear about the damaged fork. Btw do you have any pics to share? Would like to know exactly where and how did the failure occurred.
Cheers!
- michel2
- Posts: 1144
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- Location: somewere floating between here and the other side
i second repairing the fork, not sure where you are but there are plenty of places now where they can do safe carbon fibre repair work, that way youll keep the matching paint work,good looking bike, love to have one myself
brianwchan wrote:My understanding anyways is that the Enve will be a much better fork overall.
IMO in frames like yours it is not about which fork is better or lighter or stiffer or more aero etc. It is only about finding the right fork. So if you have a chance to find get an original one just go for it.
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- Posts: 1272
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:12 am
Thanks everyone for the kind comments. I will be sure to get new pics once I get the bike back with the new fork, as well as the cracked original. I'll see if I can even get a video of it flexing by hand (!!!!) so you can see the extent of the damage.
Maverick, I just wanted to thank you for the inspiration for this build - I'd been away from bikes for a while and saw your lovely build with the domo farm frites livery, and got sucked back into the WW life. I looked for months for a domo farm frites frame in my size but wasn't able to find anything suitable, so when the Molteni orange appeared I grabbed it.
Regarding the fork, I'll look into repairing it / sourcing a replacement in the coming months but first and foremost I want to just enjoy the bike as is. Thanks guys!
Maverick, I just wanted to thank you for the inspiration for this build - I'd been away from bikes for a while and saw your lovely build with the domo farm frites livery, and got sucked back into the WW life. I looked for months for a domo farm frites frame in my size but wasn't able to find anything suitable, so when the Molteni orange appeared I grabbed it.
Regarding the fork, I'll look into repairing it / sourcing a replacement in the coming months but first and foremost I want to just enjoy the bike as is. Thanks guys!
I had a '02 Team SC. I think yours is a few years later as it does not have the evil little face on the fork. I loved the evil face on my bike.
I remember the forks on those were not the best. I think that they had thin walls on the steer tube and could not get a correct preload on the headset of it would crack the steer tube. I put a muscle fork on mine and it was like and day in front end stiffness.
I did love the ride of the frame tho. Looks great and I love the traditional geo over the sloping geo on these frames.
I remember the forks on those were not the best. I think that they had thin walls on the steer tube and could not get a correct preload on the headset of it would crack the steer tube. I put a muscle fork on mine and it was like and day in front end stiffness.
I did love the ride of the frame tho. Looks great and I love the traditional geo over the sloping geo on these frames.
brianwchan wrote:Regarding the fork, I'll look into repairing it / sourcing a replacement in the coming months but first and foremost I want to just enjoy the bike as is. Thanks guys!
What, you intend to continue riding a bike with a cracked fork Appart from being dangerous, I don't see any possible enjoyement in it. You've got a very nice bike there, so get a quallity aftermarket fork it with same geometry, get it painted to match and then, enjoy your bike for 110%
Current bikes:
Scott Addict Premium Disc 2018
Scott Addict Orica Greenedge 2015
Retired:
Canyon Endurace CF SLX 2016
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 2013
Scott Addict Premium Disc 2018
Scott Addict Orica Greenedge 2015
Retired:
Canyon Endurace CF SLX 2016
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 2013
- jdecraene85
- Posts: 136
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- Location: Kluisbergen, Belgium
Delorre wrote:brianwchan wrote:Regarding the fork, I'll look into repairing it / sourcing a replacement in the coming months but first and foremost I want to just enjoy the bike as is. Thanks guys!
What, you intend to continue riding a bike with a cracked fork Appart from being dangerous, I don't see any possible enjoyement in it. You've got a very nice bike there, so get a quallity aftermarket fork it with same geometry, get it painted to match and then, enjoy your bike for 110%
He's saying he will be using an aftermarket fork for time being while hoping to find an original replacement fork in the coming months...
I hope so, but when reading this " I'll look into repairing it / sourcing a replacement in the coming months but first "
Current bikes:
Scott Addict Premium Disc 2018
Scott Addict Orica Greenedge 2015
Retired:
Canyon Endurace CF SLX 2016
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 2013
Scott Addict Premium Disc 2018
Scott Addict Orica Greenedge 2015
Retired:
Canyon Endurace CF SLX 2016
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 2013
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- Posts: 1272
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:12 am
Thanks for the concern as mentioned in the OP, bike is at the shop and the fork is being replaced with an Enve 2.0.