well then, looky what I've got:
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
mmmmm TASTY!
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
thats the intriguing wonder that is the floating rear brake
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
which does look kinda tasty doesn't it
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
front end sorted out with some Talas R's
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
cockpit view, that top tube looks really nice,
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
just large enough for a pleasent pastorial scene
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
the rear end is spring by a fox RP23
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
rear will be consisting mostly of Shimano XT
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Wheels sets are DT, Maxxis 60a Minions were a little draggy on the ride home but should grip like the proverbial passings upon the blanket
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
and the seat (a nice enough gobi) is held in place by a very annoying shonky Joplin that needs to go back to 2pure asap!
The brief ride home from www.thebigadventurestore.com was, moderately uneventful (a bit of play in the stem but I sorted that out easy enough), the ride however is, first impressions, quick, pedal bob doesn't seem to be an issue, it actually pedals really well, the geometry is quick the head angle is a little steeper than I'm used to but only slightly and it still feels good, the weight is good (32lbs) and easy enough to hop over things and the braking is excellent.
looking forward to taking it out and giving it a proper test tomorrow!!
actually, sod it, I'm off for a ride!! 😆
I really like the look of that.....
Hopster, if you're out there......... how about geting me a loaner for the summer????
its nice, the slightly steeper top tube and shorter forks make for snappy handling although being used to a long travel hardtail such a forward position feels a little OTB's, that said I'm getting used to it and It flew up(!) and down a double flight of stairs without a second thought, the rear suss gives constant traction and the Magura Louise could stop a corral of runaway shirehorses, Ton, these could be the perfect brakes for you me old mucka! 😉
but that damn loose seat post is intolerable!
so far its a very nice ride, quick and precise with no pedal bobbing, its climbs very well. 100% suitable for all day jaunts, can't wait to let it loose tomorrow, I don't intend to be sitting down very much so I should be able to ignore the shonky seat post, shame because it goes up and down really well, its just the side to side motion I'm not keen on! 😀
woohahahaa! I've got me hands on a thomson post!! happy days!
Woooow thats alot of bike!
I like it!
trying to work out the brake isolation thingy though.
it eliminates brake jack! its quite a thing, so tempted to swap all my kit over on to it!!
That is such a nice bike, looks very cool indeed. Whats the travel on the back 6"
its a 2009 Merida ONE-FIVE-0 3800-D
the full spec is:
SPEEDS27
SIZES 17
COLOR White
FRAME One-Five-O Float-D
SHOCK Fox RP23
FORK Fox 36Talas R 100-130-160
BB SET attached
BRAKE LEVERS Magura Louise Bat
BRAKES F/R Magura Louise Bat 203/180 mm
CHAIN Shimano CN-HG73
CHAINWHEEL Shimano XT 44-32-22
DERAILLEURS F/R Shimano XT/Shimano XT Shadow
FREEWHEEL Shimano CS-M770 11-34
GRIPLOCK Ring Dual
HANDLEBAR FSA XC 281AOS Rise
STEM FSA OS-XT
HEADSET BB410 Neck
HUBS F/R DT Swiss disc-20/disc-10
PEDALS Wellgo Mag
RIMS DT Swiss E540 disc
SADDLE Fizik Gobi XM OE
SEAT CLAMP Merida Aero 35 QR ST
SEATPOST CrankBrothers Joplin 31.6 (shortly to be swapped out for a thomson)
SHIFTER F/R Shimano XT rapidfire
TIRE F/R Maxxis Minion DHF 2.35 Kevlar
It comes in about 2.5k
you get about 6 inches of travel, its vvvvery nice!
Looks like the perfect machine, for riding in the Woods Behind Nationwide in Swindon...
Wow thats a lot of bike.
Had some shonky reviews tho....
and WHY does it need a floating caliper? They gave up on that with big DH bikes ages ago
It's been two months since the initial post, how have you two got on since then? I won 50% off any new Merida bike at the last round of their marathon series at the weekend and as i've got a 100mm bike i like, i'm thinking maybe a big play bike may be on the cards so would like to know our thoughtson it now?
There was one at the Hanchurch Demo evening. I didn't ride it,but those that did,liked it. I followed it on technical,rooty section,he was faster on it,than his own hard tail.
that looks like a lot of fun...
Charlie - on bikes without floating callipers, the rear brake acts as a suspension lock-out device.
some people notice it, some people don't. i do, and these systems are brilliant.
(you could say that braking induced lock out is a bit like the rattly go-go-gadget seatpost, My inspector gadget seatpost is very rattly, but it doesn't bother me. A friend of mine rides a kona coiler, the brake-lock on that thing is awful, i can't ride it, but my friend claims it doesn't bother him)
you can buy bolt-on systems for most bikes from brake therapy. and some bikes have the same effect built-in, the classic 4-bar (ellsworth, Demo, hemlock, trek abp) is about the best way to do it.
I wish i'd seen that Merida about 3 months ago...