My non ferrous alloy is Merckx badged but our Listmeister tells me it has Tennessee origins. I do get ticking sounds when out of the saddle, esp. uphill sprints. Finally found the culprit, a Cinelli stem of the same non-ferrous alloy and a Cinelli Eubois bar, you'd think it would be a match, but no, the bar is 26.0, the stem is 26.4. I've since purchased a replacement 26.4 bar, but am waiting til the 26.0 bar goes. ;-)
Sid (Is this participation?) Smith