1993 Merlin Extralight

I'll probably get flamed for this but anyway: close to completed, still have to add the headbadge, chainrings, chain, cables and bartape...

them handlebars...

i reckon forks+stem+paintjob is new? threadless for road bikes didnt really exist in 93 did it?

I think apart from the frame itself none of these parts existed in 1993, apart from the handlebars and with a possible exception for the rims (did Mavic do ceramic coated Open Pros in 93?).

I bought the fork and stem in 2007 when I build up my first rendition of this bike, which was quite different from its new looks. These handlebars have been chosen to provide a platform for lights and a GoPro camera as it is my long distance bike.

I love it! Just my kind of bike.

Change saddle + black seat post & stem + proper bars = gully

Yes!
Great looking bike.

.

Change saddle + black seat post & stem + proper bars = boring

ftfy

Looking forward to see this finished :)

Well, seems that I cannot use my own username anymore and that quite a few comments are gone

I'll repost what I posted yesterday, since that post and the comments to it are gone:
A neat solution for the handlebar. We've used one set of Brooks bar tape on each side, clamped the ends of the two lenghts of tape under de brake lever and went up and down from there...

Completed...

looks pretty nice, not sure about the cambium though. :/

Thanks, I have a Regal titanium in case the Cambium does not work out for me

Lovely. What's the tubing?

It's the usual 3-2.5 titanium tubing. I don't think Merlin used anything else in those days?

Some more pics and a build list...

Frame: Merlin Extralight, 57cm, 1993, Wine Red (RAL 3005)

Fork/Headset: Ritchey Pro / Campagnolo Record

Crankset/Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Chorus carbon UT 10sp cranks, 172.5mm, 53/39

Pedals: Speedplay X2 Stainless

Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain: Campagnolo Veloce 10sp cassette, 12/25 / KMC 10SL

Derailleurs/Shifters: Campagnolo Record 10sp short cage / Campagnolo Chorus 10sp Ergopower

Handlebars/Stem: Scott Drop-in, 42 cm w/Brooks leather bar tape / Syntace F99, 105mm w/titanium bolts

Saddle/Seatpost: Brooks Cambium C17 / Campagnolo Chorus titanium

Brakes: Campagnolo Chorus Skeleton

Hubs/Rims/Spokes/Tires: Campagnolo Record / Mavic Open Pro Ceramic+ / DT Comp / Veloflex

Others: Elité Ciussi stainless steel bottle holders w/syntace titanium bolts

not sure about the cambium though

just wait till you notice the bars. ;)

Love those Scott bars, same as Greg Lemond used back in the days if I'm not mistaken?

That's a beauty! (Give or take some licence for functional bars...)
'scuse my ignorance, but what was the original purpose of that bar shape? (Assuming it wasn't to provide mounting points for lights and a camera?)

It's a typical bar from the era when all sorts of aerodynamic experiments were done. In theory Scott figured that it would provide the rider with an aerodynamic position with a low torso and the arms close to the head tube. In reality it proved to be a platform to show that they sponsored Greg Lemond (the only rider in the European pro scene who used these bars, though I've never seen him actually use the extensions).

Bars seem like they should look out of place, but I honestly love them on this.

That's a fantastic looking bike, lovely colour and some very nice details.

I'd swap the chainrings for some polished ones and then it'd be perfect.

Im just repeating what everyone else allrdy said but this is rather lovely!

Seems Lemond did sometimes use the extensions...

but will you?

absolutely lovely build this. I wouldnt change a thing

I actually raced with these bars in the early nineties (mainly because as a teenager I was a huge Lemond fan) but they had been in the spare parts bin for two decades. I decided to use them again because I wanted a platform for a GoPro camera as well as a place to mount the lights during long rides, because I want to keep the top of the bars free for my hands (especially while climbing I go "all over the the place"). Last summer, during my holiday in France, I fell in love with the bars again, appreciating the bend of the drops, the position of the brake levers (that's why I sourced a Scott Drop LF for my gravelbike) and - yes - going downhill I even tried and liked the extensions. They're not sexy but exactly what I need.

Just had five weeks of fun with it in Burgundy again. Switched the saddle to a Regal titanium because that's what I used on my bikes in Amsterdam. Damaged one of the Veloflex tires on some rough tarmac. Still completely in love with the Merlin, can"t wait to be back in France in April...