New bike idea (need help)

TriedandTested

TriedandTested

TriedandTested

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Rock Lobster B-52

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/Rock_Lobster_bikes.html

Top one.

rock_lobster_B52.jpg


*New for 2005 the Rock Lobster B-52 All Mountain frame, designed for more hardcore XC riding
*Easton RAD tubing designed for use with 130-150mm travel forks
*Handbuilt wheels with Mavic XM321 disc rims
*Panaracer Cinder 2.25" tyres
*FSA oversized riser bar and stem

Rock Lobster B-52
Build 1
*Full 2006 Deore groupset
*Magura Julie Hydraulic disc brakes
*Magura Phaon U-turn forks
Build 2
*Full 2006 Shimano Hone groupset
*Dual control disc brakes with 203mm rotors
*Magura Phaon u-turn forks
*Build 3
*Shimano XT groupset
*Hope Mono M4 disc brakes front & rear
*Marzocchi All Mountain 3 forks

All groups have handbuilt wheels on Mavic XM321 rims, with Panaracer Cinder 2.25" tyres.
FSA oversize riser bars & stem.
Please feel free to call or email for further info or a custom build

Any good? I'm a little out of touch these days with my current mountain bike being approx 8-10 years old. :o
 
Tried&Tested said:
Rock Lobster B-52

Any good? I'm a little out of touch these days with my current mountain bike being approx 8-10 years old. :o
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what do you want to do with it. I looked at the B52, looks even nicer in the flesh :).

However, i went with the Team Ti as it suited what i wanted to do more rather than the more aggressive stuff that the B52 would be better for.

If you are after a 'general' type of bike the Merlin Mat4, or the Rock Lobster Team bikes may be more suited. If possible, go and see the guys at Merlin - really really helpful bunch, but be prepared for a 2-3 week wait while they get round to building it for you!

cmt
 
Phnom_Penh said:
I'd go for 3, how much money you got?
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Don't want to spend more than the cheapest option on this bike. :)

cmt said:
what do you want to do with it. I looked at the B52, looks even nicer in the flesh :).

However, i went with the Team Ti as it suited what i wanted to do more rather than the more aggressive stuff that the B52 would be better for.

If you are after a 'general' type of bike the Merlin Mat4, or the Rock Lobster Team bikes may be more suited. If possible, go and see the guys at Merlin - really really helpful bunch, but be prepared for a 2-3 week wait while they get round to building it for you!

cmt
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Well, i've got 6 weeks off from work coming up in a few days and want to go bike riding as much as possible on all types of terrain. Wanna lose some weight and get fit. :) Really like the look of this bike, something about the simplicity of the design and the interesting colour appeals to me :)
 
Tried&Tested said:
Oh, and is 19" frame suitable for me; i'm just about 6'.
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i'm 6'0 and went for the 19" frame on the Team ti, but on the B52 it would have been the 18", but felt good and chuckable.

have you had a look at the sale bikes at merlin - they have some of the 2007 components on them - always worth a look.

cmt
 
Tried&Tested said:
Don't want to spend more than the cheapest option on this bike. :)
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Mabye not, but Merlin aren't the only people in the world who make bikes ;).
bike size said:
The following rules of thumb should be applied when you try a bike for size:

Racing Bikes: Standing flat footed on the ground, you should have a minimum of 1" clearance between yourself and the top tube of the frame

Mountain Bikes: Standing flat footed on the ground, you should have a minimum of 3" clearance between yourself and the top tube of the frame.

A simple calculation can be used to estimate your required frame size if you are not able to sit astride a bike to measure:

Measure your inside leg measurement to the floor, subtract 3" (for mountain bikes, or 1" for road bikes) then subtract 10" (the average distance from the bottom bracket to the ground). This will give you the maximum frame size that you will need.
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Merlin will have a bike geometry chart somewhere, with the exact bb height.
 
Tried&Tested said:
The Giant for £400 looks pretty tempting..but i just can't take my eyes off the Rock Lobster above! :D :o
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You don't have to ;). But it's always a good idea to review other options rather than regret something later :).

Claud Butler released a bike called an Olympus, it looks pretty pimped so it might also be worh a look ;). (there's an Olympus XT but it might be too much)
 
cmt said:
but be prepared for a 2-3 week wait while they get round to building it for you!

cmt
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"Q. How long does delivery take?

A. For most products you should receive them within 2 working days of ordering, note wheels have a build time of 5-8 days."

:D :D
 
Tried&Tested said:
"Q. How long does delivery take?

A. For most products you should receive them within 2 working days of ordering, note wheels have a build time of 5-8 days."

:D :D
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Depends how many they have in stock and where you're ordering from ;), usually I get them direct from the factory and it takes a week or so for them to build :).
 
Tried&Tested said:
What's a groupset? Mentions it in the build spec.
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Going by the picture at the top i'm not 100% sure, as it shows Zocchi forks with hone cranks and rear mech, which doesn't fit into any of the three builds.

But it generally means ie for the first groupset, that the shifters, crankset and front and rear mechs will be shimano deore. I'd go for atleats the second groupset, as Deore doesn't have hollowtech cranks.
 
Phnom_Penh said:
as Deore doesn't have hollowtech cranks.
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and what might they be?

I'm not an enthusiast like a lot of people on here..but i need a new, decent bike that's gonna last another 10 years :)

Also, how do you measure a frame..so i can compare to what i have now?
 
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