Blondbeard's Many Projects

I've been lurking here for quite a while, so figured it was time to share some of the projects I've had over the years. Several of which have been inspired by other builds on here. This will take a while and I'll try to do it chronologically.

The beginning. It's 2007, and I've been out of uni for a few years. Have decided I need to take up some sort of exercise to keep in shape, so off I went to Merlin Cycles and bought a custon Rock Lobster 853 for £999. At the time this seemed like a lot of cash.

This was back when mountain biking was mountain biking and I enjoyed riding it around the woodlands and farmer's fields of North Hampshire for a year.

2008 and I've been sent on assignment with work to Southern California. The Rock Lobster came with, but didn't really see any use. Instead, I bought my first road bike, something made in the USA - a Cannondale Six13, with 9 speed ultegra 6600.

Incredibly, this was after a bike fitting session. I guess it's an American fit, but I didn't know any better.

Global economic chaos meant that in 2009 I had returned home to the UK. And within a couple of weeks, both the Cannondale and the Rock Lobster were stolen from my garden shed. A rather generous insurance payout kick-started my career as a home mechanic, and I put together a Cervelo S1 and an On One Scandal to replace the stolen bikes.
The Scandal had 3x9 speed XTR, Reba 100mm and Magura Marta brakes. The S1 was 9 speed ultegra 6600 SL, an ice grey version they did for while.

BDHU, lol! Still have the Cervelo, so more to come on this one later.

I had been well and truly bitten by the cycling (and mechanic-ing) bug. I was enjoying the On One, but wanted something a bit flashier. A bit of time on ebay and I picked up a used 2005 Merlin Oreas frame, and some bargain SID World Cups.

The Merlin was awesome and really fast, but it wasn't great for the trail centre riding that was taking off. More time on ebay and I had a 2008 Stumpjumper FSR frame to build up with 9 speed XTR drivetrain, Rockshox Rebas and Stan's wheels.

I never really bonded with the Stumpy, which sat in the shed unloved for many years until it was stripped and sold for good money during Covid. The Merlin also sat in the shed for some time, but had another chance - more on that later.

Shame the Rock Lobster got nicked - that was a beaut!

Yeah, fond memories of the Rock Lobster. Could be tempted if a clean one showed up for sale.

Found a better photo of the Merlin. This thing was bling. Magura Marta SL Magnesium brakes. Snapped the clamp on one when I fell off on a frosty road.

2011-ish and mountain biking is out of fashion. It's all about road riding, and the Cervelo is seeing a lot of use. Managed to piece together a used Sram Red group from ebay. Felt like a huge upgrade: 10 speed, hidden cables, crabon fiber and no floppy shimano brake levers. Also some used Sram alu-carbon wheels which looked kinda cool. The ultegra and ksyriums were moved onto my wife's pink Planet X.

Decided with some pals that we'd do the Paris Roubaix sportive in 2013. I knew the S1 wouldn't be a good bike for this, having ridden it in Flanders. So, I picked up a Cervelo R5 VWD frameset which were being knocked-out at half price for some reason. My first "Sunday Best" bike, though over the years it gradually became first choice and the S1 was sidelined a bit.

First choice included doing Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the wet on Chinese carbon. 😬