Newbie Building a Merlin Extralight

Who are you (no off-topic talk please)

Moderators: MrCurrieinahurry, maxim809, Moderator Team

willhouse
Posts: 22
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:20 pm

by willhouse

Hi Everyone,

New to the forum, and currently part way through building my best bike.

Been back riding for a couple of years, and can now justify building up this Merlin.

Currently got the Frame, Front and Rear DA 7900 Mechs and KCNC CB1 Brakes.
Also going to initially build it with Mavic Cosmos wheels, not the lightest, but will get it rolling.
Finishing kit wise, I have Thomson Elite stem on the way, but I am completely undecided on the rest.
I want compact bars, which restricts me a little, and I definitely do not want Carbon bars either :noidea:
Chainset is a minefield.... would love something like a Tune Smartfoot, or a KCNC, but we will see over the coming weeks.

Anyway, some pictures.

Image
Merlin Extralight 9 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight 1 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight 2 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight 5 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight 7 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight 8 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
KCNC CB1s and Dura Ace 7900 Mech by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Dura Ace 7900 Front Mech by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
Frankie - B
Admin - In the industry
Posts: 6573
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2003 8:17 am
Location: Drenthe, Holland

by Frankie - B

Hi, Welcome to the forum! :welcome:

What cranksets were you thinking of?
'Tape was made to wrap your GF's gifts, NOT hold a freakin tire on.'
If you want to see 'meh' content of me and my bike you can follow my life in pictures here!

Wingnut
Posts: 2196
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:41 am

by Wingnut

Beautiful...love those Merlin's... :thumbup:
Last edited by Wingnut on Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

poully
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:06 pm

by poully

I think this is going to be a lovely build.
Photo's have whet the appetite.
I'm not going to advise on what you should put on there but I'm sure going to take an interest.
Good Luck :beerchug:

mrfish
Posts: 1749
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:49 pm
Location: Near Horgen, Switzerland

by mrfish

I think this will be nice.

Maybe silver Thomson seat post (or black if you must), then as many silver anodised pieces as possible. I quite like the idea of a mixed vintage Dura Ace group - 7900 shifters and mechs, plus 7800 or 7400 crank. Or you could go roughly period correct and use 7400 throughout. For aluminium compact bars, I would go for either 3T Pro Ergosums (looong reach) or Ergonova (short). Top it off with a Flite or Scratch saddle plus some nice handbuilt wheels and you have a bike for life.

principiamacb
Posts: 122
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:49 pm

by principiamacb

roughly period dura-ace 7400? Its got an oversized internal headset. It cant be that old. 7700 at the earliest. 7800 would be more like it.

willhouse
Posts: 22
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:20 pm

by willhouse

Many thanks for the kind words guys. I think it is around a 2003 frame. I have the scary reciept upstairs from the previous owner :shock:

I have been looking at a few chainsets:
Controltech Shield
Tune Bigfoot
Tune Smartfoot
Middleburn
KCNC
TA Carmina.

I have been offered a TA Carmina for a good price with a TA Axix Titanium bottom bracket, which I think I am going to go for. Its Anodized silver arms with Black Spider and Black TA Sirius Rings.
Watch this space....

Currently got my Thomson Stem on the way, and just weighing up a few other parts.
I think I want Continental Granf Prix 4000S, but I have been toying with the idea of open tubs, such as Clements or Veloflex Pave's :noidea:
However tarmac in my area is not great, and for the nice rides it will have I do not want to suffer with punctures or damaged sidewalls to the open tubs.

Also, seat posts, I have my eye on some Ti ones. It will either be that, or a nice carbon option. I have quite a long femur, so sit quite far back. This means if I ran a Thomson post it would have to be a layback, which I am not a massive fan of the look :?

Anyway, time to hit the Paypal account again over the next day or 2....

Thanks again...

User avatar
jmilliron
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:03 pm
Location: Denver, CO

by jmilliron

Yup, this build is going to be rad.
2013 Wilier Cento1 SR || 2009 Ridley Crossbow || 2011 Yeti AS-R 5 Carbon

jooo
Posts: 1510
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:48 am

by jooo

weight!?

willhouse
Posts: 22
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:20 pm

by willhouse

Ha ha, I'll get the weights posted up when I've got all my parts.

Got the TA Carmina Chainset on its way as well as Controltech Bars and Carbon Seatpost. I'll be ordering matching Controltech bottle cages too I think.

Just need Chain, Pedals, Tyres and the 7900 Shifters now....

Itching to get it built!

willhouse
Posts: 22
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:20 pm

by willhouse

Few more parts arrived...

Image
Control Centre by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Thomson ~160g
Controltech Bars ~300g (Heavy I know, but I only run Aluminium bars, and these were in the short and compact geometry I wanted)

Image
Controltech Carbon Seatpost by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Controltech CT24 ~140g

Image
TA Carmina Chainset by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr
Image
TA Axix Bottom Bracket by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

TA Specialities Carmina
TA Specialities AXIX Titanium Bottom Bracket
Total weight with all bolts ~900g (Again heavy, but I wanted a slender Aluminium chainset to go well against the frame, and the Anodized CNC black spider matches through with the KCNC Brakes, and the matt anodizing on the bars too)

Really want this built now :(

Montana
Posts: 342
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:29 am

by Montana

Very nice frameset! I look forward to this build

willhouse
Posts: 22
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:20 pm

by willhouse

Now built.

7750g with Pedals, but no bottle cage.

Image
Merlin Extralight Built 1-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight Built 2-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight Built 3-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight Built 4-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Image
Merlin Extralight Built 5-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Absolutely love it :mrgreen:

pmr
Posts: 38
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:22 pm

by pmr

Fantastic build! The KCNC brakes look a tad out of place for some reason, but either way - excellent.

I like that chainset too.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
Daddy yo yo
Posts: 310
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:17 am

by Daddy yo yo

why did you choose the x4 (mtb) stem and not x2?

i'd probably try to get a reynolds ouzo pro carbon seatpost to match the fork. the matte finish on the CT post doesn't really fit the bike.
My contribution to more beautiful roads: - old - / - new -

Post Reply