Troy Merkle is one rider whose riding has always stood out to me. There’s something about the way he puts all four of his pegs and freecoaster to proper use that really looks good. When his part from The Daily Grind DVD dropped online the other week, I started thinking it would be a good idea to get ahold of him to take a closer look at his bike. It just so happens that he currently has two setups that he’s running these days; one for street and one for flatland. So we decided to do a bike check for both of his bikes! Let’s take a closer look at this freecoasting, double tire riding wizards setups!
Name: Troy Merkle
Location: Dayton, OH
Sponsors: The Daily Grind
Years Riding: 16
Frame: Verde Cartel 2 20.5
Bars: Daily Grind Century Bars
Grips: ODI Longnecks
Fork: Giant Method Forks
Stem: Giant Method topload
Headset: Cult
Cranks: Mosh Digital 2
Pedals: Daily Grind PC
Sprocket: Prototype Daily Grind 25t fullguard
Chain: Cult
Bottom Bracket: Verde
Seat / post / clamp: Primo Seat, Season Pivital Post
Front Wheel / Tire: Daily Grind Front hub laced to a Ezra 36 spoke rim with a Stolen Joint 2.3 Tire
Rear Wheel / Tire: Federal Reverse Freecoaster laced to a Primo 36 spoke rim with a Stolen Joint 2.2 tire
Pegs: Four metal Ezra 3.75″ Pegs
Hub guards: Daily Grind 4140 guards on all fours!
Brakes? none
Modifications: I took half the metal pins out of my pedals and trimmed my bars 3/4″ on both ends
Frame: Prototype Season frame from 2007 (only two were made and the other was broke at a skatepark.
There are similiar frames on the market but Im sure this one is one of a kind)
Bars: Daily Grind Century bars
Grips: ODI longnecks
Fork: Primo Flatland forks with minimal offset
Stem: Season V2 stem
Headset: Stolen
Cranks: Ezra 175mm
Pedals: Primo PC
Sprocket: Giant method 25t
Chain: Cult
Bottom Bracket: I honestly do not know. It’s been in there for several years.
Seat / post / clamp: Infinity Cycles post and seat.
Front Wheel / Tire: Shadow 3/8 36spoke laced to Shadow rim Giant Solo tires 2.1’s front and back
Rear Wheel / Tire: KHE Geisha lite laced to a Primo 36spoke rim
Pegs: Stolen Silencer plastic pegs on all fours
Hub guards: none
Brakes? none
Modifications: I trimmed the seat post down to get it the right height.
What do you go through the most on both bikes?
I would say tubes, tires and chains
What’s the oldest part on both bikes?
On my street bike, the freecoaster is almost 7 years old. It’s the oldest part on my bike for sure. And on my flatland bike, the frame is the oldest part on it. I was given the frame about 5-6 years ago and slowely dialed it in over the years.
Do you have to have your bike setup a certain way like the bars in a specific place, or can you pretty much ride however?
I’m not too picky about any certain thing on my bike. Bar position I usually just go with the parellel with your forks rule. I like to run a lot of air pressure in my tires and keep my wheels trued the best I can.
Does your setups ever real change much? I know you have been pretty consistent with that 4 pegs and free coaster for a bit now.
I started riding freecoasters about 8 years ago. I had brakes and took them off a few months later and added the 4th peg about the same time. I would have to relearn riding with a cassette again since it has been so long. I get on other peoples bikes and it feels so foreign to me. Unless I build a bike for the trails or something I will always have a freecoaster. It just seems so right to me.
Actually… What’s your opinion on freecoasters these days? Seems like everyone is working on “the best one out”.
I’m glad there are more options now these days. But honestly I think freecoasters have been good for several years. The freecoaster on my street bike has lasted me years of serious abuse with little to no mantaince.
So you have two bikes these days. One for street and one for flatland. When did you decide to build up an extra flatland bike? Is it a fairly recent thing or have you always had one?
I’ve had some flatland bikes over the years but none that were worth riding much. I’ve always had a hard time keeping one bike that works let alone two. For years I just kinda kept my street bike borderline flatland and played around on it. But the past year I’ve had this bike built and been using it specifically for flat. I love having a dialed flat bike I can post up and session whenever.
How long have you been riding flatland? I guess I never really knew you did that even though your riding is pretty heavily influenced by it.
Flatland is what got me into riding. When I first saw it I couldnt beleive that stuff was even possible and still feel the same way about it. As I got a little older I kinda gained some patience and became more of a loner. The last 3-4 years I’ve started to really get into and dedicate time to it. I’m hooked. I feel that I’m progressing and getting better month by month but my skill level is still amateur compared to most flat riders. As with every genre of BMX these days, Flatland is getting so insane.
How are things going with The Daily Grind these days? I know you have a fair amount of input on things with the brand, right? Care to let us in on what’s cooking product wise these days?
The Daily Grind is awesome. Gremlin has been running the brand for about a year and a half now and I’m excited for the progress he has made. It has exceeded my expectations by far. It was one of those things where the day he mentioned his idea to us, we instantly knew who was gonna be on the team and had been filming for a year already. It just felt right and fell into place from the very begining. Everyone on the team has known each other and riding mostly street together for the last 10+ years. Each member of the team have their duties other than just riding and representing the company. My duty’s seem to be shooting photo’s and keeping my car tuned up and ready for the road.
I know the whole Daily Grind crew stays on the move. Do you have any trips planned for the summer at all? Where are some places you would like to go?
We do our best. We all work full time jobs and have a lot going on. So any oppurtunity we have to go ride we take advantage of for sure. I’ve put some serious miles on my car the last few years.(130,000 to be exact) There are quite a few amazing citys to ride in a 5 hour radius of where we live. We’ve been traveling together for so long now it just seems right. We get 4-5 of us piled in my car, pick a destination where the weather is good, and spend every last dollar we have to go ride. We are definently weekend warriors. As far as places we would like to go, they are endless. None of us have ever got to travel abroad to ride or anything like that, however there are so many uncharted places we have never been within driving distance and in the states. If you look hard enough good riding spots could be absolutely anywhere. I love traveling and searching for spots. I feel I will be 70 years old and still staring out the window of my car looking for handrails.
You have been off Giant for a few months now. Do you have any fresh sponsors in the works or is it really just The Daily Grind these days?
Yep, as of now it’s just the Daily Grind. I don’t have anything lined up or in the works. I would totally be down to ride for a company that is into my riding and wants to help me do my thing. I’d love the help but I’ve been supporting my BMX habit on my own my whole life now and sponsors or not I am gonna push my riding as far as I can regardless.
I know you stay pretty consistent with filming. When can we expect a fresh edit from you? Will we ever get to see a flatland edit out of you?
I really enjoy filming. It’s a constant motivation to do your best. I am working on an edit right now. It will be a second promo video for my handlebars with the DG. I have a couple clips I am really proud of but I have some more filming to do for it. I have always wanted to do a flatland only edit however I have never sat down and filmed a flatland move. I would be proud of it but in comparison to the level of flatland riding these days it would be very amateur. Some day.
Are you filming for any DVD parts at all? You killed it in The Daily Grind DVD.
Thank you! filming video parts is what its about. However I dont have any plans as of right now for any upcoming full lengths. Hopefully soon, until then I will keep filming for web video’s and do my best to promote my signature handlebar.
Where have you been getting most of your riding time in these days? Any spots you have been real stoked on?
I’ve been to the Detroit, Louisville, Cincinatti, Columbus area’s the last couple months. The Word dudes from Louisville took us to a amazing halfpipe spot behind a business in rural Kentucky a couple weeks ago. I’m thankful to have got to ride a setup like that. Finding (or being taken to in this case) hidden treasure spots like that is what makes BMX so awesome.
You’re pretty much a double tire ride wizard… How the hell did you get so good? What’s the trick to doing those besides having massive balls?
Confidence and courage. I got good at doing them on low consequence setups then when I found a good but scary setup I would just convence myself it would work perfectly. “you can’t have no in your heart” when it comes to things like that. wait for your pitch and make it happen. Being good at feeble and smith grinds help save your butt if you miss also.
What have you been getting into when you aren’t riding these days? Any new hobbies? Are you working or anything?
I’ve been working for my father moving house’s fulltime. It’s real hard work but it keeps me pretty busy and active. I really enjoy photography, art, working on my house, travel, life’s mysterys, and relaxing in my hammock.
What’s the last song you heard, movie you watched and website you visited?
“Burnin For You” by the Blue Oyster Cult, Forest Gump and ApartmentTherapy.com
Are you on any of the social media stuff? Twitter, Instagram, etc. etc.? How can people keep up with you?
I don’t really facebook or twitter, But I enjoy instagram @troymerkle
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to my family, all of my wonderful friends, and anyone in life who has been nice to me.
Anything else you want to say?
Life is short, be kind, get rad.
