Harking back to the days when legend Eddy Merckx rode over those words that fans would write on the pavement, creating a new meaning for his team name FAEMA, the modern Merckx is launching the Eddy70 model in FAEMA team livery. FAEMA is actually an Italian espresso machine maker that sponsored Eddy from ’68-’70, before the more famous Molteni years.
Only 70 bikes will be built, and they will be delivered on June 17th, Eddy’s 70th birthday. Pre-ordering starts tonight (Jan. 28, 2015) at 7pm, and the bike will cost an astonishing $17,500. However, this is not just charging for a name applied to a retro steel bike, the EDDY70 is made from the best Columbus steel to be a modern racing bike designed to be a solid performer in a sea of carbon fiber.
Even though they are making 70 of them, only 69 will be available to the public as serial number 1 is being handed over to Eddy himself today, who turns 70 later this year. If you pre-order, you can choose your own personal serial number between 2 and 70, and dictate where on the frame the legend will put his signature for your ride.
Check out the collection of jaw dropping photos of each individual custom piece after the jump…
The whole production process will be documented via Facebook for each customer, and they will be able to pick up the bike at their local Eddy Merckx dealer. For the high cost of the bike, buyers will also get a photo book that has been signed by the man himself.
Merckx explained why the high-end bike was being made by saying “everyone knows that I was always obsessively focused on the equipment that I rode on. That is still the case now. And as a result, I wanted only the best and most modern components and materials for this bike. The aim was absolutely to make a high performance, contemporary racing bike and not a replica of my old racing bike.”
For the steel frame of the EDDY70 the newest Columbus XCr seamless steel tubes are used. The ultralight and rigid RFS (stainless steel) lends itself perfectly to the production of racing bikes. The steel is TIG welded in the Eddy Merckx Cycles workshops and fitted with a carbon fibre Columbus front fork, after which the frame is painted.
The bike is then fitted with a Campagnolo Super Record set and Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35 wheels; both with the
unique EDDY70 signature. The same icon is also printed on the cockpit, seat post and Cinelli seat.
