Pierre Journeyed from the Land of Herve to Texas and Crossed the U.S. on His Eddy Merckx Carbon 3XM
More than 30 years ago, Pierre Mawet (55) left the rolling hills of the Land of Herve behind and moved to Texas for his studies. Not only did he earn his degree there, but he also found a job — and love. Today, he still lives in a suburb of Dallas. His Eddy Merckx Carbon 3XM is a proud reminder of his Belgian roots. “I rode it from the West Coast to the East Coast,” he beams.
It’s been what feels like a lifetime since Pierre graduated from the University of Liège and continued his academic journey at Southern Methodist University. That was the final step toward a career as a management consultant specializing in supply chain management. Thanks to Lance Armstrong’s stories, we already know the weather in the Lone Star State is perfect for cycling 366 days a year. “The people here have a strong identity, blending Southern hospitality with the Western frontier spirit. Dallas is a big city, but in Argyle, where we live, you’re surrounded by ranches. It feels rural, with very little traffic.”
Growing up in Belgium, the bike was never far from young Pierre’s life. “My father is 78 now and still rides every day. I remember watching the Tour de France with my grandfather and then reenacting the race with my friends. We’d pretend to be Bernard Hinault or Greg LeMond. I was born in the ’70s, so I’m too young to have seen Eddy race live, but my grandfather always said he was even better than the riders from the ’80s. Later, cycling faded into the background a bit — but when I became a father myself, the passion returned.”
It’s been what feels like a lifetime since Pierre graduated from the University of Liège and continued his academic journey at Southern Methodist University. That was the final step toward a career as a management consultant specializing in supply chain management. Thanks to Lance Armstrong’s stories, we already know the weather in the Lone Star State is perfect for cycling 366 days a year. “The people here have a strong identity, blending Southern hospitality with the Western frontier spirit. Dallas is a big city, but in Argyle, where we live, you’re surrounded by ranches. It feels rural, with very little traffic.”
Growing up in Belgium, the bike was never far from young Pierre’s life. “My father is 78 now and still rides every day. I remember watching the Tour de France with my grandfather and then reenacting the race with my friends. We’d pretend to be Bernard Hinault or Greg LeMond. I was born in the ’70s, so I’m too young to have seen Eddy race live, but my grandfather always said he was even better than the riders from the ’80s. Later, cycling faded into the background a bit — but when I became a father myself, the passion returned.”
Lance Armstrong
Pierre’s wife is from Texas, and around the turn of the millennium, Armstrong organized the Ride for the Roses through the Livestrong Foundation. Thousands of passionate cyclists attended, including Eddy Merckx himself. “We joined in too, and around that time, I got my dream bike — a 2003 Eddy Merckx MX Leader — during a trip to Belgium.”
“My father often visited the States and sometimes joined the Ride for the Roses. One day, he brought a big box with him. It was the 25th anniversary edition of the Eddy Merckx Carbon 3XM, and he gave me a unique model as a gift. It came with Campagnolo Chorus components, and I chose it for my long rides. Eventually, I would use it to ride from the West Coast to the East Coast.”
This incredible adventure also came about — accidentally — thanks to Eddy Merckx Bikes. “I bought a magazine featuring the new Eddy Merckx 525 and was flipping through it when I came across an ad for a company offering long-distance cycling adventures. That’s how I got the idea to ride 3,400 miles from Los Angeles to Boston. It sounded amazing — especially since a company would take care of the logistics. I contacted them, talked to a few people with experience, and once my wife gave the green light, I signed up. As a management consultant, I’m always on the road for work — but now I’d hit the road by bike for two months. Luckily, my wife helped plan a road trip with the kids to follow along.”
“My father often visited the States and sometimes joined the Ride for the Roses. One day, he brought a big box with him. It was the 25th anniversary edition of the Eddy Merckx Carbon 3XM, and he gave me a unique model as a gift. It came with Campagnolo Chorus components, and I chose it for my long rides. Eventually, I would use it to ride from the West Coast to the East Coast.”
This incredible adventure also came about — accidentally — thanks to Eddy Merckx Bikes. “I bought a magazine featuring the new Eddy Merckx 525 and was flipping through it when I came across an ad for a company offering long-distance cycling adventures. That’s how I got the idea to ride 3,400 miles from Los Angeles to Boston. It sounded amazing — especially since a company would take care of the logistics. I contacted them, talked to a few people with experience, and once my wife gave the green light, I signed up. As a management consultant, I’m always on the road for work — but now I’d hit the road by bike for two months. Luckily, my wife helped plan a road trip with the kids to follow along.”
Ride, eat, sleep, repeat
The result was an unforgettable experience. “Ride, eat, sleep, repeat… for 49 days, including 43 days of riding,” Pierre smiles. “I didn’t have to think about anything — just cycle 80 miles a day through the beautiful American landscape. I dipped my rear wheel in the Pacific Ocean, and 49 days later, my front wheel in the Atlantic. Along the way, I passed through the Californian desert, the hills of Arizona, the Red Rocks of Sedona, and the Grand Canyon. I also remember the soybean fields, the Finger Lakes in New York, and the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont. I made lifelong friends on that journey, all sharing the same passion.”
Pierre lived by the motto “One pedal stroke at a time,” which helped him tackle the challenge of 3,400 miles. “You have to break up such a massive distance into small stages. Every morning, we got a cue card with directions. The first stop would be after 30 miles, and then we’d continue. For me, it was all about focusing on that next 30-mile block — not the overwhelming 3,400-mile goal.”
His Eddy Merckx proved a reliable partner throughout. “Comfortable, yet incredibly responsive — and let’s not forget, it’s just a beautiful bike. Later on, I rode several editions of Ride the Rockies (RTR) through the Colorado mountains. For that, I used the Eddy Merckx EMX3, which is now on my indoor trainer. I also eventually bought the 525 in classic Molteni orange, built with Campagnolo Super Record EPS. And last year, I added my first gravel bike in Belgium: a Strasbourg with the Ekar groupset.”
This Belgian expat finds his freedom in cycling. “I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who’s ever crossed the U.S. on a Merckx. Sometimes I meet another Merckx rider at a charity event, and we talk about Eddy and his bikes. It’s like we’re all part of one big family in a way.”
Pierre lived by the motto “One pedal stroke at a time,” which helped him tackle the challenge of 3,400 miles. “You have to break up such a massive distance into small stages. Every morning, we got a cue card with directions. The first stop would be after 30 miles, and then we’d continue. For me, it was all about focusing on that next 30-mile block — not the overwhelming 3,400-mile goal.”
His Eddy Merckx proved a reliable partner throughout. “Comfortable, yet incredibly responsive — and let’s not forget, it’s just a beautiful bike. Later on, I rode several editions of Ride the Rockies (RTR) through the Colorado mountains. For that, I used the Eddy Merckx EMX3, which is now on my indoor trainer. I also eventually bought the 525 in classic Molteni orange, built with Campagnolo Super Record EPS. And last year, I added my first gravel bike in Belgium: a Strasbourg with the Ekar groupset.”
This Belgian expat finds his freedom in cycling. “I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who’s ever crossed the U.S. on a Merckx. Sometimes I meet another Merckx rider at a charity event, and we talk about Eddy and his bikes. It’s like we’re all part of one big family in a way.”
