Competitive Cyclist, an online specialty retailer of road and mountain bikes, has confirmed ‘the official rebirth of Merlin handcrafted titanium road and mountain bikes.’
Competitive Cyclist put the Merlin brand on ‘a two year sabbatical’ after purchasing it in 2011. Since that time, ‘Merlin has been rebuilt on its fundamental values, but the bikes have caught up with technological advances. Merlin got its second wind.’
“Over the past two years, we have collaborated with countless industry insiders, former Merlin employees, and trusted experts, because we hoped to distill the essence of Merlin,” said Zach Spinhirne-Martin, a long-time member of the merchandising team at Competitive Cyclist.
He added, “I am proud to say that we have done what we set out to do. Today, as it was in its glory days, Merlin is a perfect blend of craftsmanship and cutting edge technology, which leads to incredible performance.”
Competitive Cyclist bought Merlin with an intent to revive the spirit of the brand. As the retailer noted, thanks to the acquisition, ‘Merlin bikes have been able to regain their legendary authenticity and craftsmanship, but they have been supercharged by innovation.’
Merlin Metalworks, as it was once called, first appeared in the bike scene in 1986 with a well-regarded titanium MBK frame. Within a year, Merlin was receiving gushing reviews. In 1988, the brand debuted a titanium road frame. By 1989, it was the American-built frame that many bike tech geeks salivated over. Icons such as Greg LeMond and (the now tarnished) Lance Armstrong raced Merlin bikes during this era.
Merlin also stood out in the 1990s because the bikes were designed, sourced, and built in the United States. Competitive Cyclist is pleased to confirm that all Merlin bikes have upheld that tradition and are still 100% made in the USA.
Competitive Cyclist is an online specialty retailer of road and mountain bikes, components, apparel and accessories. The retailer aims to deliver ‘the personalized service of the best local shops, but with a dynamic, interactive experience only possible on the web.’
Thanks to its rider-written product descriptions, detailed photography, friendly customer service, built-to-spec ‘Ready to Ride bike Delivery Service’ and lifetime No Questions Asked return policy, Competitive Cyclist, is a cycling industry leader in online speciality retail.
www.merlinbike.com
www.competitivecyclist.com
