Merckx MX Leader with Freuler geometry

[rodcad]

Bought this MX Leader and have been researching the extended seat tube. Seems like it has what is known as "Freuler geometry", named after former Swiss rider Urs Freuler. Here's a few excerpts I copied from other on line posts:

#1) Urs Freuler was a Swiss rider, road and track rode a larger frame and at one time, rode professionally for a team using Colnago's. The story is that in order to have a smaller frame and yet have the strength in the seatpost and stem areas, and fit (bar height) he used extended head tubes and seat tubes when fitting Freuler. Colnago's in the larger sizes, 60-65, are built with extensions on the seat tube and head tube.

#2) My Colnago CT2's head tube and seat tube are extended 3.5cm and 5.5cm above the top of the top tube - making it a 65cm "Freuler". The Freuler is a little like compact geometry for Clydes. The extended seat and head tubes make for a stiffer frame.

[rodcad]

Geo is:

Seat tube (A) = 60 cm (C-C) 65 cm (C-T)

Top tube (B) = 60 cm (C-C)

Head tube (D) = 19.5 cm

Rear spacing = 130 mm

[gone]

Very pretty bike! I've got a colnago in the Freuler geometry and like the "smaller frame - larger rider" concept.

Love to see pictures of it when you get it built up.

[wallymann]

first, freuler himself on a freuler-atala, resplendent in the giro sprinter's jersey. i think this is where the freuler link to this design concept started. when freuler rode colnagos later, ernesto embraced it and branded it "freuler geometry".



second, jean-marie wampers winning paris-roubaix on a freuler-colnago.

[Pearsom]

Originally Posted by rodcad

Bought this MX Leader

Congrats. Thanks a very nice and very unique MXL. I saw that on theBay and thought about it... Look forward to seeing the build

[bigflax925]

Definitely unique. The first time i Have ever seen such a thing. Good research!

[FlashUNC]

Very cool. Freuler geo is cool stuff. Still see remnants of it in custom frames now and again.

[ckamp]

Excellent post, and good research. I would love to ride that merckx!

[Fixed]

Magnium P.I.
In a bike race

Cheers. Cool bike btw

[buldogge]

My Reus Criterium is Freuler stylee.

Here's a pic, in "as bought" condition outside the Reus shop in Zwanenberg, just outside A'dam.

-Mark in St. Louis

[keevon]

Beautiful MXL and just my size too! Highly jealous

Although it appears to have cable stops at the head tube AND downtube shifter braze-ons. Can't say I've ever seen a bike with both... any idea why?

EDIT: It's a cable guide. I get it! Thanks TMB!

[TMB]

Well, I found the pics from just before I sold it.

A custom built MX Leader, in the wild.

[rodcad]

Originally Posted by TMB

Well, I found the pics from just before I sold it.

A custom built MX Leader, in the wild.

Wow! Yours had some serious extensions! I love the color of yours.

[TMB]

Originally Posted by rodcad

Wow! Yours had some serious extensions! I love the color of yours.

Not mine anymore.

I shipped the frame and fork to a firehall in San Fran, that was where the buyer told me to ship it, so I am presuming it is on the streets in the Bay Area.

[ckamp]

That is beautiful! Never seen that before on the MXL.