Merlin Titanium - the honest 'Brit' build

[Black_puma]

Cook Bros cranks too?

or Topline?

cant ever remember which ones had the blind pedal hole.

Topline had this, I know as I had some on my 1993 GT Zaskar BITD, nice red anodised cranks!

 

[TreaderSteve]

Anyone know why the rear dropouts are 132.5mm (as per catalogue and near as dammit measured in reality)? So either a 130 or 135 could go in?
I've bought an earlier XT hub so will be getting the rear wheel re-built. Shall I space it to 132.5mm before re-build as I have the opportunity to? The wheel would only be for this frame. I'd have to choose axle length carefully and mock-up to make sure the axle doesn't protrude the dropouts if I chose a '135' axle.

I'd still love to know who made the Ti seatpost so I can eventually state it on the list of build parts. It's 25.4mm. Rusty bolts now replaced with Ti and a new 1992 Vetta Lite fitted.

Cheers

 

[Once A Hero]

Perhaps an IRD or Syncros seatpost?
Here's what the re-pros look like for comparison:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...-ringle-bullseye-cook-syncros-fat-wtb.332892/

 

[Mace4130]

Dropout spacing allows the use of 130 or 135 rear hubs as you suspected.

 

[TreaderSteve]

Perhaps an IRD or Syncros seatpost?
Here's what the re-pros look like for comparison:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...-ringle-bullseye-cook-syncros-fat-wtb.332892/

Yes, similar, but not quite from what I can find pics of! The upper collar on mine is 'proud' - looks like a U.S.E one (but with a collar), and is not 25.0 so I don't think it's a U.S.E one...someone'll come along and 100% for sure which'll be great!

 

[TreaderSteve]

Dropout spacing allows the use of 130 or 135 rear hubs as you suspected.

Cool, thanks - a 135 came out of it, the (brand) new XT one is currently 130 and so pinches-in the stays a teeny bit. I might as well space it to 132.5 as it's a one-off - it'll be a chance to put new grease in - even though Shimano grease seems to last decades.
Cheers

 

[foxb13]

Certainly. Here are two other ones, the crown on the left one is affected but in new condition, the right crown is clearly a different product.

View attachment 888972

The crown on the right is also the same than on '93 Mag 21.

 

[dnbmatt28]

Have you seen these? The 130 rear spacing would suit your frame as would the Ti upgrades

 

[TreaderSteve]

Have you seen these? The 130 rear spacing would suit your frame as would the Ti upgrad

Have you seen these? The 130 rear spacing would suit your frame as would the Ti upgrades

No Matt, but jeez, lightened like that for touring - not!? Nice though! Now, where to find a Dura-Ace Ti freehub body...