About
We pride ourselves on choice, price and customer service. These are the core values at Merlin Cycles. If you’re happy, we’re happy.
Brand History
Established in 1993 by John Moss, Merlin Cycles are one of the longest running online bike stores in the UK.
Since our early days we have had an enviable reputation among cyclists for stocking a massive range of cycling equipment and offering it at great prices.
Merlin Cycles was initially a mail order business started in June 1993 by John Moss in the spare bedroom of his house in Whittle Le Woods near Chorley. A few months later the company opened a shop premises in Ormskirk, Lancashire. In 1998 Merlin Cycles moved to larger shop premises in Leyland.
Merlin Cycles spent ten years in the Leyland premises. During this time, we began designing our own mountain bikes, including the Rock Lobster steel hardtails and then the Malt aluminium hardtails.
In 2008 we moved to our current shop, warehouse and office premises in Buckshaw Village, Chorley.
In 2023 we celebrated our 30 year anniversary, commemorating the occasion with a staff ride from our Buckshaw Village HQ to Rivington, reminiscing and raising a toast to the future of Merlin Cycles.
Mail order
Our mail order service is simple, reliable and speedy. After more than 20 years of mail order selling, we have it perfected. We also offer telephone back-up for any advice that you may require or if you simply just prefer to do things via a phone call. Not a problem.
As well as our vast range of stock and discounted prices we also include free postage on most of our products. This even includes European and worldwide delivery too (minimum spend applies for international orders). View our shipping and postage page here for more information.
Our Shop .jpg)
Our shop has a range of bikes, parts, and apparel on display. Our staff are friendly and knowledgeable.
They're keen cyclists who are never happier than chatting bikes.
We are based near Chorley, just 5 minutes off junction 28 of the M6 or junction 8 of the M61.
For more information on how to find our store and view our opening hours visit our Shop Page here.
Our Bikes
In 2000 we put together our first Merlin branded bike. We started with mountain bikes. These Merlin Mountain bikes were an instant hit with both the cycling press and everyday riders.
We’ve added many more models to the range over the years which are highly recommended by our customers!
Models such as the G2X Alloy Gravel Bike are a fan favourite along with the Malt 725 Steel Mountain Bike.
Our leading bike brands are Ridley, Orro and Willier. We always strive to bring our customers the latest advancements in bikes and components.
Merlin Riders
We currently support several local riders by supplying them with essential kit and bikes for training or racing.
Dave Ryding .jpg)
Alpine Skii Champion, part of Team GB with many impressive results over the years. Dave is considered by many as the most successful British skier of all time.
Starting on a dry slope in Pendle, Lancashire to competing for GB in four Olympics and seven World Championships.
His best World Cup result was a victory in 2022 Kitzbühel slalom, which made him the first British athlete in history to gain this title.
Dave enjoys riding in the local chain gang with some of our staff on his Ridley Fenix SLiC.
Find out more about Dave in his interview with Merlin here.
Ross Cullen.jpg)
Great Britain Cycling Team Athlete, based in Lancashire. Ross has been a bike lover his entire life and is now ranked 6th Worldwide.
Ross came from Preston Pirates BMX track building a reputation for his speed and determination to where he is now.
He trains in Manchester with Team GB where he hopes to secure a place at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Ross rides the Merlin Malt G2X Gravel bike for commuting and some of his training rides.
Find out more about Ross on our blog here.
Gemma Mitchell.jpg)
Road Racing Cyclist for Team Boompods.
Gemma is a member of our staff team who has many race wins under her belt.
She has a wealth of knowledge on training and racing.
Gemma rides an Orro for her cycling events and even used her Venturi to win a TT race in 2023!
Our Staff
Our staff team consists of keen cyclists, with expertise in our bikes and products. We are always happy to answer enquiries just give us a call or drop us an email!
Andy Oldham Managing Director
Andy started in the world of cycling from a young age with great success in BMX racing. His passion for racing and riding has led him to compete in many events and epic rides over the years.
Andy is one of the longest serving members of our staff having worked in our ‘early days’ Leyland premises to the now much larger Buckshaw Village HQ. Over the years, he has developed strong connections with top leading brands in the industry such as Ridley and Orro bikes.
Paul Mcleod General Manager .jpg)
Paul has always been big into bikes and still has his Rock Lobster 26er hardtail bike to prove it! He has a love for bikes of all disciplines.
Paul’s experience in the bike trade spans several years with a strong knowledge of sales and customer relations in his previous line of work.
Paul can be seen riding in his trusty Crono Limited Edition shoes and you may even spot him around Rivington on a gravel ride with the Brewery’s Cycling Club.
Customer Service and Shop Staff
Our staff have decades of experience in the bike trade, having covered a range of roles in the past with a wide range of bike knowledge and bike maintenance skills. Many of our staff team ride together whether it be on mountain bikes, gravel or road and may be seen at the start line of a race…
Buying Team
Our buyers have a wealth of knowledge regarding our brand's latest products. We strive to keep our stock replenished from technical clothing to top end components. Our team attend bike trade shows and liaise closely with our suppliers to bring you the very best bits for your bike.
IT Department
Our IT department have been an integral part of our growth over the years and strive to give you a quality online shopping experience.
Marketing and Blog Staff
Our marketing team have a wide range of knowledge and experience with the latest kit and bikes. Bringing you the latest arrivals at Merlin along with top tips found on our Blog! You can also check out what we’ve been up to on our YouTube Channel including reviews, demos and staff rides.
Andy M is our main blog author who frequently puts new gear and bikes to the test (as seen on our social channels). He has a wide range of cycling knowledge and a background in Outdoor Leadership and Coaching. You can find his Blog Profile here.
Warehouse and Goods In Team
Our warehouse and goods in staff are a vital part of our business, ensuring your order reaches you correctly and safely. Many of our warehouse team are keen cyclists and are the first to see brand new products reach the HQ. Goods in Shaun runs a local chain gang and has been a vital member of Lancashire's cycling community for many years.
Returns Department
Keen cyclist (and bike collector) Mike runs our returns department. He maintains excellent relationships with our suppliers, making sure any items which come back to us are returned and resolved in a timely manner.
Accounts Department
Our accounts department team have many years of experience in the cycling industry and keep our business running smoothly.