1993 Merlin Mountain
Merlin Metal Works was founded in 1986 by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich, and Mike Augsperger in Cambridge, MA. Gary had previously worked at Fat City Cycles and had built a small number of titanium mountain bikes there. Although titanium had been applied to bicycle fabrication for some time, including full titanium road bikes from Speedwell and Teledyne, it's reputation for failure made people suspicious of the wonder metal for mountain bike use. Merlin set about changing that with process control over the welding and the use of larger diameter tubing. Merlin would go on to use titanium for an array of frame innovations including elevated chainstays, suspension systems, S-bent stays, and butted tubing. Merlin's reputation for quality would see them become a popular choice across the US and Europe, and no longer just an East Coast bike. As is the case with this example, Merlin bikes often got built up with a host of aftermarket parts including many from Wilderness Trail Bikes. In 1993, Merlin Mountains like this one got larger diameter S-bend stays which countered the tendency for titanium to be flexy. This was also one of the last years that the frames came with the option of rollercam bosses, now mounted on the seatstays instead of the chainstays where U-brakes were typically found. The bikes are comfortable and handle incredibly well.
The Build
Year: 1993
S/N: 8551 Frame: Merlin Mountain Fork: Type II by Steve Potts Stem: TD LD Headset: Shimano XTR M900 Bottom Bracket: White Industries Titanium Handlebar: WTB / Specialized RM-2 Shifters: Shimano XTR M900 w/ DKG Mounts Front Derailleur: Shimano XTR M900 Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR M900 Brake Levers: Sugino 75 Carbon Front Brake: WTB Speedmaster Togglecam Rear Brake: WTB Speedmaster Togglecam Crankset: Grafton Speed Sticks Chainrings: Shimano XTR 26-36-46 Pedals: Grafton Speed Trap Hubs: Wilderness Trail Bikes Grease Guard Rims: Mavic 231 Ceramic Tires: WTB Velociraptor 2.1 Umma-Gumma Wheel QR: Cunningham Slo-Release Seatpost: TD Fixed Angle Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Bar Tape: Newbaums Freewheel: TNT Performance Dura Ace 8 Speed Chain: Shimano IG |
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