October 1, 1998

Merlin Metalworks announces strategic partnerships on two fronts, incorporating Cannondale's Headshok technology along with Moots YBB rear suspension. In so doing Merlin acknowledges the paramount position many off-road riders and dealers grant the Headshok, and the incorporation of this fork allows users the ability to ride both the frame material, and fork, of their choosing.

"Merlin users," said Merlin GM Federico Larco, "are almost exclusively cross-country riders, and are emphatic about weight. So we had Cannondale make us a Fatty without a disc brake mount, which allowed them to use a thinner wall on their fork legs. We save weight on the wall and on the mount."

Fattyphiles, then, are treated to the lightest Fatty SL yet made when they buy either a Merlin Fat Ti (hardtail) or Fat Beat (with Moots' YBB rear). Both these bikes are made in six sizes, from 13.5" to 20".

Moots and Merlin have teamed up to introduce Moots' YBB on some Merlin models for 1999. Although the YBB unit is the same on both manufacturers' bikes, Merlin continues to use the "triple clamp" it pioneered during Merlin's first foray into pivotless rear suspension, back in 1995. Martin Kessler, Merlin's manufacturing engineer, said, "We use very light seatstays, even in our off-road bikes. The triple clamp adds a lot more stiffness to the stays when braking, something we discovered when building pivotless suspension bikes a few years ago."

The YBB can be found on two Merlin models, the Fat Beat, featuring a made-for-Merlin Fatty SL Headshok, and the Echo, which accommodates any 1 1/8" steer tube suspension fork. The Echo is available as a frameset only, the Fat Beat comes as either frame/fork/headset/stem, or as a complete bike. The latter, with Real Design brake levers and hubs, Headshok-specific headset, and otherwise Shimano XTR throughout, sells for $4195. The Fat Beat's wheelset comes with a one-year no-fault warranty.

Merlin Metalworks is a division of Saucony, Inc. Merlin builds high-end titanium bicycle frames and complete bikes for the road, off-road, and multi-sport markets, all of which are built in its factory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Merlin®, Quintana Roo®, and Real Design (TM) together comprise the "hard goods" component of Saucony, Inc.'s bike division. Hind®, another Saucony, Inc., company, manufacturers cycling clothing, along with apparel for swimming and running. Saucony, Inc.'s other brands include Saucony® footwear for performance running and walking, and Spot-bilt® shoes worn by coaches and referees.