Apparently I have been living under a rock lately, but it appears that one of the first manufacturers of titanium bicycle frames has been sold…again. Back in March the high-end online retailer, Competitive Cyclist of Little Rock, AR, announced that they had negotiated the rights to the Merlin Metalworks from the American Bicycle Group (ABG) based in Chattanooga, TN
Merlin has changed hands multiple times since it was founded in 1986 by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich, and Mike Augspurger in Cambridge, MA followed a year later with the partnership with Tom Kellogg. Back then they were one of the first manufacturers to create titanium bicycle and wheelchair frames using TIG welding to create small, uniform and aesthetically pleasing welds.Merlin has created frames that have been ridden by Lance Armstrong, Greg LeMond, Steve Hegg, Ken Carpenter, Rob Kish (Race Across America 1995 winner) and Bob Hall (the first person to enter the Boston marathon in a wheelchair).
The brand was aquired in 1998 by Saucony, led by Hyde Athletic Industries; but when they could not make it profitable for many reasons including the loss of almost all of the key players, they sold it to the American Bicycle Group. ABG is the owner of numerous other brands including the best known titanium frame bicycle builder, Litespeed.
It appears that the new owners, Competitive Cyclist, want to bring Merlin back to their glory days… pre-Saucony and pre-Litespeed. From their press release and blog entry, it looks as if they at least want to strive to design and build the new Merlin frames in the United States by American craftsman and not export the work overseas as so many others have in the bicycle industry. The date of when the new frames will be available is unknown, but what is crystal clear is their love and dedication to bring this brand back to life. As an owner of three Merlins, I for one wish them the best of luck!