My new to me Merlin Ti
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 759 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 810 Times
in
471 Posts
Sounds familiar..I did the same.
..and nice color-combo!
(not a great pic..but it'll work)
..and nice color-combo!
(not a great pic..but it'll work)
#28
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 759 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 810 Times
in
471 Posts
#31
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks, I am really happy with how it all came together. The phone call with Tom Kellogg was very cool, I never would have thought I would talk with him.
#32
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Likes For Patriot1:
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 759 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 810 Times
in
471 Posts
Just did a national CL search..there's a fair number of Merlin's available(none by me ..) and none are close to yours in appearance..though there's a nice one up in Maine.
Have to keep my eyes open locally..
#35
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Road Bikes For Sale - 4477 Listings - SearchingBicycle.com
This one looks pretty sweet and it’s campy...I am thinking about asking if he’ll ship it for that price.
https://www.searchingbicycle.com/listing.php?id=23214
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 759 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 810 Times
in
471 Posts
Keep looking- try here, good luck, and post up when you find/buy a clean Merlin!
Road Bikes For Sale - 4477 Listings - SearchingBicycle.com
This one looks pretty sweet and it’s campy...I am thinking about asking if he’ll ship it for that price.
Used 58cm Merlin Extralight Titanium Road Bike Campagnolo Record for Sale, Loveland CO
This one inMaine:
https://maine.craigslist.org/bik/d/m...651859057.html
#37
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,461 Times
in
1,433 Posts
I recently built this up for myself. It's a ~1996 Lemond Ti with a carbon fork. Of course, it's light and fast, though it's a bit harsh. I'm thinking of putting wide 650b tires on it.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#38
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#39
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,461 Times
in
1,433 Posts
I have one, ready to go on. The only saddle I like nearly as much as a Brooks is a Specialized Riva, which seems to be out of production. Nothing beats a Brooks, though.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Only a Selle Anatomica beats a Brooks Total leather hammock comfort, zero break in and made right here.
Last edited by Patriot1; 08-03-18 at 12:51 AM.
#41
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,633
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4731 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
Thanks Fishboat, A few changes...I have been busy working my new to me Merlin with a detailed cleaning, greasing the BB, new tires, mirrors, Selle Anatomica Vintage/Silver seat, bar tape, frame pump, Ti water bottle cages.
My first ride/shake down was 35 miles...just awesome! I really like how rigid and yet comfortable the Ti frame soaks up the road and the 1992 original Campy group needed zero adjustment. This bike really brings a smile to my face when I take off for a few hours. I hope to ride it for many many years.
I have reached out and talked with Tom Kellogg (the bikes designer) at Spectrum cycle about my new to me Merlin.
A super nice guy who helped me with several questions I had about the bike..very cool. In fact the Ti welder who welded my Merlin still works for Tom at Spectrum Cycles.
I wanted a really clean Vintage Ti bike at a fair price and this barely ridden Merlin “Road” continues to exceed all my
expectations and big wow factor at a fraction of the cost of a brand new Ti bike. Winning!
Forever bike-
5 questions with Dean Bikes founder John Siegrist - Longmont Times-Call
Janus Cycle Group
#43
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Merlin Titanium Repairs
Toga Bike Shop in NYC is the place to go to fix Merlin Titanium bikes made in Massachusetts. They distributed these original Merlin Titanium bikes from 1986 on, so they know everything about them. I bought a 1990 Merlin Titanium from Ebay with a horribly loose, unrideable Grease Guard Press Fit Bottom Bracket & a Seized Hideous Stem. No other bike shop in NYC was able to fix this problem, & I was fearful that I had a dead bicycle frame on my hands. Toga was able to rebuild the bottom bracket with new sealed Phil Wood bearings, & can remove any stem seized with Galvanic Fusion between the titanium & aluminum. All for a very reasonable price.
Toga Bike Shop
110 West End Avenue @ 64th Street
NYC, NY 10023
1-212-799-9625
lv@togabikes dot com att: Louis
shipbikes the best & cheapest way to ship a bicycle
If not at or around NYC, strip your bike down & get a used shipping box or frame box from a bicycle shop, tip them $10 or $20
You pay by the size & weight, so a frame box is cheapest to ship.
Remove the wheels, pedals, crank/crank arm, chain, seatpost/saddle.
Vintage Merlin Titanium bikes are great looking, light weight, & should always be saved to ride whenever possible.
Toga Bike Shop
110 West End Avenue @ 64th Street
NYC, NY 10023
1-212-799-9625
lv@togabikes dot com att: Louis
shipbikes the best & cheapest way to ship a bicycle
If not at or around NYC, strip your bike down & get a used shipping box or frame box from a bicycle shop, tip them $10 or $20
You pay by the size & weight, so a frame box is cheapest to ship.
Remove the wheels, pedals, crank/crank arm, chain, seatpost/saddle.
Vintage Merlin Titanium bikes are great looking, light weight, & should always be saved to ride whenever possible.
#44
Seat Sniffer
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,626
Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 944 Post(s)
Liked 1,980 Times
in
566 Posts
Very nice Ti drool worthy bikes here.
I did the same as many of you … got a frame in great condition and moved parts over from another bike. Except for the fact that Serotta forks need a proprietary Ti brake bolt, it was pretty straightforward.
I knew I’d like the bike. I’m just surprised at how much I like it. Old skool polished Ti bikes are beautiful, and wherever I go, it gets a lot of attention. ❤️
I did the same as many of you … got a frame in great condition and moved parts over from another bike. Except for the fact that Serotta forks need a proprietary Ti brake bolt, it was pretty straightforward.
I knew I’d like the bike. I’m just surprised at how much I like it. Old skool polished Ti bikes are beautiful, and wherever I go, it gets a lot of attention. ❤️
Last edited by Biker395; 04-30-23 at 09:00 PM.
Likes For Biker395:
#45
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
No pictures of my Merlin yet because I'm still waiting for the new 2 x 7 black gear/brake levers with no advertising with both cables that hug the handlebars. I'll just have to black out with a sharpie small RT, LT letters on top. Generic, but work with Dura-Ace, Shimano. $75 from China. Only problem, they initially sent me a car water bottle holder, not quite that close, & my biggest Ebay miss. They said they checked better this time, we'll see. There's 1 other seller for the same unbranded shifter, cheaper, but they spelled Shimano incorrectly, so that did not give me confidence.
#46
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,522
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3660 Post(s)
Liked 5,407 Times
in
2,746 Posts
You might post a thread in Early Brifter after you've used those awhile. Folks are always looking for available alternatives.
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Great White North
Posts: 1,226
Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1971 Gitane Apache Standard, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 548 Post(s)
Liked 473 Times
in
302 Posts
Wow, some really nice bikes above, With that kind of frame, it's worth putting the money in to upgrading to newer (better) components like the brakes, brifters, wheels, etc...
I have 2 decent steel bikes; the one I've kept completely original which rides nice and the other with upgraded wheels and cassette. Neither are super high end bikes so doesn't seem worth doing a full upgrade.
I have 2 decent steel bikes; the one I've kept completely original which rides nice and the other with upgraded wheels and cassette. Neither are super high end bikes so doesn't seem worth doing a full upgrade.
#48
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,327
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,830 Times
in
2,228 Posts
A revived Ti thread. . I'll pile on.
Here's my Ti frameset I assembled with Campa10 triple.
Macalu was an in-house Ti brand from Excel Sports, Boulder. Cirrus was the 'race' model.
Not sure who welded it!
Here's my Ti frameset I assembled with Campa10 triple.
Macalu was an in-house Ti brand from Excel Sports, Boulder. Cirrus was the 'race' model.
Not sure who welded it!
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Likes For Wildwood:
#49
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Thailand
Posts: 282
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV disk, and rim brake
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 97 Times
in
61 Posts
Very nice Ti drool worthy bikes here.
I did the same as many of you … got a frame in great condition and moved parts over from another bike. Except for the fact that Serotta forks need a proprietary Ti brake bolt, it was pretty straightforward.
I knew I’d like the bike. I’m just surprised at how much I like it. Old skool polished Ti bikes are beautiful, and wherever I go, it gets a lot of attention. ❤️
I did the same as many of you … got a frame in great condition and moved parts over from another bike. Except for the fact that Serotta forks need a proprietary Ti brake bolt, it was pretty straightforward.
I knew I’d like the bike. I’m just surprised at how much I like it. Old skool polished Ti bikes are beautiful, and wherever I go, it gets a lot of attention. ❤️