Re: [CR]Confente Labeled as Eddy Merckx Bikes

(Example: Racing:Beryl Burton)

Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 19:16:54 GMT
To: chuckschmidt@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: [CR]Confente Labeled as Eddy Merckx Bikes
From: <brianbaylis@juno.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Chuck and all,

Both posts are interesting! So I wonder what became of the frame? It sort of sounds like it was a gift. When did Eddy retire from racing? Perhaps it was given to Eddy and he basically ignored it. Maybe it's still in Eddys' stash or who knows what. Maybe Eddy got rid of it along with tons of other stuff that people gave the greatest rider of all time. I hope Brett can turn up something on this; that would be super, even if it's another "I don't remember a Mario Confente".

I do remember Monte of Italy! He was a real "character" for sure. Knowing him, and Mario, I wouldn't be surprised if the frame was a gift and was intended as a "promotional" attempt in Marios' early stages. It certainly would make sense and would explain Eddys' lack of knowledge of Mario. You have to admit, probably every framebuilder in the world would give Eddy a frame if they thought he would ride it and even like it. Honestly, if I were Eddy I would prefer the Colnago geomerty over the Masi/Confente geometry in a heartbeat. I'm sure Eddy wouldn't give a rat's ass about what the filing and brazing looked like. Honestly.

Let's see where this one goes. I'm really curious.

Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA


-- Chuck Schmidt wrote:


Interesting post Jim!

I have a photocopy of a small article from an Aspen, Colorado newspaper (I don't have the name or the date unfortunately): -------------------------------- World's top bike frame showing at Sherpa Sports

The world's most famous bicy- cle frame builder, Mario Con- fente, will have one of the finest frames he has ever built on dis- play at Sherpa Sports this weekend, according to Jasjit Gre- wal, owner of the store. Confente, a graduate with top honors from the Leonardo da Vinci School of Engineering in Verona, Italy, presently buids his custom frames at a shop in Los Angeles. His frames have been ridden to eight world championships. The frame at Sherpa Sports is personally beiing taken over to Italy by Monte Hughes, founder of the Aspen Bicycle Club and the Monte of Italy racing team. The Confente frame is for Eddy Merckx, the greatest contempor- ary raacer. The frame is bare metal and has no paint or decals; the craftsman- ship of the frame will be easily recognizable, from the quality of the filing and brazing. The United States is beginning to gain momentum in manufac- turing top-quality bicycle compo- nents, once a Western European- dominated industry. The cost of a custom Confente frame, without any extras, is $445. --------------------------------

Jasjit Grewal is Alexi Grewal's dad (Alexi won the 1984 L.A. Olympics RR). Does anyone remember Monte of Italy? A real character from what I've heard.

Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California

Jim Cunningham wrote:
>
> Jan & all,
>
> I have in my hand, and will post on my website, a scan of the original
> design card for the sole Confente built for Eddy Merckx. It was number 8.
> The card was filled out in Mario's handwriting with the red ink he was using
> at the time. The address on the card is "Kraaihem, Belgio" I was painting
> Confentes at that time in a shop in National City, CA. The Merckx frame was
> not painted, it was delivered raw. I have a large box of documents from
> Mario's business operations. It is possible that there will be a receipt
> for shipment of the frame, but it will take some time to look if any one
> cares.
>
> Mario told me that while subcontracting to Masi in Italy, he had built Masis
> ridden by Merckx and other pros. He claimed that the Confente built for
> Merckx was a purchase and not a gift. Merckx was reputed to be an equipment
> freak and it seems possible that he purchased a Confente along with much
> other hardware. Perhaps he never got around to trying it, perhaps it made
> no impression. I never heard any claim that Eddy had used this particular
> frame. I will also look for any correspondence regarding Merckx in the docs
> box, but there is nothing as obvious as a letter on Merckx letterhead.
>
> Although Mario was a Catholic and always wore a gold crucifix he had made
> himself, I doubt the Pope story. As was common at the time, other bike
> builders have given the Pope gifts, usually gold plated specials. There are
> no Confente design cards for "Il Papa" nor was I ever asked to gold plate
> anything while with Confente.
>
> I will ask Lisa, Mario's wife, if she wants to speak to Jan on these
> matters.
>
> Jan, please contact me offline.
>
> Jim Cunningham
> CyclArtist
> Vista, CA