Well I used both a good torque wrench and the carbon paste. I've known people who have had slippage even with proper torque, and this stuff seems to help.

YMMV

It looks to me as if they try to cheapen the manufacturing process by pressing the chainstay into an oval instead of drawing an oval tube. Smilar process is done to Huffy and other less expensive frame manufactures.

And how did it feel? Did you get to ride on a bike with it or just test it at the store? I've looked at it also, just not sure how I would hold up on it for 3 hour rides...:o

+1.

I don't care how much it weighs, my butt hurts just looking at that thing. Can't wait to see the build.

If money is no object (doesn't seem to be judging by your saddle choice) I believe you'll be happier with DA over Ultegra in the long run. You have a top notch bike there so why not top it off with the best grouppo. I believe aluminum stems are strongest and just as light; I like the Thompson X2. Cheers!

After see jyossarian on his Merlin on our ride last night, I really have to seriously finish this bike, so I'm gonna try to get the $$$ together:

Here it is so far:

*Merlin 6/4 traditional geometry Ti Frame:
Ultegra Group (so I can easily interchage parts with the Bianchi
*Easton EC90SL Carbon Fork
*Easton EC90 Equipe Carbon Road Bars
*Easton EC70 Carbon/Al Post
*Easton EA70 90mm Al Stem
*Ksyrium SL Wheels (worried about this choice, but too late the LBS has it)
Selle Strike Carbon Seat
Headset - Chris King NoThreadSet Ti
*Pedals - Time RSX Carbon Ti
Spacers - Ti
Tires - Vredestein Fortezza TriComp
Tape - RavX Stitch tape
*Bottle Cage - Time Carbon

*Purchased already; If you guys have recommended sources for the other parts...let me know; otherwise, I'll just be hunting Excel or Performance.

Thanks for the great recommendations!!!

+1

If it were my build I budget a little extra to have some paintshop sandblast *all* the decals off that sucker. Fugly bike imho. But if it's anything like the Merlin Extralight I rode last year it will be one SWEET ride! Good luck.

Yeah I know - I like the engraving like on jyossarian's Cyrene better than the decals
http://www.merlinbike.com/images/2005/cyrene_lg.jpg


they'll be tough to get off, but I'll get around to it

DA is currently selling for $766.12 tax and shipping free at Probikekit.com
Ultegra SL $693.99
Ultegra $461.56

Don't believe you'll find cheaper prices anywhere on earth.

Thank you!!!

Group- Ultegra
Headset- King. The non-ti one is a hell of a lot cheaper.
Seat/tape/spacers- whatever you like
Tires- prorace2

Lose- carbon seatpost and replace with Thomson
lose- those stickers.

Steve..
thats my bike that u got mixed up .. but ur setup will be much nicer an faster..
jyossarian was riding his Haro..

oops! LOL

Here's my Merlin - let's see if this works.

Yeah, I know - ISATI

Indentations are located for tire or chainring clearance. Merlin uses them even if tubes are round.

Those new Merlin decals are astonishingly tasteless. I wonder if they hired a consultant to come up with those?

Can't go wrong with old school [mine is Shimano DA10, with less pronounced compact-ness, so it's even better looking].

http://www.merlinbikes.com/images/2005/agilis_lg.jpg

I would go SRAM for the cleaner cable routing.

Okay, here's mine with Easton Ascent II, Thompson sp, ITM stem, Deda bars, Toupe,, King headset, DA10 everything.

Matt

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...nOutside01.jpg

Does Patentcad approve? That's all that matters to me.

I agree. I like the old decals too. A customer of mine has a nice older one down the road with DA 9. Nice bike.

why? What makes chris kings better?

The most important thing here is to get the spacers right. If you get the wrong ones the whole bike an burst into flame, just like a Simpsons milk truck.
A know some will say carbon, some aluminum, but trust me here, beryllium is the way you need to go.

Right now I'm trying to decide again between Ultegra and DA...[/QUOTE]

Dura Ace at probikekit.com. Otherwise Ultegra SL compact. I really like Ultegra SL on my new Trek. My olf bike had Dura ace 9sp triple and it was very nice too.:)

[QUOTE
Lose- carbon seatpost and replace with Thomson
lose- those stickers.[/QUOTE]


+1 Thomson for sure