delver

A freind of mine who owns some apartments caught a tenant doing a fade oweing three months back rent. The guy gave him a merlin titanium roadbike, full dura ace with flight deck, absolute top of the line stem, post, bar, really nice seat. Its about a 2005, low miles. the frame has that sort of inset design patterns all around the BB shell and the headset. its really nice.

I knew this guy, he used to work at my favorite bike shop and I know the rig is not hot. It also fits me perfectly. I can't scrape the three months rent up($1500) for the bike, but I may be able to do some blacksmithing shop work in trade.

My only problem is that I don't know if I really need a bike this nice. I would have no where to really ride it around where I live, I am 215 lbs and it has 16 spoke wheels, and generaly I don't need another bike.
But I am filled with lust. I keep thinking about it, gathering dust in his garage.

What do you think?

Siu Blue Wind

*faints*.........



*gets up, looks around, reads post again*



*faints*

dmac49

Tell your friend it's not really worth much due to depreciation and he should throw it in the trash. BTW where does your friend live ?

RonH

Send it to me. I'll pay the $1500.

delver

Alright, I get the impression that I should make the effort to get the bike. Thing is, I really would like my friend to come out ahead as well. He has to make payments on the apt building and he is not a pawn shop.
So realisticaly, and I know I have no pictures to show of this bike, what should be a good ,fair price to give my friend?

Also, the reason why i would be hesitant to own this thing is that I really like old steel bikes. Bikes that you can run toe clips and put mirrors on. I actualy like suicide levers(if your wheels are true and they are set up right on the bar, with the right bar they are alright).

If I got this bike I would feel compelled to invest in some good clipless, better than the SPDs that I already run on some of my bikes.
I would feel funny on it untill I upgraded my riding wardrobe to a bunch of primal wear with bibs and matching socks. My standard bowling shirt and cargo shorts over wool tights just would not do.

Also, the idea of owning a bike that would never see rain or snow at all seems useless.

And would I need some sort of " I am riding Ti" secret handshake knowledge, or pinky ring or something?

tsl

There's nothing wrong at all with owning a fair-weather fun bike.

I've been car-free for nearly 10 years now. I own two bikes. One is my all-conditions rig (currently wearing its studded snow tires), and the other is a fair-weather fun bike. We're going out to play this afternoon as a matter of fact.

For SPD on a road bike, I have the A-520 road/touring SPD pedals on both my bikes. Who cares what the club riders think? I can still walk when I get off my bike.

As for Primal Wear, I think it's all butt ugly. I'm more of plain Nashbar jersey kinda guy, who wears white ankle socks from Sam's Club.

Get the bike. Ride it lots. If it really doesn't work for you in a year, sell it then.

CB HI

If you like steel, you will like Ti. Pay the $1500 or do the swap for services, which ever; but why would anyone pass a deal up like this.

Sell the 16 spoke wheels and buy 32 or 36 spoke wheels for it. Put mirrors or whatever you want on it, it is your bike after all. Even use it for commuting if you want.

You really need to go to the 50+ forum and learn about N+1.

dmac49

delver - Take a picture ! I want to see please. This is killin' me kid. Oh this hurts so bad

delver

I would love to take a pic, but it will have to wait. Its not at my house.

Suffice to say, it looks like a drop of purest honeysuckle on the cheek of a faerie princess. A smokin hot faerie princess in a black leather tutu with titanium bits on it.

I will do all in my power to get this bike. I have convinced myself with your help. thanks.

It may take up to a year before I can own it. I have a full time self employment situation so it will take a while to beat and cast enough metal to pay for this thing. till then its safe.

Oh, and the n+1 thing? That formula should be a tatoo on my bum. 18 riders and counting.

atbman

Are there no common areas of the apartments you could volunteer to lick clean as part payment?

free_pizza

Something doesnt make sense...... The guy owes 3 months rent, or $1500, so he gives up a Ti bike with full Dura Ace? Is he rtearded? Surely if he's riding such a rig, he knows what its worth. And you are sure its not stolen?

delver

He worked as a wrench at a bike shop that I go to. older guy. He had Some of the coolest bikes. An original Joe Breezer, a collection of Masi's, two Paramounts, on and on. He was a really good mechanic, doing it for years, was in great demand.
Then he retired, moved to the town I live in, and started washing dishes at a local resturaunt. Have you ever worked as a pearl diver in a tourist town? The coworkers were all junkies. Within a year he went from health nut to pot head to the meth. He was selling off his collection I think, quit the job and just started frying himself. . He said that he would come back for the bike, but its been over a year now. My freind just has not gotten around to selling it.

So anyway, I talked to the owner of the bike shop he worked at and its legit. He was sold the bike by someone who was just tired of it.

On another note, I have been watching the ebay and seen some Titanium merlins going for 1200 to 2000. None with the detailing on the frame though, and possibly slightly lesser components. So it seems that while it may be a good deal, it is good basicaly because it is possible for me to get it on the barter system.

Bob Ross

That may not be too far from the truth: 3 years ago my LBS had a Merlin Extralight built up w/ full DuraAce & Kysirium ES wheels and some swanky hardware and a pricetag in the $8000 neighborhood. I rode it once...and was instantly smitten. Waaayyy out of my price range at that time. Way more bike than I thought I'd ever need...but man, it spoke to me. And every time I went back into that shop I'd look at that Merlin still hanging there, still gleaming, still sporting that $8k pricetag, and I'd think to myself "Ah, someday..."

Six months ago I was in that shop and I noticed the Merlin sporting a new price tag: "Marked Down: $2500"

And a week later it was gone. Sigh...

linux_author

that's how i got my Merlin at the same price! (nearly four years ago)

<sigh> and now there's no local dealer (the LBS stopped selling them)...