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). Continue reading Bike Industry Magic – Merlin Brand Rebirth Underway