Our Reader’s Rig of the week comes from Mer in Arkansas, who shares the 1996 DEAN Colonel she bought for $200 and thoughtfully rebuilt into a showstopper that balances budget-friendly and boutique bits. Meet Mer and see her DEAN here…
Words by Mer Wilder, photos by Jason B.
I’m Mer (pronounced MUR), from a little bit of everywhere, and I currently call Northwest Arkansas home. I work in tourism, but bikes have been a constant for me. I started volunteering in bike kitchens back in the aughts, became a mechanic, worked my way up to head tech, and eventually owned a few bike businesses. I’ve spent many years around bikes, but I’m still happiest when I’m learning something new, loading one up, and heading out. Here in NWA, I help organize the cycling group Dilly Dally, where we mostly eat hot dogs, play in the creek, sleep on the ground, and sometimes ride bikes.
When I first got into the bike business, I was broke. Like, really broke. I was always enamored by the custom builds my coworkers were putting together, complete with White Industries parts and all sorts of fancy bits I definitely couldn’t afford. I dreamed of building something of my own, but there was always a more responsible place for my money, like feeding the cat (my numero uno handsome man, Bean).
Eventually, I reached a point in adulthood where I felt like I could actually spend some money on a bike. Naturally, I went all in… on a budget. Our local bike nonprofit, Pedal It Forward, originally received the frame as a donation. I bought it from them mostly complete for $200. The rims were cracked, but those XTR M950 hubs are worth their weight in gold, so I chopped them out and laced them up to a set of Velocity Cliffhangers. That also let me run tubeless tires, which is a nice bonus because this bike is a great little trail ripper, and the Ozarks aren’t exactly gentle on tires.
Mer’s 1996 DEAL Colonel Build
Frame: 1996 DEAN Colonel
Fork: Surly
Rims: 26” Velocity Cliffhanger
Hubs: Shimano XTR M950
Tires: MAXXIS Icons
Handlebars: Stridsland Bullship Bar
Headset: Cane Creek
Crankset: Paul 100%
Pedals: MKS Gamma
Cassette: Microshift Advent MX CS-EG116 11-50
Derailleur(s): Microshift Advent MX Pro RD-M7015M
Brakes: Avid SD 3.0 L pulling Avid Speed
Shifter(s): Microshift Advent MX SL-M7115-R
Saddle: Cambium C19 Carved
Seatpost: Raceface XY
Other accessories: Izzoio Cycle’s (Flower Holder) Stem Cap, Dark Realm Top Tube Protector, King Cage
Everything else is a bit of a menagerie: things I’ve collected in the parts bin over the years, along with a few quality budget parts I wanted to try, including the MX group. It’s not the fanciest bike I’ve ever built, but it might be one of the most fun. As far as the photos… Lucas wasn’t overly specific when he said “10-15 high-resolution shots of your bike,” and my wife is a great model. And if you’re ever in Northwest Arkansas, join a Dilly Dally. It’ll be fun, probably!
You can see more from Mer on Instagram.
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Further Reading
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