January 1, 1998

Merlin Metalworks, heeding the call to broaden the availability of its bikes to a greater cross-section of customers, has responded by teaming with components makers to deliver the most affordable Merlins ever.

"Merlin Bikes are bought by the elite enthusiast," said Jon Geran, head of Merlin's custom bike sales. "Making a frame to Merlin's quality standard is not an expensive process. Our frames do come at a price, however, we can make the complete bike more affordably, depending on what parts the customer chooses for his or her Merlin."

Merlin will offer complete road race bikes with "Dura-Ace throughout", Rolls ti-railed saddles, Mavic Open Pro rims, and the like. "You can't get any better than that," said Geran, "but those bikes come at a price. If you'll accept Ultegra 9-Speed STI with some creative substitutions, we'll save you several hundred dollars and deliver you a very nice bike."

Wheels are one such substitution, and Real Design, a member of the Saucony, Inc., bicycle division, and Velocity, a significant worldwide player in the high-end bicycle rim market, have teamed up to offer an interesting and unprecedented proposal. A Real/Velocity wheel, built and shipped by Merlin to be fitted onto a Merlin bike, will be guaranteed by Real and Velocity for one year from the time of purchase. The guarantee is no-fault, meaning if anything happens to the wheel within a year of purchase, for any reason, other than intential damage, and Real/Velocity will repair or replace it.

"These are the kinds of creative solutions we want to offer the Merlin customer," said Geran. All of Merlin's complete road race bikes will feature Sella San Marco Rolls saddles, Shimano Dura Ace or Ultegra STI shifting/braking systems, Dura Ace or Stronglight cranks, Dura Ace or Real BB's and hubs, Mavic or Velocity rims, DT spokes, Hutchinson tires and tubes, TTT bars, threadless or theaded stems.

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, Massachussetts. Merlin, Quintana Roo, and Real Design are registered trademarks, and 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.