Merckx retired from racing during the spring of 1978.
On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 19:16:54 GMT, brianbaylis wrote
> Chuck and all,
>
> Both posts are interesting! So I wonder what became of the frame? It
> sort of sounds like it was a gift. When did Eddy retire from racing?
> Perhaps it was given to Eddy and he basically ignored it. Maybe it's
> still in Eddys' stash or who knows what. Maybe Eddy got rid of it
> along with tons of other stuff that people gave the greatest rider
> of all time. I hope Brett can turn up something on this; that would
> be super, even if it's another "I don't remember a Mario Confente".
>
> I do remember Monte of Italy! He was a real "character" for sure.
> Knowing him, and Mario, I wouldn't be surprised if the frame was a
> gift and was intended as a "promotional" attempt in Marios' early
> stages. It certainly would make sense and would explain Eddys' lack
> of knowledge of Mario. You have to admit, probably every
> framebuilder in the world would give Eddy a frame if they thought he
> would ride it and even like it. Honestly, if I were Eddy I would
> prefer the Colnago geomerty over the Masi/Confente geometry in a
> heartbeat. I'm sure Eddy wouldn't give a rat's ass about what the
> filing and brazing looked like. Honestly.
>
> Let's see where this one goes. I'm really curious.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
>
> -- Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Interesting post Jim!
>
> I have a photocopy of a small article from an Aspen, Colorado newspaper
> (I don't have the name or the date unfortunately):
> --------------------------------
> World's top bike
> frame showing at
> Sherpa Sports
>
> The world's most famous bicy-
> cle frame builder, Mario Con-
> fente, will have one of the finest
> frames he has ever built on dis-
> play at Sherpa Sports this
> weekend, according to Jasjit Gre-
> wal, owner of the store.
> Confente, a graduate with top
> honors from the Leonardo da
> Vinci School of Engineering in
> Verona, Italy, presently buids his
> custom frames at a shop in Los
> Angeles.
> His frames have been ridden to
> eight world championships.
> The frame at Sherpa Sports is
> personally beiing taken over to
> Italy by Monte Hughes, founder of
> the Aspen Bicycle Club and the
> Monte of Italy racing team.
> The Confente frame is for Eddy
> Merckx, the greatest contempor-
> ary raacer.
> The frame is bare metal and has
> no paint or decals; the craftsman-
> ship of the frame will be easily
> recognizable, from the quality of
> the filing and brazing.
> The United States is beginning
> to gain momentum in manufac-
> turing top-quality bicycle compo-
> nents, once a Western European-
> dominated industry.
> The cost of a custom Confente
> frame, without any extras, is
> $445.
> --------------------------------
>
> Jasjit Grewal is Alexi Grewal's dad (Alexi won the 1984 L.A. Olympics
> RR). Does anyone remember Monte of Italy? A real character from
> what I've heard.
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, Southern California
>
> Jim Cunningham wrote:
> >
> > Jan & all,
> >
> > I have in my hand, and will post on my website, a scan of the original
> > design card for the sole Confente built for Eddy Merckx. It was number 8.
> > The card was filled out in Mario's handwriting with the red ink he was using
> > at the time. The address on the card is "Kraaihem, Belgio" I was painting
> > Confentes at that time in a shop in National City, CA. The Merckx frame was
> > not painted, it was delivered raw. I have a large box of documents from
> > Mario's business operations. It is possible that there will be a receipt
> > for shipment of the frame, but it will take some time to look if any one
> > cares.
> >
> > Mario told me that while subcontracting to Masi in Italy, he had built Masis
> > ridden by Merckx and other pros. He claimed that the Confente built for
> > Merckx was a purchase and not a gift. Merckx was reputed to be an equipment
> > freak and it seems possible that he purchased a Confente along with much
> > other hardware. Perhaps he never got around to trying it, perhaps it made
> > no impression. I never heard any claim that Eddy had used this particular
> > frame. I will also look for any correspondence regarding Merckx in the docs
> > box, but there is nothing as obvious as a letter on Merckx letterhead.
> >
> > Although Mario was a Catholic and always wore a gold crucifix he had made
> > himself, I doubt the Pope story. As was common at the time, other bike
> > builders have given the Pope gifts, usually gold plated specials. There are
> > no Confente design cards for "Il Papa" nor was I ever asked to gold plate
> > anything while with Confente.
> >
> > I will ask Lisa, Mario's wife, if she wants to speak to Jan on these
> > matters.
> >
> > Jan, please contact me offline.
> >
> > Jim Cunningham
> > CyclArtist
> > Vista, CA
> _______________________________________________
>
> _______________________________________________
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