Competitive Cyclist, online specialty retailer of road and mountain bikes, is proud to announce the official rebirth of Merlin handcrafted titanium road and mountain bikes. Competitive Cyclist put the legendary brand on a two year sabbatical after purchasing it in 2011. Since that time, Merlin has been rebuilt on its fundamental values, but the bikes have caught up with technological advances. Merlin got its second wind.

Competitive Cyclist bought Merlin with intent to revive the spirit of one of the greatest names in American bicycles. They never lost sight of the lusted-after bikes that Merlin produced in its founding years.

Thanks to the acquisition, Merlin bikes have been able to regain their legendary authenticity and craftsmanship, but they have been supercharged by innovation.

“Over the past two years, we have collaborated with countless industry insiders, former Merlin employees, and trusted experts, because we hoped to distill the essence of Merlin,” said Zach Spinhirne-Martin, a long-time member of the merchandising team at Competitive Cyclist. “I am proud to say that we have done what we set out to do. Today, as it was in its glory days, Merlin is a perfect blend of craftsmanship and cutting edge technology, which leads to incredible performance.”

Merlin Metalworks, as it was once called, first appeared in the bike scene in 1986 with a revolutionary titanium mountain bike frame. Within a year, Merlin was already receiving gushing reviews. In 1988, they debuted a titanium road frame. By 1989, it was the American-built frame that tech geeks salivated over. Icons such as Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong raced Merlin bikes during this era.

Merlin also stood out in the 90s because the bikes were designed, sourced, and built in the United States. Competitive Cyclist is proud to announce that Merlin bikes have upheld the tradition and are still 100% made in the USA.

Merlin bikes are timeless and cutting edge, and they are about to be turning heads and winning races once again. Enter the Merlin Extralight:

Merlin Extralight – Available Now

As if it never went away, the new Merlin Extralight frame utilizes round, double-butted 3-2.5 titanium tubes, but it is no replica of previous generations of the Extralight. The tubing, while still American sourced, still double-butted, and still built by master builders in the USA, has increased diameters all around, including a 44mm tapered headtube and a PressFit 30 bottom bracket.

The Extralight shows off Brushed Titanium with White decals and alloy headset badge. For more specs on the Extralight, visit Merlin at: www.merlinbike.com. Available in seven sizes. MSRP $3,500

Stay tuned for more on Merlin’s mountain bike, launching April 2013.

Merlin bikes are available on Competitive Cyclist: www.competitivecyclist.com.