Still deciding how I'm going to build up my recently purchased '90 Merlin frame & fork:

half-Ti counts, right?

You have to wait 28 weeks for a Richard Sachs frame so I guess waiting a month or two isn't so bad for the least expensive very well reviewed titanium bike. Of course when I went to order a Motobecane the entire line was out of stock which I was told would be back in stock in 3 months, I waited 3 months inquired again and was told another 3 months, waited/inquired and was told another 3 months, by that time I said screw it and got the Lynskey. Bikes Direct didn't get another shipment in for almost a year after I waited 6 months. I would recommend that before you order one to make sure it's in stock, they claim on their website that Le Champion SL is in stock but the Team is not.

No where on their website does a in stock TI bike say preorder, it says "bikes sell quickly may sell out at any time, please proceed to checkout for actual stock status..." That means that you have the right to stop the charge on your credit card if the stock status in not favorable. It sounds like more bashing of Bikes Direct again. They don't charge your credit card unless you want it charged, if for some reason it's out of stock and you go ahead with charge to the credit card and change your mind before it's restocked and sent to you you can either cancel the charge directly through BD or you can cancel the charge through your bank. Not a big deal. So no they don't operate on your dime by having you wait forever to get your bike, no one anywhere on the internet has ever complained this has happened to them.

You completely misinterpreted what I said.

From what they had posted on their page and an email or two I knew it was going to be about six or eight weeks between order and the bike arriving. For that kind of deal I had no problem with a 45 day $1,400 loan, (considering the card billing cycle it was more like 15 days)

It actually showed up a week earlier than promised.

My Seven:

Ok, thanks for clearing that up, I understand better now. They weren't really living off your dime, they just probably had to place the order from Ora in Taiwan and it took 6 to 8 weeks to get the frame made then shipped to where the components were put on (wherever BD does that), then perhaps shipped to BD (if the components are put on at a separate location) then to you. You run into this approximate time frame with a lot of frames being built in Asia, Rivendell has to do the same thing with a couple of their models (use to be all of them before production was turned over to Waterford) if they don't have your size in stock, except I know the components are hung on the bike at Rivendell, even if Rivendell has your size in stock it will take a month to build the bike and ship it, not sure why it takes so long, it shouldn't take more than a day to build a bike and that's if you're going slow.

That Javelin looks real nice. When I was still looking for a Ti bike I got very. Close to ordering one but they didn't have my size. How does it ride?

My 14yr old Mongoose Ti Road bike. Got it tuned up and it weights in at 19.05lb with Look pedals.

Love this one. Simple and to the point: go ride!

Lynskey R240

I think I saw you at Performance Bike "weighing In"?

Believe it or not, that was the first time I had to paid other people to "service" the bike (family life finally caught up to me) and and first time I actually weighted the road bike after all these years ... LOL

Perfect!

I never even knew Mongoose made a TI bike!

A friend of mine rides one of those, though I am not totally sure what year it is from. It seems to be very well-made, and he rides a lot of miles. He had the Cane Creek wheels, but I can't recall what he has now.

Waiting on wheels to come in.
The guy I bought it from said it was a Dean, but I can't find any serial number or anything on the frame.

My Seven Evergreen S

No 3T bars, so I put a piece of printer paper behind the faceplate lol. Might play with different color tissue paper or something so make it pop.



Still waiting on wheels

I have a 1998 GT Forte titanium with an Ultegra group of probably the same vintage and Mavic Cosmos wheel set. I bought it used in Phoenix AZ in about 2006 or 2007 for about $700 and I have riden it in many places since then all across the USA. Everywhere from Phoenix AZ, Olympia WA, NW Indiana, Reston VA, and now Youngstown Ohio. I have been riding it since I bought it with very little changes other than wear items like rear cassette or pedals but I have been conteplating doing some small changes to the bike. The seat is is a Avoset O2 and it getting pretty worn. All of the bolts on the bike are all steel. I am wondering if I would notice the difference if I converted to titanium / aluminum bolts where appropriate, got a TI rail seat and a carbon seat post.

Prior to this I had an 1991 Cannondale road bike with a Shimano 105 group that I owned throughout college.

I ride once or twice a week weather permitting for about 30 - 35 miles per ride with an average of about 15mph for each ride.

97 Merlin Extralight TI with Wound Up Carbon Fork! Both made in the USA! I finally have a TI bike in my size!











And, it rides as good as it looks!

Cross bike [monstercross w/ the 40's] but it still counts:

Holy crap that is gorgeous.

I agree with FlatSix911 and garciawork, this is a beautiful bike. Can I ask for your build list please?

Thanks all,

My build:

Frame: 2015 Lynskey R240 (tapered and integrated headtube, ovalized downtube, curved and ovalized seatstays, and oversized chainstays)
Finish: Industrial Mill
Size: Small (Effective Top Tube: 52.5cm and Standover: 75cm)
Groupset: SRAM RED 22 (upgrade from Sram Force 22)
Brakeset: SRAM RED 22
Shifters: SRAM RED 22
Front Derailleur: SRAM RED 22 YAW
Rear Derailleur: SRAM RED 22 AERO GLIDE
Crankset: SRAM RED 22 34/50 Compact w 172.5mm crankarms
Cassette: SRAM RED 22 11x32
Headset: Cane Creek 40 IS42/52 Integrated Sealed Cartridge Bearings
Bottom Bracket Type: 68mm Standard English
Dropouts: w/ Replaceable Aluminum Hanger
Rear Spacing: 130mm
Fork: ENVE 2.0 43mm Rake w Tapered Carbon Steerer
Handlebar: ENVE SES Aero road bar 42cm (upgrade from FSA)
Stem: ENVE Road Stem 90mm +/-6 degrees (upgrade from FSA)
Seatpost: Lynskey Titanium 27.2 x 300mm x 25mm (ENVE single bolt clamp)
Saddle: Specialized Toupe 143
Wheelset: Boyd 50 Carbon Clincher (2012 model) (swap from old bike)
Cages: Arundel Mandible
Bar Tape: Lizard Skins DSP 1.8
Seat Bag: Cyckit Aeroclam