Merlin Cycles

Merlin Cycles is a bike shop based in Leyland, Lancashire but they also have an online shop.

They are probably best known for building Custom Mountain bikes using there own branded frame s as well as Rocklobster Frames.

When you first load up the site you are greeted with the option to look at:
-Components
-Wheels
-Frames
-Complete Bikes
-Store (includes the above)

If ...
...Custom Bikes

Merlin is probably best known for it's custom bike builds. Here the customer can choose a basic bike and then upgrade certain components to their liking. I chose to buy a Malt 2 Frame upgrading the Forks and Bars but options are also available on the brakes, wheels and groupsets. They then build up the bike to you to collect or deliver to you. This normally takes a few weeks but they keep you informed well. The build quality ... more

Merlin Cycles is a bike shop based in Leyland, Lancashire but they also have an online shop.

They are probably best known for building Custom Mountain bikes using there own branded frame s as well as Rocklobster Frames.

When you first load up the site you are greeted with the option to look at:
-Components
-Wheels
-Frames
-Complete Bikes
-Store (includes the above)

If you go into the store you'll see a list of sub categories
-Custom bikes (I'll get to those)
-Wheels- excellent quality custom specified hand built wheels
-Clothing
-Disc Brakes
-Forks (10% off when ordered online!)
-Frames (Merlin, Rocklobster, mountain cycle and a few others)
-Transmission- gears and chains etc.
-Tyres
-Lights
-Sale items
-Trainers
-Accessories
-Workshop (tools)
-Saddles/posts
-Child Seats and trailers
-Hydration pack
-Memory map
-Car Racks
-Shimano Group Sets
-Steering
-Computers
-Brakes
-Merlin top 20*

*This includes 20 deals on components from disc brakes to forks to pedals. I recently bought a set of Mallet Ms with £30 off the RRP.

Custom Bikes

Merlin is probably best known for it's custom bike builds. Here the customer can choose a basic bike and then upgrade certain components to their liking. I chose to buy a Malt 2 Frame upgrading the Forks and Bars but options are also available on the brakes, wheels and groupsets. They then build up the bike to you to collect or deliver to you. This normally takes a few weeks but they keep you informed well. The build quality is excellent with attention to detail being superb. The wheels are all hand built so will need less initial servicing (such as tightening the spokes) than factory built wheels.

The choice of frames is somewhat limited because they only stop a few brands. However the frames themselves are good. From the cheap Malt 1 to the Titanium Rocklobster beauty.

This is a bike shop for serious mountain bikers. They offer nothing in the way of cheap bikes and you should expect to pay £500 for some of their cheaper bikes with prices rising to 4 figures! They are very helpful and will offer advice if it's needed to ensure that you get the best bike for you. Most of the bikes don't come with pedals but you can buy these when you order your bike.

Most of the standard priced stuff isn't especially cheap. However the custom bikes are a bargain and you'd struggle to buy the components for the price they sell the whole bikes at. The deal on forks is also well worth a look as is the sale section and hot deals if you have an eye for a bargain. The wheels also come highly recommended.

The delivery isn't free like other big online shops but it is quick. The ordering process and payment is simple. The website is generally very well laid out in a simple but effective style with plenty of information being given for each component and big pictures available for each of the bikes. The range of stock could also be considered limited but what they do have is often top quality.
 

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