Cycling News & Blog Articles

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 France is here! Here at Merlin, we are very proud of our wide range of road bikes. We have our own well loved Merlin brand bikes […]

The post TDF 2020 Bikes – at Merlin appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Just as a bicycle is a simple form of transport, it is also relatively simple and straight forward to keep running well. Follow our 4 bike maintenance tips to keep your bike running smoothly and avoid any potentially costly issues. Why Bother? No matter how much money you spend on a bike, if you just […]

The post 4 Essential Bike Maintenance Tips for Beginners appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

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 G2X GRX The G2X has had some major upgrades from last year’s model. Our top of the range aluminium gravel bike features revised geometry, […]

The post 2021 Merlin Malt G2X – GRX appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

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 Our mid-range aluminium gravel bike features revised frame geometry for 2021. The reliable Shimano Tiagra groupset provides solid performance through precise shifting and low […]

The post 2021 Merlin Malt G2P Tiagra appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Here at Merlin we are keen to draw a line under 2020. So, let’s crack on with 2021. The first bikes of our 2021 range have arrived and are already being shipped out to our eagerly waiting customers. So, What’s New? Our new entry level gravel bike is the Malt G2 Claris. Our whole aluminium […]

The post 2021 Merlin Malt G2 Claris appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

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. Handlebars can enhance your comfort on a bike and can offer increased control to your riding. Handlebars are one of your three […]

The post Guide to Road Bars appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

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 increasing, this makes them more of a target to thieves. As bike ownership costs increase, the need for cycle insurance becomes more prevalent. Isn’t My Bike already […]

The post An In-depth Guide to UK Cycle Insurance appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

One of the biggest changes you can make to improve your bike riding is moving from regular shoes / training shoes to specific cycling shoes and pedals. So what are the options? Read on for beginner’s tips for moving into ‘click-in’ pedals. Why Do I Need Them? Shoes for riding bikes have a stiffer sole […]

The post Pushing Pedals – Beginner’s Guide appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

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 get to see a different part of the world on your bike. Unfortunately, there are also lots of opportunities for things to go wrong…Avoid […]

The post Avoid these Sportive Mistakes appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

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, sinister, destructive forces which can kill your bike. Watch out for these seemingly innocent elements – protect your pride and joy! Salty Solution Sodium Chloride (Salt) eats bikes. Sodium Chloride – […]

The post 10 Things that could KILL your Bike! appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Keen to get off busy roads, but still want to cover a lot of ground? Longing to check out new routes, maybe get a little dirty, while gripping drop handlebars? A Gravel Bike could well be the answer. Here are our top tips for Going Gravel. Keep It Smooth While hard-packed tracks can be ridden […]

The post Road to Gravel appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Misplaced a tool and need a job on your bike doing? Fear not, check out our bike fix hacks. The temporary hacks below are not supposed to replace an item in your toolkit, but might just get you through… Chain Holder Chain maintenance? Need a chain holder for removing and installing a quick link? – […]

The post 6 Handy Bike Hacks appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Replacing a few key parts can reinvigorate your riding and even boost performance. Upgrading parts also builds in a certain uniqueness to your ride. There are plenty of relatively cost effective options to improve your bike without breaking the bank. This blog features upgrades that have received 100% – 5 Star customer reviews – and […]

The post 5 Star Road Bike Upgrades appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

So you have ditched public transport or decided to leave the car at home...

The post Get Astute for Your Commute. appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

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 you, can cause pain or make you not want to ride. Even worse, using the wrong saddle can cause injury to your genital region. So how do you find […]

The post Sitting Comfy? appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Sidi are arguably the most iconic name in road cycling shoes and an undoubted market leader. The current president, Dino Signori, used his initials to name the company when it began in 1960, producing mountain sports footwear. The 1970’s saw Sidi diversify into motorcycling boots and cycling shoes. Since then, many of the best road […]

The post Sixty Years of Sidi appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

As spring turns into summer and weather becomes more reliably good (hopefully / fingers crossed), it is a good time to look at your cycling clothing. Is it starting to look a little bit worn? A bit shabby? or promoting a long since defunct racing team? Check out our summer kit essentials and we will […]

The post Summer Essentials appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

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 the most from yours by following these 7 steps. Tyre Pressure Usually on the side-wall of a bike’s tyre, the tyre pressure range is designed to […]

The post New Bike Tweaks appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Spending a lot of time on your bike helps create a very special bond. Bikes have become even more important during the pandemic, nothing transports you whilst making you healthier and clearing your head like a bike. The best way to maintain that special bond is to keep your machine running at its best. Keep […]

The post Extend your Bike’s Life… appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

So you’ve pressed the button, or said “I’ll have that one” in an actual shop – you’ve bought a new bike! That’s great, but how do you get your new bike to fit you and get it ready to ride? Check out our guide to setting up your new bike. There are a few things […]

The post 10 Tips – New Bike Set up appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.