The new Merlin
Cyclocross frame draws from our own experience on the
rocky cyclocross courses of New England, so it's no
surprise that the CX is designed for lightweight
agility. Head angles are laid back to better cope
with rocks, roots, and other 'cross course
indignities. Bottom brackets are raised, of course,
for pedaling clearance. And the rear triangle employs
Merlin's famous S-Bends in both chainstays and
seatstays for supple compliance and generous tire
clearance.
MTS325
Seamless Tubing
But the key to the
CX's true performance advantage is our MTS325
seamless tubing. All CX frames, whether Extralight
(with butted tubing) or Road (with straight-gauge
tubing_ use a heavy-duty blend of Merlin'' certified
titanium in the front triangle for extra strength and
rigidity. By increasing the diameter and at the same
time thinning the walls of these seamless tubes, the
frame's solidity is maintained while weight is kept
strictly in check. In fact, Extralight CX frames
start at an exceptionally light 2.71 pounds.
Large-diameter
S-Bend Chainstay
This rock-solid
foundation would be useless if you couldn't get power
to the ground. Thus, all CX frames use the same
large-diameter S-Bend chainstay design that carried
the Merlin XLM to two World Championships. The CX
borrows the XLM seatstays, too, but in a special
configuration engineered for greater compliance, to
keep the rear wheel planted no matter what. And yes,
the CX also gets our exclusive Centermount cantilever
design for unparalleled braking response, and top
tube cable guides for easy bike shouldering over
course obstacles.
It all adds up to a
bike that, says Patrick Brady in a Bicycle Guide
review, "is probably the finest 'cross frame
I've ridden. Titanium is arguably the best material
when it comes to this particular off-rad pursuit.
Think about it: no rust, ever. You're practically
guaranteed never to break the frame. And as many a
respected 'cross builder has pointed out, a
cyclocross bike must be light. The Merlin has all
this in spades."
In short, the
Merlin CX raises the art of the cyclocross frame to a
new level. Whether you plan to use it for racing,
winter training, or as an all-round mount for
everyday use, the Merlin CX will exceed your
expectations for a lifetime of unequalled
performance.
Suggested
Retail Price (frame only):
$1999
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