The extensive depth-of-range of Wilier bikes, framesets, clothing and accessories is pretty much unrivalled by any other company. Showcasing exceptional quality... Read more.
It’s easy to miss some of the really nice products we have in stock at Merlin. Recent weeks have seen a wide cross section of beautiful new products and r... Read more.
Cateye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights and reflectors. Founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1954, has always been a leader in innovation and techn... Read more.
Almost 50 years since Blackburn started producing cycling products, they have developed their range hugely. Jim Blackburn started off with the Expedition EX-1 r... Read more.
Two years down the track on my G2X build, and it has seen about 12,000 kilometers on local gravel trails. Over this time we’ve got to know each other pret... Read more.
Ugo De Rosa launched De Rosa bikes almost seventy years ago. 1952-1953 offered fertile soil for bike brands in Italy, with De Rosa launching along with Colnago ... Read more.
BBB has been in business for 24 years. Based in the beautiful Netherlands city of Leiden, they make so many bike related essential products, its hard to know wh... Read more.
Abus are a German based company, established in 1924. Their initial product was padlocks, this has now broadened out to smoke alarms, video surveillance systems... Read more.
25 years of development in cycling clothing is a long time – this is how long Altura have been designing and develping their wide range of products. Based... Read more.
3TTT Heralding from the heartlands of bicycle production, Bergamo in Italy, 3T began in 1961. Originaly 3TTT (Tecnologia del Tubo Turino) they produced handleba... Read more.
With the cost of everything seemingly on an ever upward spiral, here are 10 of the best upgrades for your road bike to reinvigorate your ride – under £50... Read more.
Excitement has been mounting here at Merlin as we eagerly awaited a delivery of new Reynolds Steel framesets. We live in a time where we have some brilliant cho... Read more.
In the world of major groupset manufacturers, Sram are the punky new upstart kid on the block. In the late 1980’s Sram began manufacturing Grip shift gear... Read more.
Technology evolves incredibly quickly in cycling. Since establishing the business in 2012, Stages have become the dominant force in commercial indoor bike and p... Read more.
Schwalbe have produced tyres which have transformed and set new standards across whole sectors of the bike market; such as; G-One range in Gravel bikes, Maratho... Read more.
So, what is ‘underbiking’, and how can it revitalise your bike riding? Read on… While it might seem like a new-fangled marketing thing with a ... Read more.
Contact points for bike riders are the all-important connections between rider and machine that determine comfort, performance and enjoyment while cycling. Fizi... Read more.
Q: So, why does the North West UK town of Bolton get swamped with Triathletes for one weekend each summer? A: For the 12th year, Bolton hosts the UK Ironman eve... Read more.
It is that time of the year again, the Tour De France is here! The Tour De France has wide public exposure across media which usually cover other sports. This m... Read more.
Endura are one of the few UK clothing companies to have developed a strong worldwide following in the super competitive Road, Triathlon and MTB clothing markets... Read more.
Are you about to choose (or perhaps build) a new bike? Are you trying to decide between Shimano 105 R7000 and Ultegra R8000? Read on… Both the Shimano 105... Read more.
Continental are a unique brand in cycling. The proudly German company has its roots deep in the highest echelons of German manufacturing for over 150 years. The... Read more.
Castelli is one of the oldest brands in the world of cycling. The origins of the company started in 1876 and it has been at the forefront of the history of cycl... Read more.
After our first shipment of G2 series Merlin gravel bikes coincided with ‘that’ lock-down bike frenzy, we have now got decent stock of our three gra... Read more.
It’s that time of year when the World Tour Riders are set to do battle in the historical one-day races of Europe – The Classics. Steeped in cycling ... Read more.
As spring looms large on the wishful thinking bike riders’ horizon, what better time to freshen up your bike for the year of riding ahead? Here are some h... Read more.
Nothing tests a relationship more than calling your other half to ask to be picked up when you are miles away from home with a broken bike. Many potential issue... Read more.
With magazines & websites packed with 2021 reviews and ways to ‘achieve your goals’ for 2022, it’s a good time to think about getting more... Read more.
Seeing the ear-to-ear smile on a little ones face as they unwrap the cycling gear featured below, will bring seasonal cheer to even the grouchiest, most hungove... Read more.
Here at Merlin, we fully appreciate how hard it is to make sure that your loved ones don’t get you something that you just don’t need. With that in ... Read more.
With Black Friday deals in full flow, did you succumb to temptation and add to you fleet of bikes? We’ve all been there at one time or another. “What’s th... Read more.
If there’s one brand that provides excellent, high quality bikes for all types of riders, it’s Wilier. From it’s utility & road cycling ro... Read more.
As the nights draw in, we move towards winter in the UK, this is a great time to invest in lights for those darker morning and evening rides. There are a wide r... Read more.
12 months after my G2X gravel bike build blog, it’s notched up about 4500k of actual gravel riding. Not as much I had hoped, but it’s been an eventf... Read more.
We’ve all been there, pottering along the country lanes or gravel tracks, minding our own business, only to be barked at and chased by one of our four leg... Read more.
The Merlin Cycles team have been busy racing and notching up wins in the north west region. Here’s a quick update on how the season is progressing for Deb... Read more.
The Do-It-All bike, Swiss-army-bike, The One bike you’ll ever need… you’ve probably heard it all before. However, with the gravel bike trend s... Read more.
Stuck in a rut? Mid-year plateau? Same old rides? Lost your mojo? It is easy to just keep riding the same routes and the same rides, it can get a little bit rep... Read more.
The longer we ride and the more experience we gain, the more we learn, right? Here’s some tips and skills gleaned from years of messing about on bikes. Co... Read more.
Unreliable bikes can ruin bike rides. Follow our top tips to add reliability to your rides, so you can spend more time on the roads and trails. Pure Filth Keep ... Read more.
Eagerly anticipating even more socks & boxer shorts? Avoid sock overload in your drawers by forwarding this list of potential gifts around your family, what... Read more.
Our intrepid team has faced it all so far in the 2021 season – Cold, Rain, Cold Rain and more Extreme Cold. However, they have battled through the start o... Read more.
You are not alone. The last thing anyone wants to do when they climb off their bike, is give it a clean. However! As we all know, the best way to make your bike... Read more.
With our wealth of experience and knowledge of bikes and associated gear here at Merlin, we like to put our own name to products which we really like, as well a... Read more.
Unfortunately, as you are no-doubt aware, bike parts are harder to find and cost more. Sadly, the knock-on affects from Brexit and the Covid 19 Pandemic, aside ... Read more.
In these days of penny-pinching cutbacks, learning to keep on top of your own bike maintenance is a sure-fire way to reduce ongoing costs of being a bike rider.... Read more.
Just as some locks are better than others, some ways of locking up your bike are better than others too. Here’s our quick guide to the Do and Don’ts... Read more.
In a flashback to a previous life supplying cycling magazines with photos, I had the opportunity yesterday to photograph some world class riders doing their thi... Read more.
I know, I know – best bits of 2020 is a bit like choosing your favourite disease or most lovable serial killer… However, with lots of people at home... Read more.
Worn full suspension bike linkages? Read on… Suspension experts, Bounce, have a range of suspension bushes to fit a wide selection of full suspension bike... Read more.
Year after year, Sensa bikes just keep on developing and impressing us with their latest bike range. Sensa’s home is in Almelo, the Eastern Netherlands ... Read more.
Riding a bike in winter might seem a little daunting to new riders, however with the right clothing and a few accessories it really shouldn’t. Get the rig... Read more.
Despite the pandemic affected year creating havoc across most aspects of our lives, our two intrepid racers have done a great job flying the flag for Merlin Cyc... Read more.
So, a year ago I decided to see what the rubbery fuss was about with tubeless tyres. It all sounded so appealing; Lower pressures providing more grip and comfie... Read more.
The 2021 G2X GRX bike has been well-received by Merlin customers, selling quickly and gaining a lot of 5 Star reviews. As well as selling the full bike with Shi... Read more.
Electric bikes are brilliant. They get more people riding and that is a good thing. Here is our quick guide to the extra jargon & help you find the electric... Read more.
One of the big talking points aside from tubeless tyres and sock length in the last few years has been 1X drivetrains. 3T’s stunning Strada road bike show... Read more.
Well, with the wordwide turmoil of Covid 19 and its subsequent delays and changes to sport as well as virtually every other aspect of life, finally the Tour De ... Read more.
Hot on the heels of the Malt G2 Claris last week, two more bikes in our 2021 Aluminium Gravel Bike range have arrived, the Malt G2P Tiagra and the G2X-GRX. Malt... Read more.
Hot on the heels of the Malt G2 Claris last week, two more bikes in our 2021 Aluminium Gravel Bike range have arrived at Merlin HQ in Chorley. Malt G2P Tiagra O... Read more.
The choice of road bars available today is huge. So how do you get the bars that fit you the best? Follow our guide to help get the bars best to suit you. Handl... Read more.
More people are using their bikes to ride to work & school as well as for leisure and enjoyment. In addition the value of bicycles and accessories is increa... Read more.
As and when the Covid19 pandemic restrictions ease, you might well be able to take part in a sportive event in the next few months. Sportives are a great way to... Read more.
Most people love their bike. It gives freedom, fitness and provides the same head clearing-happy-joy it has given since childhood. However, there are dark, sini... Read more.
Saddle manufacturers are keen to cater for all different shapes and sizes of riders, as well as different disciplines of riding The wrong shaped saddle for yo... Read more.
Got a new bike and keen to maximise it’s performance and comfort? Read on… New bikes fresh out of the box are a beautiful thing, make sure you get t... Read more.
Obviously, these days of lockdown are very far from ideal. However, if you are spending more time at home, you could use the time you are usually commuting for ... Read more.
Thinking about buying a bike? A little bewildered by the different bikes available? Read our guide to choosing the bike that’s right for you. The type of bike... Read more.
As you will be more than aware, Corona / Covid 19 virus has hugely impacted our lives. However, for the time being at least, we can still ride bikes (outdoors w... Read more.
‘Like Henry Ford, I will sell you a bike in any colour you like, as long as it is Blue…’ Alfredo Gios Alfredo Gios began working for his dad... Read more.
The traditional opening weekend of the northern European Pro Cycling season is always hugely anticipated. Forget the skirmishes in far flung corners of the worl... Read more.
For the last few years, gravel bike riding has been the big, new market in cycling. GRX is Shimano’s entry into the off road / gravel riding world. So, wi... Read more.
Founded in Treviso, Italy, Cicli Pinarello S.P.A. is a bike company which has been at the forefront of recent cycling history like no other. The story of Pinare... Read more.
Regularly riding your bike is great, we all know that. However, there is a drawback. Bike parts get worn, and after a lot of miles you bike might not quite feel... Read more.
With 2019 being the most popular ever for Merlin blog reads, here’s a look back at the most popular blogs from 2019… Updated! Steepest Roads in the ... Read more.
Right, okay here we go, this could end up contraversial… The years from 2010 to 2020 have seen quite a few changes in road riding technology. So what are ... Read more.
While we might long for those cold, crystal clear days of winter, by and large, we often get drab, wet conditions. Ongoing rain can also make us more reluctan... Read more.
The 2018 Merlin Malt G was a great entry-level gravel bike – it picked up some top reviews, both from our customers and magazine bike testers. The 2020 ve... Read more.
Our team riders have had a busy 2019, delivering some awesome performances. Bex Rimmington and Debbie Moss go through their highlights of the 2019 season. Bex R... Read more.
Our intrepid employee and #TeamMerlin rider, Bex has been at it again! In just her second season of triathlon, Bex has progressed brilliantly. Last weekend, Bex... Read more.
Here at Merlin Towers, we are keen to reduce the cost of riding bikes for our customers, and ourselves… Here are our latest offerings to the budget concio... Read more.
Winter training indoors has become much more popular, thanks largely to Zwift. However, there is still something to be said for getting out into the lanes and g... Read more.
Drama, suspsense, heroics, big efforts, exciting races and rain, lots and lots of rain…. That’s how many fans will remember the UCI World Road Champ... Read more.
The Mens UCI World Champs TT took place on Wednesday of this week on 54 hilly and challenging kilometres of roads between Northallerton and Harrogate. Australia... Read more.
If there is one item of bike riding kit we can often take for granted, its the helmet. It’s there for the tiny proportion of riding time when things go a ... Read more.
In just a few days time, THE best road cyclists in the World will be coming up north to race the 92nd World Championships. They will be held in Yorkshire. That&... Read more.
Earlier in the month, our customer service star, Bex competed in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Nice, on the stunning Cote D Azur, France. The ride fea... Read more.
We are one person down in the office this week. Occasionally, office staffers can be a little ‘narky’ when this happens, but this week there is good... Read more.
The all new Merlin Malt G1X is available as a full bike or as a frameset. If your ‘Go Anywhere’ sense of adventure is matched by a mechanical sense ... Read more.
The Merlin workshop is always a busy place, head honcho, Lee, shares the most common bike issues to roll through the workshop door. Read his ‘Secrets̵... Read more.
For many casual spectators, the Tour De France Caravan is the best thing about watching the yearly lap of France. When Tour organisers ASO, commissioned a poll ... Read more.
Those climbs that make you crave your old triple chainset… Those climbs that really try to tip you off the back of your bike. Those climbs that convince y... Read more.
This Blog is brought to you from the human performance specialists at Saltstick. Whether you are training indoors or out, your hydration matters and can greatly... Read more.
Once just an item for Elite and Pro riders, the power meter has become much more accessible over the last few years. In this blog we answer the common questions... Read more.
The best saddles are those you don’t even think about. Ever. They just support you and let you enjoy your ride. So, after a few weeks of saddle discomfort... Read more.
Bored of the same old routes? Whilst just jumping on your bike and riding from home is great, now and again we all feel the need to ride new roads and trails. S... Read more.
The last few weeks have seen our Team Merlin riders achieve some great results. Here’s a quick update on what they have been up to. Bex Rimmington kicked ... Read more.
As next door neighbours go, Yorkshire is alright. Despite a checkered history of wars, skirmishes and more recently just general micky taking, we have lots of r... Read more.
Back in the last century, if you wanted to ride somewhere new, you would need to have a good, long look at a map – printed on paper, shaved off a tree. Wh... Read more.
If, like me, you just give your tyres a quick squeeze, (to check there is some air in) before heading out, then read on…. Having the correct tyre pressure... Read more.
These days aero is everything. Once, they were just special race-day wheels of the elite riders. Today, deep carbon aero wheels are far more mainstream. From cy... Read more.
Here at Merlin we are keen to encourage riders to maintain their own bikes. Knowing how your bike works, and how it can be fixed, gives extra reassurance when o... Read more.
Here at Merlin, we are proud to present some of the best bike brands in the world. Lapierre is one of those brands. So, who are Lapierre? The post war mood in F... Read more.
If you find yourself on a group-ride cafe stop, there is often a regular divide between the group. So what can be the cause of this split between riders; Shiman... Read more.
With road bike disc braking becoming more and more common, and seemingly looking set to take over the road bike world, how should we look after them? Here are o... Read more.
Have you noticed that annoying clicking noise while out on a ride? It’s time to stop ignoring it or blaming it on someone else. Let’s get it fixed! ... Read more.
As we trudge wearily through winter, with a hopeful eye towards spring, we have picked 5 products which will improve road riding performance for the new season.... Read more.
So you are venturing into the world of Gravel bike riding. You can just go anywhere, like the marketing spiel said, right? Well, not Quite… Bridleways In ... Read more.
Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) scored his first wins of the 2019 season in the Bay Crits series near Melbourne on his 2019 Ridley Noah. However, there’s more t... Read more.
Since purchasing Merlin’s entry-level gravel bike in September, it has seen a fair spread of different riding locations. It’s also gone on a bit of ... Read more.
No single thing has effected the world of cycle training, in the last couple of years, as much as Zwift. It has transformed the way riders train indoors and has... Read more.
Today, bike riders are in a great position. Bikes, equipment and components have never been more refined and are generally better. So be thankful that here at M... Read more.
The Merlin Malt G Gravel bike generated a lot of interest when it was launched a few weeks ago. It offers great value for money and is based on solid, reliable ... Read more.
As the summer has rolled into autumn and winter looms on the horizon, many riders are joining the pedalling pelotons on Zwift, AKA getting sweaty in a spare roo... Read more.
Inspired by the Tour De France? Got loads of miles in during the hot summer? Why not tackle a mega miles challenge? Follow our tips to eat up the roads or trail... Read more.
It’s that time of year again. We watch in wonder at the riders in the Tour De France and think, “If only I could climb like a those guys…̶... Read more.
Whether on the road or trails, rapid and safe descending is the easiest way to increase your average speed without any real extra physical effort. Mastering des... Read more.
As our riders approach the middle of the season, here’s a quick round-up of what our Team Merlin riders have been up to. Bex Tri Success Bex Rimmington wo... Read more.
The last few weeks have seen the unveiling of four new groupsets from Shimano and Campagnolo, these will become available in the next few months. Here at Merlin... Read more.
Is all this bike riding leaving you feeling a little jaded and in need of a fresh challenge? Merlin Cycles rider, Bex, has made the transition from Elite bike r... Read more.
Looking for that extra little something to improve your riding experience? Check out our relatively cheap upgrades which can improve your comfort, practicality ... Read more.
With the early season done and dusted, here is a quick round-up of Team Merlin race news. Fastest Ever Rebecca Rimmington (Bex) scored her first two wins from h... Read more.
Derby was once home to the largest Tin Mine in the world. Now it’s home to some of the best MTB riding in the world. But where in the world is it? Worth t... Read more.
The last few years has seen technological gadgetry thrive in cycling. The Polar V800 is ideal for multisport athletes looking to have their data from one source... Read more.
It shouldn’t be stressful at all, it should be relaxing. However riding your bike on the roads can be a stress and worry inducing experience. So what are ... Read more.
Kinglake, Victoria was the setting for the final stage of the 65th Jayco Herald Suntour 2018. Here’s a few photos from the race which saw British team JTL... Read more.
It makes sense that the world’s biggest car manufacturers might want to have a crack at bike design – they both have wheels, right? Well some of them have d... Read more.
While the natural instinct for many people is to get back from work and relax in the warmth of their home, more and more people are choosing to get out riding a... Read more.
While the age-old adage of ‘calories in – calories out’ is still the cornerstone of managing weight, which high calorie foods are actually goo... Read more.
With their home base in Austria, KTM have been making bikes since 1964. As a company, KTM are also well-known for making a wide range of motorbikes, however the... Read more.
The beauty of sport is that everyone’s direction and journey is completely different, there is no written rule on which path to take but each is full of its o... Read more.
As bike riders we all know that we should be eating a balanced diet with a decent amount of protein. But what are the best foods for protein? Here’s our t... Read more.
With Disc brakes now allowed for road racing in many countries around the world, here’s the lowdown on the hot topic of disc-usion on road bike braking... Read more.
Now and again at Merlin, we get the opportunity to be involved in something different. We were very keen to take a look at a product designed by former UK profe... Read more.
A little while ago we wrote a Road Bike Size Guide which proved very popular. However, If you’re buying a new bike – but fall between two sizes, how do ... Read more.
A series of six coaching videos featuring former pro rider, Tom Barras. In this series of six films, Tom looks at six key aspects of cycling and offers tips gle... Read more.
It’s that time of year. The time when bike riders need kit to get through those ‘character building’ rides. Rides which can include all types ... Read more.
Go on admit it. Have you ever look longingly at someone elses well muscled legs and thought, “I wish they were mine…” Well with some extra tra... Read more.
Struggling to get out of the door for a ride? Feeling a bit jaded and like you need a break? Just really can not be arsed? Here’s our 9 tips for keeping m... Read more.
Well that’s about it. For those in the north of the UK, the warmer rainy season is over – it’s almost time for the colder rainy season, AKA winter... Read more.
So where’s the best place to test a bike? Not just a pootle around the lanes by a flabby cycling journo, spouting on about the bikes ‘epic levels of... Read more.
Firstly, it’s worth mentioning that I have done some stuff which I regret in 30+ years of road riding. Some far worse than those in the top 13 list of thi... Read more.
A £100 road bike make-over can morph your road bike into a slightly more specialist machine and lead you on a whole new route. Road bikes offer huge flexibilit... Read more.
Summer is here! As the rain lashes our office window… So what are the essential clothing options for those long summer rides? The best summer cycling clot... Read more.
Back in the olden days, tubular tyres were for racing and clinchers were for training. More recently, improved clincher tyres and the development of tubeless sy... Read more.
Once just a tool for a pro bike rider, power meters have gone all mainstream and more accessible. So how will a power meter help your riding? Fight the Power Po... Read more.
Taking a break from riding in the UK and heading over to Holland for a week brought back just how easy and relaxing riding a bike can be – yes, even witho... Read more.
The last few years have seen Gravel Bikes become popular all over the cycling world. But do you really need a gravel bike to ride gravel tracks? N+1 gone mad? R... Read more.