Merlin (bicycles)
Encyclopedia
Merlin Metalworks Inc. is a manufacturer of bicycle
s, specializing in custom titanium
hand built models.
in 1986 to manufacture bicycle frames and racing wheelchair
s constructed from titanium
, being the first to do so.
The company's other unique characteristics was welding the bike using puddle bead surface welds, welded by the best TIG welders they could get hold of. As a result of the weld, they offered more aesthetic value to the frames than structural benefit and became regarded as the Lamborghini
of bicycle frames.
The first bike Merlin built was a mountain bike frame for the defending National Mountain Bike Champion, Joe Murray
. For the following year, the company began its strong relationship with Tom Kellogg who helped them design their first 3/2.5 titanium road bicycle frame.
After the company became acquainted with Bob Hall, the first person to enter the Boston Marathon
in a wheelchair, they began making titanium-racing chairs for him.
A year later after the company was founded, Augspurger left Merlin to found One-Off Titanium in Florence, Massachusetts
, a company specializing in experimental and custom-designed products for bicycles.
In 1990, the Subaru-Montgomery team, consisting of Lance Armstrong
, Steve Hegg
, and Ken Carpenter
, began its successful three year relationships with Merlin. Greg LeMond
also used its frame for his Z cycling team in 1992.
In 1994, Merlin introduced the first titanium
cruiser
called the Newsboy, which received positive reviews. The bike was re-introduced in 2002 with front-suspension and disc-brakes.
In 1995, Rob Kish wins his third Race Across America
using their Extralight frame.
, led by Hyde Athletic Industries, acquired Merlin in 1998.Hyde Announces Asset Purchase of Merlin Metalworks | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET Many employees, led by one of its original founders, Rob Vandermark, left Merlin to form Seven Cycles
. Gwyn Jones was the only original founding member that remained with the company. As a result of Saucony's ownership, sales of Merlin frame declined, as stocks were left piling high.
Merlin Bicycles was sold off to the American Bicycle Group in 2000 who relocated the company to Chattanooga, TN. The American Bicycle Group owns three bicycle manufacturers: Merlin, Litespeed
, Quintana Roo
and the bicycle component maker Real Designs.
On March 16, 2011, American Bicycle Group announced that bicycle retailer Competitive Cyclist of Little Rock, AR had acquired the rights to the Merlin Metalworks brand.
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s, specializing in custom titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
hand built models.
History
The company was founded by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich, and Mike Augspurger in Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
in 1986 to manufacture bicycle frames and racing wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
s constructed from titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
, being the first to do so.
The company's other unique characteristics was welding the bike using puddle bead surface welds, welded by the best TIG welders they could get hold of. As a result of the weld, they offered more aesthetic value to the frames than structural benefit and became regarded as the Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
of bicycle frames.
The first bike Merlin built was a mountain bike frame for the defending National Mountain Bike Champion, Joe Murray
Joe Murray
Joseph "Joe" Lawrence Murray is an American animator, writer, and illustrator best known as the creator of Rocko's Modern Life and Camp Lazlo.-Early career:...
. For the following year, the company began its strong relationship with Tom Kellogg who helped them design their first 3/2.5 titanium road bicycle frame.
After the company became acquainted with Bob Hall, the first person to enter the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in a wheelchair, they began making titanium-racing chairs for him.
A year later after the company was founded, Augspurger left Merlin to found One-Off Titanium in Florence, Massachusetts
Florence, Massachusetts
Florence is a village in the northwestern portion of the city of Northampton, near Westhampton and Williamsburg in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.-The naming of Florence, Massachusetts:The name "Florence" was suggested by neurologist Dr...
, a company specializing in experimental and custom-designed products for bicycles.
In 1990, the Subaru-Montgomery team, consisting of Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
, Steve Hegg
Steve Hegg
Steve Edward Hegg is a retired track cyclist and road bicycle racer from the United States, who was a professional rider from 1988 to 2000...
, and Ken Carpenter
Ken Carpenter (cyclist)
Kenneth Michael Carpenter is a retired road bicycle racer and track cyclist from the United States, who represented his native country at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics. He won the Men's 200m Match Sprint at the 1987 Pan American Games. Carpenter was a professional rider from 1992 to...
, began its successful three year relationships with Merlin. Greg LeMond
Greg LeMond
Gregory James LeMond is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States and a three-time winner of the Tour de France. He was born in Lakewood, California and raised in Reno, Nevada....
also used its frame for his Z cycling team in 1992.
In 1994, Merlin introduced the first titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
cruiser
Cruiser bicycle
Cruiser bicycles, also known as beach cruisers, combine balloon tires, upright seating posture, single-speed drivetrains, and straightforward steel construction with expressive styling...
called the Newsboy, which received positive reviews. The bike was re-introduced in 2002 with front-suspension and disc-brakes.
In 1995, Rob Kish wins his third Race Across America
Race Across America
The Race Across America, or RAAM, is an ultra marathon bicycle race across the United States that started in 1982 as the Great American Bike Race....
using their Extralight frame.
Acquisition
SauconySaucony
Saucony is an American manufacturer of athletic shoes, best-known today for its premium running shoes and men's and women's apparel.-History:...
, led by Hyde Athletic Industries, acquired Merlin in 1998.Hyde Announces Asset Purchase of Merlin Metalworks | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET Many employees, led by one of its original founders, Rob Vandermark, left Merlin to form Seven Cycles
Seven Cycles
Seven Cycles is an American bicycle designer and manufacturer based in Watertown, Massachusetts. Seven, America's number one custom bicycle brand, was founded by Robert Vandermark in early 1997. Vandermark was the former head of research and development at Merlin Metalworks...
. Gwyn Jones was the only original founding member that remained with the company. As a result of Saucony's ownership, sales of Merlin frame declined, as stocks were left piling high.
Merlin Bicycles was sold off to the American Bicycle Group in 2000 who relocated the company to Chattanooga, TN. The American Bicycle Group owns three bicycle manufacturers: Merlin, Litespeed
Litespeed
Litespeed is a U.S. bicycle manufacturer founded by David Lynskey in Ooltewah, Tennessee, near Chattanooga. The company has its roots in a family-owned custom machine shop known as Southeast Machine that specialized in exotic metals...
, Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
and the bicycle component maker Real Designs.
On March 16, 2011, American Bicycle Group announced that bicycle retailer Competitive Cyclist of Little Rock, AR had acquired the rights to the Merlin Metalworks brand.