Custom Bikes
About Merlin cycles and Rock Lobster bikes
We are the best known independent, bespoke Mountain Bike manufacturer in the UK. Since we first introduced complete bikes into our company 15 years ago we have gone from strength to strength with many awards for all the leading mountain bike magazines.
Back in 2004 saw the Merlin Malt 1 get highly recommended in Mountain Bike UK, the Malt 2 win best of test and then go on to be awarded the Hardtail of the year 2005 by What Mountain Bike Magazine. Every year since Merlin and Rock Lobster bikes have either won a test, been highly recommend or won Hardtail of the Year.
Rock Lobster bikes also came under test back in 2004, with the Titanium being reviewed in WMB, together with the Scandium and the Tig Team SL winning WMB Choice and Value awards and Hardtail of the year 2006 in What Mountain bike. Reviews since confirm the benefits of owning a Rock Lobster bike.
The Frames
In the Merlin range we can offer you the Malt 1, this is a Kinesis built 7005 aluminium frame with a up to the minute geometry giving an excellent ride at a very reasonable price. This bike won a best of test back in 2003 in MBUK against all the big manufacturers, with either a Merlin or Rock Lobster bike winning hardtails of the year since.
The Malt 2 is a similar frame but built in 7005 double butted tubing this helps save a little weight and give a slightly better ride. Topping the Merlin range is the Malt 4 a new Kinesis Kinesium frame, this is where the tubing is formed under high pressure to give unique tube profiles. This keeps the weight low and the rigidity high.
From Rock Lobster the Californian frame designer of excellent reputation Paul Sadoff has help us Launch a superb range of frames that really do build into superb riding bikes.
The Tig Teal SL is a Kinesis built Easton Elite frame, together with the Tig Team 853 build from the most respective steel tubing Reynolds 853. Topping the range is the Team Titanium revised for 2010 this now offers the best value and performance of any Titanium frame on the market.
Complete bikes
Now seen as an established small bike manufacturer, we now purchase most of our bike components direct from the major manufacturers like Shimano and Magura with the full back-up of the UK's agents. This direct purchase power together with our direct sales approach (no wholesales or distributors mark-up, you are buying direct for the manufacturers) allows us to offer the consumer the very best bikes at a very competitive price.
As stockist for all the major brands like Hope disc brakes, Easton bike parts, Mavic and Marzocchi to name a few, we can offer you a bike that is build just how you want it. Whilst we have put the most popular build ups on our website, and these should suit most customers as many options are listed, we still understand that some customers want something unique to the or have specific requirements. For these customers we can quote for any build option, we recommend that you email us with your requirements to obtain a quote and then we can discuss the build.
Build time
As each bike is hand built in house (including the wheels) the cannot be rushed. Build time varies from 7-10 days during the off season to 2-3 weeks during summer. We will always advise you of the current build time on ordering.
Handbuilt Merlin and Rock Lobster custom mountain bikes.
Merlin Cycles is one the UKs longest established Mountain Bike shops offering you a unique bespoke custom mountain bike service.