My Merlin Extralight (new pic on page 1)

[corky]

Stilll....the nicest, together looking machine I've seen.

[mrfish]

Wow. Awesome.

I've never seen an Extralight before. Often wanted one though as a Canadian pro I used to train with while at University had one.

[Anaszi]

It did look fabulous with the white tape, white saddle and LW's, didn't it?

Almost a shame you got rid of those wheels, but I'm sure the next set of carbon hoops will look even better

[dolophonic]

I like...!

[Timo]

Almost a shame you got rid of those wheels, but I'm sure the next set of carbon hoops will look even better

I know but the LW's don't ride THAT awsome - especially with our usual rides through flat polder land with lots of wind (you know I hardly ever used the front wheel because of the wind) - and I got sick of the constant struggle with changing punctured tubulars. Back to low-profile clinchers for me. A bit in doubt about going back to the black/red/white theme or doing it black 'n red this year. I guess it will be black SLR, black ribbon with red trimming, Hyperions and Vittoria Corsa CX.

[nifrodne]

awesome !!

damn I want one for myself

[Timo]

Some changes done or on their way...

Frame: Merlin Extralight titanium ; 58 cm w/Syntace titanium seatpost bolt & titanium Merlin headset badge
Fork: Ritchey Pro alu/carbon ; Ø 1" ; painted black
Headset: Chris King Aheadset ; Ø 1" w/Chris King cap and Syntace titanium bolt
Stem: Syntace Force 99 ; 105 mm w/Syntace 1" shim and titanium kit
Handlebar: Schmolke SL ; 42 cm (c-c) ; Ø 26,0 mm
Ribbon: classic cotton ribbon ; black
Brake handles: Campagnolo Record Ergopower QS 2007 (right) & Record TT (non-Ergopower) (left)
Downtube shifter: 1980's Campagnolo Record (to be changed to BTP carbon lever)
Brake cables: Campagnolo
Shifting cables: Campagnolo
Brakes: Zero Gravity w/Campagnolo rubber
Bottom bracket: TA Specialité Axix Titanium Pro ; JIS ; 108 mm
BB bolts: Tiso aluminium ; JIS
Crankarms: Storck Powerarms ; JIS ; 172,5 mm
Chainrings: Stronglight CT² ; 53/39
Chainring bolts: Tiso aluminium
Pedals: Time Atac XS titan/carbon
Chain: KMC 10SL ; silver
Seatpost: Thomson Masterpiece ; Ø 27,2 mm ; 240 mm
Saddle: Selle Italia SLR ; black (to be changed to AX-lightness Endurance
Bottle holders: Tune Wasserträger
Cassette: Campagnolo Record 12-25
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10-speed w/Fyber-lite carbon inner plate
Front derailleur: Campagnolo Record QS ; braze-on w/black Campagnolo clamp ; Syntace titanium bolts
Wheels: t.b.a
Tubes: t.b.a
QRs: Tune AC14

[corky]

post some updated pics please?

[Mads Kock]

Hi Timo,

nice bike, but why mtb pedals??

[Timo]

The idea was to get a modern lightweight bike with even more traditional looks. Hence I kept the original Powerarms as they have a classic shape compared to Claviculas and the new Powerarms. Combined with the TA titanium axle they're not that much heavier. I also wanted a very clean look. Pics were made during a training ride so there's some dirt and dust. Still have to change the inner chainring (CT2 instead of TA), the shifter lever (BTP carbon instead of Campagnolo) and the saddle. Also thinking about switching to Speedplay pedals. Bike is shown here with training/cobbles wheels (Record/DT competition/Mavic Open Pro with Chorus cassette). It weights 7,3 kilo with these wheels so the final setup will be around 6,6.

[Captain Fuzz]

I love the bike and classic look. But, I am surprised that all the Ti haters haven’t come out to say what a flexy piece of crap it is. The truth is that bike has more soul and ride quality than any piece of mass produced plastic junk and brute "stiffness" is way overrated.….Some bikes are just alive as I suspect this bike is, Well done.

[ww4]

quality and classic , sweet build

[Timo]

[Cyclist in the Sun]

Nice build!

Outer chainring isn't oriented correctly...

[tochnics]

dont worry about the chainring position, it will not effect shifting, it will be corrected with the ct2 ring anyway

after having seen the bike in the flesh i can say it looks very traditional indeed
the final touch would be the btp downtube shifter, the original alu one stands out
if i had money to burn then i would replace my steel ride with Ti
my carbon rides are light and fast but i bit without feel