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| merlin:start [2025/11/04 17:21] – created mtbtimeline | merlin:start [2025/11/05 06:33] (current) – mtbtimeline |
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| A year later Mike Augspurger left Merlin to found One-Off Titanium in Florence, Mass. where he creates experimental and custom-designed products, mostly related to bicycles. | A year later Mike Augspurger left Merlin to found One-Off Titanium in Florence, Mass. where he created experimental and custom-designed products, mostly related to bicycles. |
| At the same time Gary Helfrich left for California to later work for [[ibis:start|Ibis]], [[trek:start|Trek]] and Serotta. Gwyn stayed on as the owner of Merlin for over ten years where "he worked on a wide range of bicycle engineering and design projects((Gwyndaf went on to teach it MIT after Merlin: [[https://d-lab.mit.edu/news-blog/blog/new-academic-offering-d-lab-cycle-ventures|MIT D-lab]]. See also: [[https://d-lab.mit.edu/about/people/gwyn-jones|Gwyn's D-lab bio]]. )) | At the same time Gary Helfrich left for California to later work for [[ibis:start|Ibis]], [[trek:start|Trek]] and Serotta. Gwyn stayed on as the owner of Merlin for over ten years where "he worked on a wide range of bicycle engineering and design projects((Gwyndaf went on to teach it MIT after Merlin: [[https://d-lab.mit.edu/news-blog/blog/new-academic-offering-d-lab-cycle-ventures|MIT D-lab]]. See also: [[https://d-lab.mit.edu/about/people/gwyn-jones|Gwyn's D-lab bio]]. )). |
| In 1997 as few Merlin employees left to form [[https://web.archive.org/web/20250929175337/http://www.sevencycles.com/|Seven Cycles]] at which point Merlin was acquired by [[https://www.saucony.com/en/home|Saucony]]. In 2000 Merlin was sold to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bicycle_Group|Merican Bicycle Group]] who then sold Merlin to [[https://www.competitivecyclist.com/|Competitive Cyclist]] in 2011. In 2018 Merlin was sold off to Janus Cycle Group, where it appears to continue to thrive as [[https://www.merlinbikes.com/|Merlin Bikes]], offering nearly a dozen off-the-rack or custom models. | In 1997 as few Merlin employees left to form [[https://web.archive.org/web/20250929175337/http://www.sevencycles.com/|Seven Cycles]] at which point Merlin was acquired by [[https://www.saucony.com/en/home|Saucony]]. In 2000 Merlin was sold to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bicycle_Group|Merican Bicycle Group]] who then sold Merlin to [[https://www.competitivecyclist.com/|Competitive Cyclist]] in 2011. In 2018 Merlin was sold off to Janus Cycle Group, where it appears to continue to thrive as [[https://www.merlinbikes.com/|Merlin Bikes]], offering nearly a dozen off-the-rack or custom models. |
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| Gwyndaf Jones | Gwyndaf Jones |
| Gwyn in his workshop, Carlisle, Massachusetts, 2010. Photo by Michael Woon, [[https://woon.wordpress.com/category/mechanic/]]. | Gwyn in his workshop, Carlisle, Massachusetts, 2010. Photo by Michael Woon, [[https://woon.wordpress.com/category/mechanic/|wordpress]]. |
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| </div> | </div> |
| <div column 50% #s1987> | <div column 50% #s1987> |
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| ===== 1987 MTB ===== | ===== 1987 Merlin Marin Team Titanium ===== |
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| 1987 Merlin Marin Team Titanium | |
| The first 100 Marin Team Titaniums were sold by Marin in their 1988 lineup, and another 100 or so were badged as Merlins. Shimano 105 road rear derailleur, Suntour roller cam brakes, horizontal dropouts. Marin later switched to Litespeed as a titanium frame supplier. | The first 100 Marin Team Titaniums were sold by Marin in their 1988 lineup, and another 100 or so were badged as Merlins. Shimano 105 road rear derailleur, Suntour roller cam brakes, horizontal dropouts. Marin later switched to Litespeed as a titanium frame supplier. |
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| ===== 1989 MTB ===== | ===== 1989 MTB ===== |
| Shimano XT M730(1986-88), very early Rockshox RS-1 (1989, thus)((This is the earliest example of Rockshox appearing on a MTB for sale. The next ealiest is a 1990 [[ferra:start#s1990|Ferraroli]] with later RS-1's. | Shimano XT M730(1986-88), very early Rockshox RS-1 (1989, thus)((This is the earliest example of Rockshox appearing on a MTB for sale. The next earliest is a 1990 [[ferra:start#s1990|Ferraroli]] with later RS-1's.)). |
| </div> | </div> |
| <div column 45%> | <div column 45%> |
