Aldo, I don't think it was any secret that the very early bikes produced by Merckx were not up to snuff. We all know that he had to bring back DeRosa to get the place in order. Also, he had hired many of his old and loyal domestiques -- Huysmans, etc. They were not frame builders and there was, I think, a steep learning curve. I have no doubt that Hoste's bike said something other than Merckx. Edward Albert Chappaqua, NY
Edward Albert, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Sociology
>>> "aldoross4" <aldoross4@siscom.net> 08/29/06 12:39 PM >>>
Pic of the Day
29th August, 2006
Censored Cycles:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
In 1980 Belgian rider Frank Hoste raced for the Marc - V.R.D team, which used Eddy Merckx bikes. But why is there a black square covering the headtube insignia in this advertising card? Was Hoste riding something else at the time that the team pics were taken? (Perhaps the Merckx bikes weren't ready yet.)
Or maybe I'm just not seeing it right... What did the Merckx headtube graphics look like in 1980?
Aldo Ross
Middletown, Ohio