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By Anthony Tan
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The magicians at Merlin Metalworks appeared to have produced a frame that will place your opposition under a spell and allow you to effortlessly ride away from the competition, as if by magic...
A superbike from the original titanium frame company, the Merlin Agilis combines all the things Merlin are known for – like fanatical attention to quality and detail – with modern compact frame design and the clean lines of an integrated headset.
Merlin's road frames have long been a collaboration between frame designer Tom Kellogg and Merlin's torch expertise, and the Agilis continues this tradition: Kellogg (who builds highly-regarded steel frames as Spectrum Cycles) is responsible for the geometry, while the welders at Merlin's Chattanooga, Tennessee facility put the tubes together.
Merlin itself is part of the American Bicycle Group, which also owns the Litespeed, Quintana Roo and Tomac brands. But ABG has been careful to keep Merlin's own identity and features intact since acquiring the company in June 2000, and the continued involvement of Kellogg is part of that.
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Unlike stablemate Litespeed, Merlin uses only 3Al/2.5V titanium for frame tubes. The custom-made tubes are specific to each frame's size and intended use, the objective being to achieve the best possible combination of weight and ride in each size. Each frame is welded by hand with the welding process taking anywhere between three and seven hours.
6Al/4V titanium is used for the dropouts and Merlin claims it's never had a broken one.
Although the compact road range has five sizes and the standard road range 15, Merlin are happy to build custom frames for people with unique requirements, such as those with back trouble or simply too much money.
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The Agilis frame is a true work of art. A full 3Al/2.5V compact titanium frame coupled with a 1 1/8in integrated headset provides a reasonably lightweight frame without any unnecessary compromises. Weighing in at 1,413g (3.12lb), the medium-large frame size tested (equivalent to a 55.5 cm centre to centre on a traditional frame) fits into the 'light but not featherweight' category.
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Drivetrain stiffness is enhanced by 7/8in butted 'V-bend' chainstays. The beautifully sculpted hourglass seatstays make little difference to anything (when you're sitting on top of a triangle, it doesn't matter much what it's made from or how it gets there) but they sure look purdy. 6Al/4V titanium straight dropouts maintain perfect wheel alignment and allow for fast wheel changes. Angles are reasonably relaxed for an American-made production frame, with a 73 degree seat tube and 73.5 degree headtube, indicating a frame designed for road-racing purists rather than those crazy circuit riders.
The frame is complemented with the use of the top-shelf, full carbon Reynolds Ouzo road fork. This fork provides the strength, light weight and rigidity of carbon while still allowing for a certain degree of suppleness.
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There are many ways to describe these ever so sweet wheels by LEW - orgasmically gorgeous will do for now. LEW claims to be the only company in the world to use its 'Three-Dimensional, Directional Laminate Design' (3D/DL) carbon fibre process, which involves high temperature and pressure to make carbon parts with less resin and more carbon than others.
White Industries supply the super-shiny, oversize hubs that feature an aluminium shell, a 6Al/4V titanium front axle and rear drive unit and chromoly rear axle. At 1245g per pair, these babies are incredibly light for deep rim wheels.
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Our test Agilis was equipped with the reliable Shimano Ultegra groupset, using a popular combination of 39/53 chainrings, 11-23 cassette and 172.5mm cranks. Ultegra has come a long way in the last few years, but it's still not in the same league as Dura-Ace or Campagnolo Record for precision shifting and durability.
British firm Ultimate Sports Engineering (USE) provides the carbon Alien seatpost, weighing in at a mere 137 grams, a great weapon for Sigourney's handbag to fight off drunken slimeballs.
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USE are also responsible for the Spin Stix quick release skewers, the first skewers I've seen that tighten by turning the skewer clockwise rather than clamping with a traditional cam lever. I have to admit I'm not convinced that these skewers are 'simpler and more effective' as USE claims. They're undeniably light, but traditional skewers use an 'over-centre cam' design so that as you close the lever, the tension in the skewer decreases slightly in the last few degrees of the lever movement. That means to open a standard quick release lever, the skewer tension has to increase, which is impossible unless you grab the lever and pull. That's why standard QRs don't vibrate loose as you ride. We had no problems with the Spin Stix, but we'd be very careful to keep them as tight as all hell.
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Stella Azurra provide the beers… umm, I mean the stem (gimme a break here, it's a Friday). Use of 2024 aluminium keeps the weight down to 130 grams – about the same as the ITM Millenium stem and about half that of a schooner of VB. Kestrel and Selle Italia add to the cultural diversity in quality brands with the EMS Pro Road carbon handlebars and trustworthy Selle Italia Flite saddle.
The Agilis begs to be ridden hard, so in search of a serious test (for both the bike and me) I tackled the toughest stage of the 1999 Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic from Bateau Bay to Gosford. Click here to check out the race map and profile.
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The 1999 edition of the 'Bank Race', as it was affectionately known, saw Gorazd Stangelj from Slovenia fight tooth and nail all the way from Sydney to Canberra with Raimondas Rumsas, a Lithuanian then riding for the Polish MROZ team (now on Giancarlo Feretti's Fassa Bortolo squadra).
Although the stage was only 100km long, it wasn't the distance that tested the field, but the two words that strike fear into most cyclists who have raced in this area: Bumble Hill. This hill was a feature of the Bank Race for many years and has inflicted pain on every rider that has ever raced up it. It's only 3.8km in length, but it's the severity of the climb that makes it so feared, and over the years many race leaders have lost their yellow jerseys on this particular hill.
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It's claimed scalps like the great Jan Ullrich in 1993, who, at the tender age of 19, succumbed to a powerful Polish trio headed by Thomas Broznya, and lost the race lead for four days. In 1998 Robbie Hunter failed to match the power and pace of his major rivals over the top and he too lost his leader's jersey.
The stage was named in honour of the late Darren Smith, and was the most sought-after stage to win. 'Smithy' rode his way into the National team with a great stage win over Bumble Hill. It was significant gesture for Wyong Shire Council to honour the Gold Coast rider by not only placing a plaque in memory on the crest of the hill, but to also name a cycleway in the heart of Wyong Shire in his honour.
The stage is a beauty, with a fast and undulating 48 kilometre dash to the start of the 'Rumble up the Bumble' plus some tough undulations and another steep KOM climb up Mooney Mooney, before a fast and furious final four kilometre drop into Gosford.
On an overcast day, I start my ride right at sea level from the sleepy coastal town of Bateau Bay, near The Entrance, one of the more popular holiday towns along New South Wales' Central Coast. I head north for 6km to Norahville before crossing the bridge to Warner Vale.
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As I meander my way through the numerous left and right hand turns, tapping the pedals over nicely in a 39x15, the Agilis responds diligently and with poise. I can almost hear her talk, telling me how happy she is to be here, breathing in the beautiful coastal air and doing what she knows best. I can now understand why a growing number of former city dwellers now live in this beautiful area - it has so much to offer for those who yearn for an idyllic lifestyle by the coast but still wish to be close to Sydney. There I go again, always a dreamer - I'm not selling real estate here, so I tell myself off for daydreaming, concentrate on the job at hand and get down to business.
From Warner Vale, I continue for another 35 kilometres along the undulating roads of the Yarramalong Valley to the base of Bbbbumble Hill. I can't believe how nervous I am - those last two words really do bring tremors to my lips, even on a training ride. With an easterly wind blowing in from the coast, the ride so far is superb; a short while ago it almost felt as if the Agilis were tempting me to move into the big chainring. The LEW Palmero wheels come into a league of their own and lap up the miles. My confidence grows - I mutter to myself 'Bumble shumble' with an air of over-confidence... very over.
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I make a left turn and my newfound poise is short-lived - this climb takes no prisoners. I raced up this berg on a number of occasions some years ago, and know the 'Rumble up the Bumble' is an unrelenting 3,800 metres of pure torture - and yes, you count the metres on this climb, not the kilometres. I try to concentrate on my breathing and in an effort to maintain a fluid pedal stroke. No prizes for guessing the gear I'm in right now… you got it: 39x23, hands perched on the hoods and pushing hard.
It's these sort of climbs where a light, stiff bike really makes a difference. The last 1.5km is all out-of-the-saddle, pure blood, sweat and tears. Having seen some of the world's best amateurs walk up this last section, I consider myself fortunate to have ridden up this climb relatively unscathed, albeit in a zig-zig manner. I probably did an extra 100m weaving from one side of the road to the other, but I'm still alive and reasonably fresh. Thanks Merlin.
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From the KOM I head due south towards Sydney along Peats Ridge Road and then the Old Pacific Highway towards Mooney Mooney. The next 33k is pretty much downhill, with a couple of long drags and one nasty pinch called Blood Hill that puts my legs back in their place after some smooth spinning in the big ring. The Kestrel carbon bars prove to be just as comfy in the drops as my ITM Millenniums. Lucky I saved some petrol in the tank - after all, I've still got a 4km climb to go.
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I'm obviously a touch weary when I begin the climb of Mooney Mooney. I start hallucinating, imagining there are thousands of people (I'm talking Tour de France size) 'mooning' me in honour of the name of this climb. I start pissing myself laughing. I told you I was tired.
After the KOM I know there's only 10km to go, so I dig a bit deeper and the Agilis complies. The Kestrel carbon bars prove to be just as rigid as my ITM Milleniums (although they'd be literally earth-shattering in a crash). It really does feel like I'm spellbound under the guidance of the wizards at Merlin. I pass Old Sydney Town, make a right hand turn back onto the Pacific Highway again, and head towards Gosford. The last 7km are fast, super fast, and the LEW carbon wheels are lovin' every second of it as I have my first chance to wind it out in the 11 cog.
The finish in Gosford is thankfully where my car is temporarily parked and where KFC is permanently parked. Sorry to the nutritionists out there, I just can't resist (not that I'm putting up much of a fight). After such an awesome ride I deserve a bit of grease, and treat myself to the succulent taste and glorious smell of two Zinger burgers with that secret blend of herbs and spices and an ice-cold Pepsi.
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I have to admit I was a touch sceptical about titanium frames. They seemed to go in and out of fashion very quickly, and now appear to be 'back in', with Litespeed supplying the Lotto-Adecco squad and Merlin supplying bikes to the Irish National Team.
The scepticism dissipated after about 10 kilometres. In short, quality titanium offers the liveliness of a steel frame, almost the same shock absorbency as carbon fibre, and the stiffness of aluminium. Many people turn their frames over on a semi-regular basis, so for them longevity is not really as much of an issue compared to those who want a bike for life. If you fall into the latter category, have some serious funds stashed in the bank or are about to rob one, then Merlin titanium is for you.
The combination of a titanium frame and deep rim carbon fibre wheelset is possibly a little too harsh for regular training. However this is a thoroughbred race machine; you'd use standard wheels for training. In doing this, you will further appreciate just how much faster (or think how much faster) the LEW wheels make you go. The passion, effort, and technology that have gone into these wheels has produced a phenomenal result.
The Agilis is an ultra responsive bicycle, a little twitchy for my liking, especially with the Reynolds Ouzo forks that have only 4cm of rake. When cornering, I noticed that not as much lean or weight on the outside pedal was required to execute tight turns that I gradually became accustomed to.
Using the generic Ultegra groupset allowed me to judge the bicycles' worth without compromising my judgement on ride quality if I were to use Dura-Ace or Record for example. My personal preference is still carbon fibre, being a previous owner of Daniele Nardello's Colnago C-40; however, the Merlin Agilis is definitely up there in my list of '5 bicycles I would like to own most'.
A special thanks to Mark Rowling at Turramurra Cyclery, a guy who provides me with a level of service warranted for a rider of Johan Museeuw's calibre. Mark realises that I have never and will never, ever, reach that level, but gives me great service anyway.
Full specification: Merlin AgilisFrame: Merlin Agilis Cranks: Shimano Ultegra 53/39 |
RRP (complete bike): AU$9,500Wheels: LEW Palmero (tubular only) Stem: Stella Azurra ViceVersa Alloy Pro Pedals: Time Magnesium (rider's own) More information: BicycleExoticaDirect website, Merlin website, LEW website, USE website |
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