1993 Merlin Mountain

[Skynet]

The RC30's arrived. The fronts are fine, just a couple of small marks. Tried to sort out the rust scabs/pits on the back but didn't make as much difference as I'd hoped. I'll have another session on them. Once they're on you're not really going to notice anyway.

Waiting for Ash's canti hangers (as I only have the 1 Psycho hanger), bars and chainrings to arrive, hopefully tomorrow. Then I'm just waiting for the shims, hopefully not for too long.

 

[Skynet]

Re:

Bars and hangers arrived. The chainrings from Activesport still not here, have received things from Germany, Hungary and Finland in the mean time, useless.

"Slight" problem with the bars though. With the Salsa stem not having a removable face plate and the bars a fair bend to them, they won't go on. Didn't even occur to me for some reason :? Nice bars though!

So seeing if anything decent has come up on eBay, nothing on here that I've noticed.

 

[Minifreak]

How about the Titec bar under eBay item 221619218110 , some bar end crimping but will be covered by grips.

Most new straight bars are now 31.8mm diameter.

 

[Skynet]

Hi Tim, I put in an offer for those Prestige ones we said about before, 221623929529. Not going to be light but the right age and would do until I found what I really wanted, assuming he accepts.

Did see the 2 Titecs Ti's, just looked tatty for the price but might have to do.

Edit: Bought the Prestige bars.

 

[Skynet]

My brother came over today to see the new parts that had arrived and brought the wheels over with him. Couple of problems cropped up.

First was that it didn't occur to either of us that a suspension hub won't fit on to RC30 forks, obvious when you try though!

What we've decided to do is swap wheels. The WI wheels will now be for the Adroit as the polished hubs suit it more and the Nuke Proof/Campag Sthenos wheels from the Adroit will go on the Merlin as they look better on there.

Trouble is the Nuke Proof is still a suspension hub so still wont fit. So for now it will run Hope Ti/ Mavic something that my brother has until I can find some Ritchey Logic forks and sling the RC30's.

Secondly, looks like the loose sprockets on the "NOS" Real Racing cassette are from some random Shimano cassette nothing to do with it and the 11t doesn't fit. Its meant to be a 12-32 not 11-32. So I'll have to sort out a 12t and put that on the Adroit, the Merlin will use the M900 that's on the Nuke Proof wheels. The Real wouldn't have lasted long anyway so the swap makes sense.

Oh and to wrap up a crapfest of a day, the rare short Salsa stem arrived today and it's not a Salsa just cost Salsa money. Not sure what it is but it's made in Taiwan and weighs as much as frame (slight exaggeration).

 

[elPedro666]

Re:

More like Friday 13th than Saturday! :shock:

Handy having a few builds on the go at these times, glad you sorted most of it out, good luck with the rest

 

[Skynet]

Yeah, it wasn't the best day.

The RC30's might be the only fork I could have bought where the wheel wouldn't fit. Not the sort of thing that even crosses your mind, well not mine. Was originally going to go with RC35's hence the front suspension hub, good idea anyway in case rigid doesn't work out.

So used to not having to think about whether a bar will fit through the stem that it didn't occur to me either. Not wasted as it's a nice bar, comfy and light, so will go on someone's bikes. Just a pain.

Agreed on a part refund on the stem, might be able to use it for something, like an anchor for a cruise liner . Not looked at the cassette yet but think we've probably one we can pinch the 12t from.

 

[Skynet]

Everything other than the shims for the fork has now arrived. The last arrivals are an Elite Ciussi bottle cage, the Tioga Prestige bars and 2nd "everyday" set of pedals.

The Ciussi is a bit lardy for what it is but looks smart.

Think the Graftons will be for Sunday best and SPD's for normal day to day. Had thought about some NOS M737's but they're becoming pricey, so bought some M9000's. Close to ½lb lighter, should clear mud better and cheaper than M737's have been going for. The 9000's look fine but don't feel particularly smooth, flicking them they do about ½ a turn, Graftons about 2. Will see what my brother thinks.

The bars aren't light, although 266g for steel isn't too bad I guess. Still lighter than the Ritchey Classic's I bought for the Hot, theses are shorter and straighter though. Will do fine for now and best thing is that they fit the stem.

Still looking for different forks, gold Syncros rings and bars. Couple of people are going to get back to me about forks when they have a minute.

 

[Minifreak]

Are you still going rigid? I haven't had time to swap out my RC35's but you will get first dibs.

 

[Skynet]

Yes, at least to start with. Have a feeling the RC30's are going to be too harsh and will try something like Ritchey's or Tange Superlight's (plus the wheel will fit them). If it's still too harsh then we'll go with suspension.