Price Paid:
$3100.00
at Flatlands Cyclery Ta Favorite Ride:
2003 Merlin Agilus Bike Setup:
Med 2003 Merlin Agilus and Merlin carbon fork
American Classic 420 wheelset 16/20 bladed s/s spokecount.
Cane Creek is-6 integrated headset
Easton carbon seatpost (70) and handlebars (90)
3T zepp 100mm stem
Fizik Alliante Ti saddle
FSA pro team 53/39 crank and titanium bb
DA brakes, der's, shifters, 12/25 cassette, chain. Summary:
I purchased this bike from Mike Ward at Flatlands Mountain Bikes in Tampa Florida (813-901-9000) on his recommendation. I had bought a Marin from Mike that was great but I was riding 200-250 miles a week and I wanted to upgrade to a high end bike that would be easy to maintain.
The Titanium finish is great, to detail you use metal polish or lemon pledge, if you get a scratch you just lightly buff it out with superfine steelwool or very fine scoth brite. My bike has American Classic aero wheels and full dura-ace 9 speed group.
I have ridden this bike in 5 century rides and 2 double century's and it is extremely comfy. Bike weighs in around 16.5 lbs so climbing is easy.
I highly recommend any Merlin product and my Merlin dealer is outstanding, buy one from him and he'll ship it and you save the sales tax! Strengths:
Speed- Very fast acceleration and great climbing bike. Chainstays are super stiff, almost no flex in the BB and this is a compact frame which again adds stiffness.
Looks- this is one tough looking bike, I get an awful lot of compliments about this bike.
Maintainance- so easy, spray with simple green, hose down, dry and lube.
For those up north Titanium will never corrode or rust, a Merlin is a bike for life.
For a compact frame this bike rides very smooth, the hourglass design seat stays help smooth the ride plus I have carbon post and handlebar. Weaknesses:
Not really a weakness but next Merlin I get I'll order without an integrated headset so I can put on a Titanium Chris King headset but since King headsets require machining to fit into an integrated head tube design i went with cane creek is-6, no problems with it at all but it's not a king. Similar Products Used:
LeMond, Serotta, Independant Fabrication, Seven Cycles, Colnago
| 
5 of 5
5 of 5
