>From an engineering standpoint, slotting and inserting that stuff into the chainstays is a ridiculous waste of time and money. There are far simpler ways to stiffen a chainstay, assuming one believes that stiffening a chainstay is a great idea. I don't.
But it's major Bling and Eddy Merckx (IMHO) was a master at psyching out his competition and psyching himself up with all kinds of extra little otherwise inconsequential details on his bikes and kit.
He was a pro in every way because je pursued victory from every angle.
That bike in the b&w Faema picture looks a little small for Eddy. At 6'1", he needed a frame of minimum 59cm, if not a little bigger. Check out the headtube.
Emanuel Lowi
Montreal, Quebec