Somebody, probably Jake, stole my bike on Houston street. Couple months later, I went to the police auction at the old police station near the Catholic church. hoping I'd find it there. Hundreds of bikes all stolen and left to rust away by Jake, most Murrays and other cheap crap. I looked around and found half stripped Merckx on a pile of scrap parts they were going to auction off all together. I asked if I could pay $5 for Merckx.
I still have it 18 years later, resprayed and trimmed out with Campy 8 speed. Thank Jake for helping get this classic bike for near nothing.