My Merlin, reborn! (pics)
10-18-09 | 03:12 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Ass Hatchet
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 711
Likes: 1
From: Western NC
Bikes: Felt FC custom | SRAM Force/Red mix.| RS80 Wheels | 3T Cockpit & Post.
My Merlin, reborn! (pics)
Acquired in 2002. Sold in 2005... reacquired in 2009... rebuilt and ready to ride! Pretty much done save a few little bits I wanna add. Rides as awesome as I remembered... and the SRAM stuff is great! Hope you like.
Only planned upgrades now are a new fork, KCNC Skewers, a Ti seat post collar.
As a first time SRAM owner.... here's a quick Review:
I just built up this bike with the following:
Rear and Front Dérailleurs: Force (2010)
Brakes: Force
Shifters: Rival
Crankset: Rival
This is to me the best combination of performance, value, and great looks. The shifting is fantastic. The Force Dérailleurs are smooth and easy to dial in. The Rival shifters do a great job and the carbon levers are a nice touch. A big surprise was the Rival crankset. I had my heart set on Force or Red but when I saw the stiffness numbers on the Rival (one of the stiffest out there) I took the chance. Let me tell you that crankset is a steal for the money. Stiff as hell and looks great. With a KCNC scandium post and a Thomson stem... the black aluminum cranks on the Rival compliment the look great. I was skeptical of all the praise Rival gets on these boards... but the gang here is right on. Sram is awesome and Rival "rivals" anything out there at twice the price. Lastly, DoubleTap shifting makes more sense to me than both Shimano and Campy's versions. Just great stuff. Brakes also work great and were easy to dial in.
Only planned upgrades now are a new fork, KCNC Skewers, a Ti seat post collar.
As a first time SRAM owner.... here's a quick Review:
I just built up this bike with the following:
Rear and Front Dérailleurs: Force (2010)
Brakes: Force
Shifters: Rival
Crankset: Rival
This is to me the best combination of performance, value, and great looks. The shifting is fantastic. The Force Dérailleurs are smooth and easy to dial in. The Rival shifters do a great job and the carbon levers are a nice touch. A big surprise was the Rival crankset. I had my heart set on Force or Red but when I saw the stiffness numbers on the Rival (one of the stiffest out there) I took the chance. Let me tell you that crankset is a steal for the money. Stiff as hell and looks great. With a KCNC scandium post and a Thomson stem... the black aluminum cranks on the Rival compliment the look great. I was skeptical of all the praise Rival gets on these boards... but the gang here is right on. Sram is awesome and Rival "rivals" anything out there at twice the price. Lastly, DoubleTap shifting makes more sense to me than both Shimano and Campy's versions. Just great stuff. Brakes also work great and were easy to dial in.
10-18-09 | 03:27 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Ass Hatchet
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 711
Likes: 1
From: Western NC
Bikes: Felt FC custom | SRAM Force/Red mix.| RS80 Wheels | 3T Cockpit & Post.
10-18-09 | 03:29 PM
#10
Still can't climb
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,024
Likes: 6
From: Limey in Taiwan
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
10-18-09 | 03:34 PM
#13
Thread Starter
Ass Hatchet
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 711
Likes: 1
From: Western NC
Bikes: Felt FC custom | SRAM Force/Red mix.| RS80 Wheels | 3T Cockpit & Post.
I bought the Prologo saddle on an impulse buy on Bonktown. Not only is it surprisingly comfortable... I was pleased that the silver color of the cover is more of a Titanium silver and matched the bike perfectly. I though it was an interesting look. Very happy with it so far. Ordering a black cover too so I can go back and forth.
10-18-09 | 03:38 PM
#14
Still can't climb
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,024
Likes: 6
From: Limey in Taiwan
excellent bike, but why are you sitting on top of a flagpole
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
10-18-09 | 03:43 PM
#16
Thread Starter
Ass Hatchet
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 711
Likes: 1
From: Western NC
Bikes: Felt FC custom | SRAM Force/Red mix.| RS80 Wheels | 3T Cockpit & Post.
10-18-09 | 03:44 PM
#17
Thread Starter
Ass Hatchet
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 711
Likes: 1
From: Western NC
Bikes: Felt FC custom | SRAM Force/Red mix.| RS80 Wheels | 3T Cockpit & Post.
10-18-09 | 03:50 PM
#19
Thread Starter
Ass Hatchet
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 711
Likes: 1
From: Western NC
Bikes: Felt FC custom | SRAM Force/Red mix.| RS80 Wheels | 3T Cockpit & Post.
10-18-09 | 04:00 PM
#22
I like beans
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1
From: Meffa, MA
Bikes: Tarmac Pro, Bianchi Zurigo, Raleigh Gran Sport, Fuji Del Rey, Ironman Centurion
10-18-09 | 04:02 PM
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 9,458
Likes: 16
From: Colorado
Bikes: Something Canadian, something Italian, something American, and something German
