I'd have to go home and double check if the top tube slopes. If anything it might slope a tiny bit. The head tube length is 10 cm. I really don't know why the original owner had it made like this. How do you measure the virtual seat tube length?

The first thing is to ascertain if it is a sloping or traditional frame. The virtual measurement would take a bit of extrapolation with a tape measure and a level.

If it was me I would put wheels on it, so I could get the bike level. Once there I would run a bubble level from the head tube/top tube junction back towards the seat. Level the bubble level and measure from the bottom bracket to where the bubble level intersects the seat post/ seat tube area. You may need an extra set of hands.

Did you actually measure the seat tube currently to be 56 cm Center to Top? Again unless it's a sloping frame, that head tube looks too small to be a 56 cm frame. However I could be mistaken.

When I get home I was going to sit it on top of some old wheels.

It's custom geometry so I don't know if it follows all the rules of traditional frame building. A lot of Sevens frames have a couple degrees of slope in the top tube. So I would think this is considered sloping.

I measured the seat tube and top tube myself.

I'll have some answers in a couple hours.

I just put it on a fork and wheels and its def not sloping. I do agree that the geometry is a little weird though with its short head tube.

Thanks for taking time to answer my questions and trying things out for me... I thought I maybe interested, however being it's a custom geometry, and you are not the original owner to be able to tell me more specifically about it, who knows how whacked out my body maybe to the design of the bike. Good Luck, she is a beauty to be sure.

Had no luck selling it on Craigslist so I think its off to Ebay.

Hi Gomez
I'm in the final throws of designing a Hab. Question, what are the head tube and seat tube angles on yours, and what size is the down tube - it looks ovalised? In fact, if possible, can you post the full geomtery?
Thanks, Tom

https://www.habcycles.com/teamissue.html

Mine is a std geometry Team Issue 64cm. The down tube is ovalized. The website has more info.

I still haven't been able to ride it yet. I'm fighting bronchitis right now.

One of these days I'll get some pics of my ti bikes on here... too bad I can't afford ti bikes AND a camera

Lance could ride this Ti wonder and still beat Ullrich in '07

I seen one of those on ebay go for over $600 bone

Mmmm. Having owned Aluminum and Carbon, I can say that there is just somthing about titanium that I cant put my finger on.

My Litespeed Arenberg.

Overall, if I had to own one bike, I'd stick with my Ibis Ti. And I LOVE my Cannondale Six13.

But Ti is forever weenies. Take that to the bank. Nothing is quite as bulletproof. This coming from a guy who's Merlin BROKE after 40K miles. But that was an anamoly. From all reports my Ibis (newer butted Ti tubing than the Merlin) will be around forever. It's @ about 40K miles itself by now. But showing no signs of failure. And I expect to be riding the bike in 30 years (I've owned it about 11).

Okay, I guess I better add my 2 cents (er.. I mean 2 Merlins)
2006 Merlin Works CR 3/2.5

1991 Merlin Road - (the story: Merlin Returns)

This is my favorite thread ever.

Love the blue/ti combo

That's the Merlin frame I had that broke in two places with about 40,000 very hard miles on it (mine was c. 1991 as well). But I still think that was a fluke. Doesn't happen very often.

Thanks!
I liked it so much, I used it on both bikes.

Was it the downtube at the shift bosses?

having owned ti and aluminum..... there is something about carbon. Its kind of strange, but I am keeping both alum and ti and buying carbon.

[QUOTE=ViperZ]Well seeing as there is a lot of Post your ________ threads, I though it would be nice to see everyone's TITANIUM bikes. So , lets see that Gray Matter.

Here is mine just recently finished construction.QUOTE]


I salute you - That Sir is the most puuuuurrrrfect bike I have seen - and I include 55Rad's lovelies

I love your screen name... Strong Bad is the epitome of awesome.

Thanks

That '91 Merlin broke at the chainstay and shifter bosses (much like your photo) at about the same time. I left it out with the trash. I wasn't the original owner and it wasn't worth repairing (no warranty to secondary owners).

But the trash guys probably didn't have a problem lifting it into the garbage truck : ). I liked that bike (my first Ti frame) but frankly the Ibis really blows it away. I haven't ridden newer Merlins, I'm sure they've gotten much better.