It wasn’t so long ago that the majority of bicycles were made by hand, from raw materials, in places that aren’t China or Taiwan. While some of these artisans are still around, their wares are increasingly harder to come by, and to procure an example of their work means an outlay of time and money which is more than most are willing to commit. This is a problem with not just bikes; mass consumption is big business, not only in everyday necessities but for ‘luxury’ items as well. A bicycle can be considered a luxury item for some, so to bring them to the masses, they must be produced in ways that lower the cost of materials and labour to a point where the average consumer can feel like they are getting a quality product at a reasonable price. And they usually are.
They just aren’t getting anything unique.
Now that three of the four bikes in my possession are made by hand, I have made a commitment to only own machines produced not by robots, not from composites and not from ‘factory farming’ methods. While there are many excellent bicycles produced en masse, the little bit of personality that is instilled in each of my rides sets them apart and I know I’ll see not many, if any, similar steeds on my roads or trails. How many dudes you know roll like this?
Riding the cobbles of KT12 on my Merckx Team SC and KT13 on the Pavé steel Cyfacs re-opened my eyes to the subtleties of a well-made frame and the characteristics which can be incorporated into the bike by the maker; each one can be tweaked to offer a ride quality specific to each frame, each rider, even the environment in which they are created and which they are intended to be ridden. The Merckx was fairly hard to come by, and I stumbled upon it by chance rather than through any concerted effort to find it. I sometimes think it found me. It’s a bike I love to ride, but also to just appreciate its lines, its pedigree, its Made In Belgium heritage, no doubt welded by a grizzled Flandrian who cut his teeth in the very factory he still works at 40 years later. I’d like to think so, and there’s some small likelihood of it, at least. Maybe I will return it to Belgium once more, in Spring, from where its journey started and where it made its mark in history more than a decade ago.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/brettok@velominati.com/merckx sc/”/]
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@biggles
In Sweden if you are near the coast and can't find an engineering shop I'd suggest you try an old style yacht yard, they will likely have all the skill and tools to extract corroded and broken screws. The alternative is DIY with a good drill stand to drill the centre of the remaining bolt and a screw extractor. Its not difficult but you do need a drill stand and not try it with a hand held drill.
@biggles You might find some luck with a good auto mechanic, anyone that deals with repairing hardware, even maybe a garden equipment maintenance shop, they all experience broken off heads from time to time (and I'm sure would like to break off some customer heads from time to time also) or at least should be able to point you in the right direction.
It will take some time and care for them not to go all the way through, so if you love your baby and want them to as well, take enough $$ and some beers to show them you care how they work ..
Crazy, I just sold something on fleabay to someone in Sweden...
LeMan ! Custom carbon and so many levels of V I've lost count
Bollox I forgot iPads don't behave when posting photos!
768 days until retirement and decent pension payout. No stereotypical new car, I'm treating myself to a hand built steel n1 when that day comes. Thanks to all of you who have given me much food for thought. So many top quality builders to choose from.
@Cyclops
Time to put the fork down, mate.
@frank
I know dude, it sucks.
@Beers
@Teocalli
I've gone to most in the area, and they aren't touching it, because it's really hard to get a drill in there, as the screw is on the inside of the rear dropouts and the left side bits are in the way.
Most of them are also really frightened by the look of carbon and are really afraid they'll just damage it further.
:(
@biggles
That should be a relatively easy fix biggles. That is actually the same basic set up on the bike that I built for @Frank.
Here's what I see and you tell me if I'm on the right track - since I can see the derailleur hanger we are looking at the inside of the right drop out. Since we can't see daylight through the hole it looks like what's left of the screw is still in the other half of the clevis. you should be able to carefully dril the broken screw out with a bit that is just a little smaller that the screw and then you just have to go to the hardware store and get a countersunk flat allen screw like this...
You just have to make sure that you match the size and thread pitch of the threaded hole in the clevis. And even if you damage the threads getting the broken screw out you can re-tap it with a cheap tap and die set or you can get a longer screw and have enough of it stick out so you can get a nylock nut...
...on the other side of it. It wouldn't look as nice but it would be serviceable.
@biggles
They/you should be able to drill the broken part out from the outside (if I'm interpreting the image correctly. Also, the frame is useless as it so if they/you ruin it it's no harm no foul basically.