Newbie Building a Merlin Extralight

[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
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.


Merlin Extralight 9 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight 1 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight 2 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight 5 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight 7 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight 8 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


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


Dura Ace 7900 Front Mech by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

[Frankie - B]

Hi, Welcome to the forum!

What cranksets were you thinking of?

[Wingnut]

Beautiful...love those Merlin's...

[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

[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]

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]

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

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
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...

[jmilliron]

Yup, this build is going to be rad.

[jooo]

weight!?

[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]

Few more parts arrived...


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)


Controltech Carbon Seatpost by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Controltech CT24 ~140g


TA Carmina Chainset by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

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]

Very nice frameset! I look forward to this build

[willhouse]

Now built.

7750g with Pedals, but no bottle cage.


Merlin Extralight Built 1-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight Built 2-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight Built 3-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight Built 4-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr


Merlin Extralight Built 5-001 by outHOUSEpics, on Flickr

Absolutely love it

[pmr]

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

I like that chainset too.

[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.