Merlin Fixed Gear

Posted on May 26th 2010

Next Bike »

Rate this bike

(68 votes, average: 5.60 )

Loading ...

A bike with a frame that was never built, but came into being through to an unbelievable chain of events when Merlin, eventually, agreed to equip my old Merlin mountain bike frame with rear fork ends. Priceless and irreplaceable.
Read the whole story here:

http://www.californiaclassix.com/Bernard/Merlin.html

Submitted by Bernard Paulsen

15 Comments Received

sloman
May 26th, 2010 @2:26 pm

a hub brake.different approach here.interesting story.enjoy.your little dog too!LOL

Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 26th, 2010 @2:35 pm

i want this frame so bad been wanting to build a s/s mtb dog is cool too.

CS
May 26th, 2010 @4:17 pm

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have a volunteer who has a ti merlin mtn frame and its freaking sweet! Man I love everything about this bike. Cool back story too. If only I had a ton of money to spend on bikes :/

Wes
May 26th, 2010 @4:24 pm

i have the same seat! mine’s worn down a lot though… like the frame and the story is fantastic.

Luftmensh
May 26th, 2010 @4:55 pm

The equivalent of a drum brake? Totally rad. Love those tires man.

Alan Flint
May 26th, 2010 @8:31 pm

Simply wizard!

ng
May 26th, 2010 @9:13 pm

Very cool and unique. Does the dog ride in the bag?

travelerBen
May 27th, 2010 @8:26 am

the balloon tires and bars work really well. happy pappy riding

illdthedj
May 27th, 2010 @2:10 pm

merlin frames are great and all, my brother has a TI merlin road bike….

its just that gigantic supertall seatpost and super tall stem makes it look like the owner got a frame that is WAY too small for them and over compensated with extremely tall seatpost and stem. just looks off to me.

the red peddles look off as well.

the wheels/tires and frame are all great. some great components on it…nice saddle, liking the bag…like the cork grips, not feeling the handlebars.

im not trying to be a jerk or anything, i really do appreciate aspects of this bike, but seatpost and cockpit setup seems goofy on an otherwise classy build.

Bernard
May 27th, 2010 @3:13 pm

You are correct, the frame is too small for me. But since 21″ was the largest mountain frame Merlin ever made, I really had not much of a choice in that matter. Unfortunately the trend nowadays goes toward smaller frames in any discipline combined with longer stems and seat posts, and that doesn’t help people who are 6’6″ much.
But I agree with you 100%, the bike would look better with a bigger frame or the seat post and stem in a lower position.

CS
May 27th, 2010 @4:12 pm

@ill – read the back story in his link. He explains the reasoning for the frame size.

Luftmensh
May 27th, 2010 @8:12 pm

I still like it. I had a single speed green with yellow trimmed Schwinn road frame with a quill stem, 20″ chrome ape hangers, white walls and a double rear basket/rack combo and this Merlin setup reminds me of how fun that was.

illdthedj
May 28th, 2010 @4:10 pm

sorry, yes i did not read the explanation.

well then, i guess a super tall seatpost and stem make sense for a super tall person! and i guess that setup makes for a more upright, relaxed riding position, which has its merits as well.

btw, what tires are those? really like their fatness and the gum sidewall.