My first modern bike has made me feel pretty excited but also a little melancholy, like the end of an era.
For a while I've been hankering after a ti road bike, preferably a mid 90s Merlin. But what's the chance of one coming up in 64cm? And, even if it does, what's the chance of it not being cracked or soon to crack? It seemed like a vain, forlorn search. And although i do vain as well as I do forlorn, neither were particularly welcome.
While at the Cyclocross World Championships 6 weeks ago, I spent some time idly surfing. I blame the super strength Belgian beer but a Merlin Works CR caught my eye, in my size and a price within range. The fish was hooked and all I had to do was reel it in.
Having landed the catch, I had to consider the build - although the frame was 2006 so newish, I was keen to keep it as traditional looking as I could so silver groupset if possible. The frame came with a very nice Van Nicholas ti post and it would have been great to match it with a ti stem but the build had to be financially responsible, or at least I did. I found a donor bike with a silver Sram Rival groupset but disaster struck - the band on front mech was too small. Surely it would be easy to find one in the right diameter? A quick Google suggested not, even eBay was looking empty. Then one came up but it was in the US with no international shipping. A request for help with shipping via here got a great response and, with very generous assistance, the last piece of the jigsaw slotted into place - not only was I going modern, but I was also going with a matching groupset, another first.
I had no idea about how to set up the DoubleTap shifters so decided to ask the LBS to do the necessary but I insisted on taping the bars as I wanted to ensure that I screwed something up.
And so, it was ready to ride. I couldn't contain myself so headed off before work into thick mist. The condensation on the metal surfaces was impressive but I was a bit underwhelmed - it rode like, well, a very nice bike. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic but it didn't seem any better than my other bikes. Hmmmm.
Today the weather was glorious so, after tennis, I headed out to try the beast again. And it was better, very much better. I've never been good at describing how different bikes ride but the Merlin felt tight and smooth even if it was running on teak hard 23c tyres on very damaged roads. My legs were weary but I seemed to ride up the hills if not effortlessly then certainly at a very decent speed. Descents felt similarly solid. Perhaps there really is something in this modern lark after all, in fact to paraphrase SuperHans, this modern is quite moreish.......
To the bike:
Frame - Merlin Works CR in XL (decals removed by previous owner, thankfully as they were absolutely horrid)
Fork - Real Designs HP full carbon
Groupset - Sram Rival (including front mech!)
Saddle - Fizik Arione
Seatpost - Van Nicholas ti
Stem - Thomson
Bars - Pro classic bend alloy
Wheels - Mavic Aksium
I'm not convinced by the stem - it's zero degrees but I think i need something with negative rise - and the bike really deserves better wheels that the Aksiums that came on the donor bike. But it's all good as is so i'll ride a bit more and replace as appropriate.
For a while I've been hankering after a ti road bike, preferably a mid 90s Merlin. But what's the chance of one coming up in 64cm? And, even if it does, what's the chance of it not being cracked or soon to crack? It seemed like a vain, forlorn search. And although i do vain as well as I do forlorn, neither were particularly welcome.
While at the Cyclocross World Championships 6 weeks ago, I spent some time idly surfing. I blame the super strength Belgian beer but a Merlin Works CR caught my eye, in my size and a price within range. The fish was hooked and all I had to do was reel it in.
Having landed the catch, I had to consider the build - although the frame was 2006 so newish, I was keen to keep it as traditional looking as I could so silver groupset if possible. The frame came with a very nice Van Nicholas ti post and it would have been great to match it with a ti stem but the build had to be financially responsible, or at least I did. I found a donor bike with a silver Sram Rival groupset but disaster struck - the band on front mech was too small. Surely it would be easy to find one in the right diameter? A quick Google suggested not, even eBay was looking empty. Then one came up but it was in the US with no international shipping. A request for help with shipping via here got a great response and, with very generous assistance, the last piece of the jigsaw slotted into place - not only was I going modern, but I was also going with a matching groupset, another first.
I had no idea about how to set up the DoubleTap shifters so decided to ask the LBS to do the necessary but I insisted on taping the bars as I wanted to ensure that I screwed something up.
And so, it was ready to ride. I couldn't contain myself so headed off before work into thick mist. The condensation on the metal surfaces was impressive but I was a bit underwhelmed - it rode like, well, a very nice bike. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic but it didn't seem any better than my other bikes. Hmmmm.
Today the weather was glorious so, after tennis, I headed out to try the beast again. And it was better, very much better. I've never been good at describing how different bikes ride but the Merlin felt tight and smooth even if it was running on teak hard 23c tyres on very damaged roads. My legs were weary but I seemed to ride up the hills if not effortlessly then certainly at a very decent speed. Descents felt similarly solid. Perhaps there really is something in this modern lark after all, in fact to paraphrase SuperHans, this modern is quite moreish.......
To the bike:
Frame - Merlin Works CR in XL (decals removed by previous owner, thankfully as they were absolutely horrid)
Fork - Real Designs HP full carbon
Groupset - Sram Rival (including front mech!)
Saddle - Fizik Arione
Seatpost - Van Nicholas ti
Stem - Thomson
Bars - Pro classic bend alloy
Wheels - Mavic Aksium
I'm not convinced by the stem - it's zero degrees but I think i need something with negative rise - and the bike really deserves better wheels that the Aksiums that came on the donor bike. But it's all good as is so i'll ride a bit more and replace as appropriate.
