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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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