[CR]Eddy Merckx

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 20:29:08 -0700
From: "Jim Merz" <jimmerz@qwest.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Eddy Merckx

In response to all the people urging me to write some history I will relate a small story of meeting Eddy Merckx. When I worked for Specialized I traveled to Japan quite a lot. I became very good friends with Mr. Junzo Kawai, president of Sun Tour. The period of early '80's was very good for Sun Tour and they held the biggest race in Japan called Kanabi Cup. All the racers in Japan got points that graded them Nationally. Only the best 100 riders in each age class were invited to this race held once a year in a ski resort. I think it was 1985 when I asked Mr. Kawai if I could race in it. I was in good shape at the time, but my age group was 35-40 and I was 39. SunTour also invited Eddy Merckx to be there and give a talk to the riders. I had an Allez made up for me to ride, using SunTour of course. When I got there it was July or something, maybe 100deg F and 99% humidity. The course was a 20 mile loop, hilly. The night before I was invited to dinner with Mr. Kawai, Eddy and his manager, I don't remember his name. This town in the mountains had zero western amenities, we of course ate on tatami mats outside, still maybe 80 deg at night. Anyway, the dinner was wonderful, Eddy and I talked about bike design all night. The next day was the race. When Eddy was doing his star thing he asked me if he could use me bike to ride around the circuit. He had a suit on with dress shoes, so he asked if he could borrow my Sidi Ti shoes. Even though he had not raced in a long time he still had to cover the Sidi logo with tape so Adidas would not find out! He rolled up his pants and rode my bike and shoes around the 20 miles in that heat. He was exactly my size, bike and shoes. During my race I ended up getting 11 place, one out of the trophies.

Jim Merz
Bainbridge Is. WA