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Merlin Empire

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Old 08-14-14, 08:35 AM
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Merlin Empire

Reviewed | The Merlin Empire | Competitive Cyclist

Heresy or evolution?
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Old 08-14-14, 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
not big enough
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Old 08-14-14, 09:38 AM
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Heresy! That would be like a carbon Moots............nooo!
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Old 08-14-14, 11:42 AM
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Seems like a weak attempt to squeeze more money out of a brand name.

Tubed and glued CF frame doesn't seem to offer anything that can't be had cheaper.

Other than a cool head tube emblem.
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Old 08-14-14, 11:56 AM
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Read this yesterday and almost showered my computer screen with coffee when I saw the price.
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Old 08-14-14, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
Seems like a weak attempt to squeeze more money out of a brand name.
^^^^^

This.

I think competitive cyclist being acquired by Backcountry.com has been the worst thing that ever happened to them.
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Old 08-14-14, 12:05 PM
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I think that the UD carbon looks great. That about covers my thoughts on it.
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Old 08-14-14, 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
Seems like a weak attempt to squeeze more money out of a brand name.

Tubed and glued CF frame doesn't seem to offer anything that can't be had cheaper.

Other than a cool head tube emblem.
Bill Holland, who has been locally building titanium and steel frames in San Diego for over thirty years, is doing the same thing. I think he would argue that it's not a money grab, but rather it's giving the people what they want. Just supply and demand.
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Old 08-14-14, 12:16 PM
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Such a sameness among bicycles. There really isn't anything to get excited about, except maybe 12 speed - can't wait.
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Old 08-14-14, 12:17 PM
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The old merlin had some cachet! Tom Kellogg designing frames, top notch Ti welders... good stuff. The only thing the new one has in common with the original brand is the name on the tubes. Not that change is bad but at 4k+ for just the frame you wont' have any change to worry about.
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Old 08-14-14, 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by tony2v
Heresy! That would be like a carbon Moots............nooo!
Heresy! That would be like a carbon Litespeed............oh wait
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Old 08-14-14, 12:39 PM
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BikesDirect bought the Merlin name?
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Old 08-14-14, 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by bbattle
BikesDirect bought the Merlin name?
Competitive Cyclist ( or the people that used to own it) bought the Merlin brand last I heard.
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Old 08-14-14, 01:09 PM
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Just saw an add for a Willier Zero 7 at $3995. I'd take a Zero 7,(or for that matter a number of other CF frames) over this at the same price every day.
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