Hill-Pumper

After a wait that seemed to take foreveeeeeer, my Lynskey R330 was picked up on Friday. I had the shop that was doing the build do a couple of upgrades at this point, just because it made sense to do them during the assembly verses taking things apart later to put them in. I have some other things like wheels and such that I want to put on later, but for now I am going to ride it like a stole it. Unfortunately, I have only had the time to put 7 mile on it. Still in that short ride, I found some chip seal and hills and really think that I am going to love my new bike

So, some roadie appropriate pics are in order.

Of course, the standard white garage door profile shot.


Full Shimano 105


Chris King headset


Matching Chris King bottom bracket


Enve 2.0 fork


Elite bottle cages


New Garmin Edge 500

Beachgrad05

Beautiful bike.

TrojanHorse

I see you bought the fancy a$$ garmin with the super duper chest strap...

I wonder if those Elite cages would hold in my camelbak podium big chill water bottles...or whatever they're called. Mine are constantly falling out.

And frankly, it looks like you stole PhotoJoe's bike. That's not very nice.

is your garage door blue? It looks blue. White balance, amigo.

Ok, i'm done being crabby, that's a swell looking bike.

Hill-Pumper

I see you bought the fancy a$$ garmin with the super duper chest strap...
Only because the red matches my bike, and only cost me an $11 extra with some serious shopping
I wonder if those Elite cages would hold in my camelbak podium big chill water bottles...or whatever they're called. Mine are constantly falling out.
They hold my standard podium bottles fine, but can't say say if they will work with the big chill's
And frankly, it looks like you stole PhotoJoe's bike. That's not very nice.
I know, you see one Ti bike, you've seen them all
is your garage door blue? It looks blue. White balance, amigo.
Posted another corrected shot below if it will make you feel better
Ok, i'm done being crabby, that's a swell looking bike.
Now you can go to bed happy.

TrojanHorse

No, it's still tragic. And blue. Looks snappy though.

Here's my old Ti bike since we're all frothy about Ti bikes today: I think it was a little too big for me so I "downgraded" to a carbon bike, but if anybody is looking for a 60 cm Merlin Ti frame, lemme know.

kevinvin

MANNNNN.... Now I got DROOL all over my laptop...

That.. Is SWEET looking...

Homeyba

I used to have a 60cm Merlin extra-light. For some reason yours looks a whole lot different than mine. Did you loose your headbadge? Maybe yours is just an older model? Mine had a carbon fork.

jeepseahawk

Nice bike, good choice. A lot of Ti bikes being bought lately.

TrojanHorse

As best as I can tell, it's a Merlin Road... not the extra light, and I think it's ca. 1988 or so. You can see where the decals were (merlin outline), and where the head badge was, but that's it. AL fork and a dinky, noodly BB. (maybe you can see the square taper there). I was thinking of swapping out the fork and then said ta heck with it and swapped out the whole frame.

Homeyba

Ok, that makes sense. Yours is about 10 years older than mine was. Sounds like you made the right move going to a more modern frame.

TrojanHorse

Well, if you ever want to experience why people say Ti frames are noodly lemme know.

One of these days I'll build it back up as an anachronism - it's neat to have one of the old Tom Kellogg frames even if it's not what new mass-produced Chinese frames are.

Homeyba

I've had two Ti bikes, the Merlin Extra-Light and a Colnago Ovalmaster. Neither one was "noodly" I didn't like the ride of the Merlin. It was ok but not what I wanted and I broke the Colnago after about 4 months. After that I went to carbon (Colnago gave me a C-40HP under warrantee) and haven't really looked back.

Hill-Pumper

Thanks, I'm not sure that there are any more Ti bike then normal being bought, but maybe just more on this forum. My choice to go with Ti was about ease of care and ride quality. Maybe others are looking at the same factors and doing the same as myself.

PhotoJoe 

Hill-Pumper's



Mine



There is a HUGE difference. He has black decals. I have white. He has full 105. I cheaped out with a 105/FSA blend. His seat stays are straight. Mine are curved. His has 7 miles. Mine has been to the shack!

Oh, and my picture is bigger!

Congrats on the new ride. YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!! And it will be worth every second of the wait!

bulldogs2k

Oh man, i'm pretty sure i'll treat myself to a Ti bike when I get below 200 lbs. How much does a custom frame usually cost?

For now, i'll have to make due with my steelie

TrojanHorse

Why bother getting a custom frame? Unless you have strange proportions, a standard geo frame will suit you fine.

Joe... pumper... they both look pretty darn good. Now get riding!

bulldogs2k

This is true, I'll most likely match up geo's from my existing bikes and go from there.

PhotoJoe 

All I can say, and HP will probably back me up....when you get serious about Ti, CALL DON ERWIN and Lynskey. Even if you have other options you are considering, at least call him. You'll be glad you did.

Hill-Pumper

I actually liked talking to Jack Kopeski a little more, but either way, as PhotoJoe said, talk to the folks at Lynskey. Jack helped me pick out my frame size, and my LBS who did my fitting said it was spot on. The weld quality is absolutely first rate. Now I just need to get some ride time on this thing to get a real impression for it.

Beachgrad05

Both bikes ar seriously sweet looking. I've had the pleasure of seeing PJ's up close.....NICE

Rhodabike

Nice bike! Now you need some red bottle cages to match that Garmin

maidenfan

Camelbak bottles fall out of my generic cages too - design of the bottle I guess.

Beachgrad05

I have both the regular Podium Chill and the Big Chill and use Bontrager side entry cages...no problems for me with bottles falling out (yet)

TrojanHorse

The regular ones are OK, but the Big Chill bottles don't have the same flat space that the regular ones do. If I'm careful about the orientation of the bottle in the down tube holder I don't have problems... the seat tube bottle is always fine.

My frame is big enough that I don't need no stinking side entry cages.

PhotoJoe 

I LOVE the red Chris King accents. I had planned on doing that, but ended up with the blue Garmin. My vanity just won't allow the two to co-exist!