merlin classic
back to history
1986 Merlin Metalworks is founded in Cambridge, MA by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich, and Mike Augspurger. Merlin builds its first mountain bike frame for Joe Murray, the reigning National Mountain Bike Champion.
1987 Merlin begins its long relationship with master frame builder, Tom Kellogg and introduces the first 3/2.5 titanium road bike.
1990 The Subaru Montgomery Team, including Lance Armstrong, Steve Hegg, and Ken Carpenter, begin a three year association with Merlin and go on to win numerous national titles.
1991 Merlin introduces the S-bend chainstay and seatstay into its mountain bike line. The S-Bend goes on to be one of the most copied rear triangle designs in the industry.
1992 Greg Lemond purchases Merlin frames for his "Z" Team, and the team goes on to ride the Tour de France on their "camouflaged" Merlins.
1994 Merlin introduces the first titanium cruiser called Newsboy , to rave reviews.
1995 Merlin rider Rob Kish wins the Race Across America, for the third time, on his 59 cm Merlin Extralight.
1996 Merlin introduces the S & S coupling option on all frames, revolutionizing bike travel for thousands. Roman Dial and friends complete their epic Ride Across Alaska aboard a fleet of Merlin mountain bikes.
1999 Merlin introduces three new mountain bikes offering Cannondale's patented Headshock front-suspension.
2000 Merlin relocateds to Chattanooga, TN. The Agilis, Merlin's first compact road frame, is designed by Tom Kellogg and introduced with the 2001 product line.
2002 Merlin re-introduces the Newsboy with front-suspension, disc-brakes and two sets of wheels. Mark Scanlon wins the Irish National Championship aboard his Merlin XL Compact.
2003 Merlin signs on with the U.S. based West Virginia Road Team and begins winning numerous domestic races. The Solis is introduced as the first titanium event geometry frame.
2004 Tom Kellogg and Merlin design engineers collaborate to introduce a women's specific frame design called the Camena. In addition, high-performance, one-inch chainstays are added to the Extralight for increased stiffness and acceleration. The Cyrene looses it's decals and becomes a fully engraved frame. The Merlin design team starts to work on what will become the Works line.
2005 Merlin becomes a sponsor of the UK's Development Squad, a team of Juniors, that will help them build and nurture into professional cyclist. The Sean Kelly development squad, a pro/continental, team, as well as the Irish Cycling Federation, signs on to ride Merlin.
Present Merlin introduces the Works line of pure race bicycles that ride and perform all Merlin. Merlin provides works line bicycles to the UK Development, Sean Kelly Development , Irish Cycling Federation, and the US based Rite Aid teams.
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