Cycling News & Blog Articles

A decent groupset ensures a smooth and efficient ride. I (along with many other cyclists) have found the Shimano 105 groupset to provide brilliant functionality and reliability at a very fair price point. It’s never let me down on bikes such as the Orro Terra C 105 Gravel Bike (pictured above) and Orro Venturi 105 […]

The post Why choose a Shimano 105 Groupset? 5 Reasons… appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

This month at Merlin Cycles we’ve had some stunning, shiny new road bikes land on our website and shop floor! Here’s our top 5 new bike arrivals… Orro Gold STC Dura Ace Di2 Zipp Carbon Road Bike – 2024 Introducing the All-new Gold STC, a high-performance road bike that prioritizes both speed and comfort. Designed […]

The post The Best New Road Bikes at Merlin Cycles January 2024 appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Many of our customers and staff have opted to upgrade their gravel bikes, including this recent modification to Mike’s Merlin Malt G2X making it a flat bar gravel bike! To enhance your gravel biking experience and take your ride to the next level, consider these top-notch upgrades that promise improved performance, comfort, and style! Up […]

The post Elevate Your Ride: The Best Gravel Bike Upgrades for Better Performance! appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Our bike of the week at Merlin Cycles is this beautiful Colnago C68-R. The bike stands as the pinnacle of the evolution of Colnago history, it’s where 68 years of frame design meet the future. C68 is simply the new milestone. At the heart of the Colnago C68-R is its meticulously crafted carbon frame. The […]

The post Bike of the Week! The Stunning Colnago C68-R… appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Paul, our general manager has been braving the cold weather on his winter bike. He’s put together this week’s blog, covering the very best cold weather clothing for cycling… As the temperatures are set to plummet here in the North West of England, I thought I’d put together my ultimate choice of extreme cold cycling […]

The post Conquering Cold: The Ultimate Choice in Cold Weather Cycling Apparel appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

I’ve been testing the Kask Protone Icon WG11 Helmet for over a year now so thought it was time to put in a review. From road rides to gravel trails, early morning commutes to all day epics… This helmet has been my go-to choice and for good reason. It comes available in a variety of […]

The post Kask Protone Icon WG11 Road Cycling Helmet Review appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

We recently caught up with one of our ‘up and coming’ supported riders Katie Mathison. She is a local Triathlete who has been competing since an early age and has big aspirations for the future. (Pictured: Katie – with the Castelli Alpha Doppio RoS Jacket, Castelli Sorpasso RoS Women’s Bibtight and MET Allroad Road Helmet.) […]

The post Local Merlin Rider Spotlight: Triathlete Katie appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Castelli has been making cycling clothing since 1910 and remain at the forefront of cycling clothing tech. Here’s some of our top Womens Castelli Clothing for this season, as recommended by many of our customers and our staff riders. First up we have the: Sorpasso RoS Women’s Bibtight, (pictured below) made for long rides in […]

The post The Best Castelli Women’s Cycling Clothing Winter 2024 appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

This week on the blog I thought I’d share some of the goodies currently on display in our shop! Experience Innovative Design with Ridley Bikes! On our shop floor you’ll find a selection of the very best Ridley bikes from the Kanzo Fast Gravel bike to the Noah Fast Road bike. Ridley do not compromise […]

The post What’s in the Merlin Cycles Bike Shop? January 2024 appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

The start of a new year offers a perfect opportunity to set fresh goals and embrace healthy habits. Whether you’re a long time cycling enthusiast or just eager to embark on a new fitness journey, why not make 2024 your year of cycling? Here’s a few challenges for you to consider… Monthly Time Trials: Race […]

The post New Year New Me? Cycling Challenges for 2024 appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Here’s a round up of my top bikes, cycling kit, projects, rides and coffee stops of this year! First up we have… Century Gravel Ride The most ‘epic’ day out on a bike of 2023 was my first 100 mile Gravel Bike ride. I’d been doing quite a lot of long distance running events in […]

The post My Top 10 Cycling Things of 2023… appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

As Christmas draws closer, the festive drinks, hearty meals, and cosy gatherings can make it tempting to stay indoors. However, heading out on the bike can be well worth it… Here are five reasons why you should hop on your bike this Christmas and make it a one to remember: 1. Take Time to Unwind: […]

The post Festive Pedalling: 5 Reasons to Cycle this Christmas… appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

This week at Merlin Cycles, I decided to ask some our staff which bikes they have on their Christmas wish list! Quite a few of our staff members would love to unwrap the Wilier 0 SLR Disc Ultegra Di2 Road Bike on Christmas morning… Next up we have the Simplon Rapcon Pmax GX1 Lupine Carbon […]

The post The Ultimate Bike Christmas Wish List! Our Top Picks… appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

December is here and Christmas is fast approaching! In need of a cycling themed gift for a friend or relative? Look no further, here are some goodies sure to please a cyclist this time of year… Muc-Off Indoor Training Kit V2 For Turbo Training Enthusiasts or Zwift Racers! The Muc-Off Indoor Training Kit has all […]

The post The Best Christmas Stocking Fillers at Merlin Cycles 2023! appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Rob in our marketing department recently took a weekend trip to Scotland on his new full suspension bike. Recently returning to the world of mountain biking, he decided it was time to swap his tubes for a tubeless set up! Rob opted for a set of Continental Tubeless Ready Tyres, Muc-Off No Puncture Tubeless Sealant, […]

The post Trying out a tubeless bike set up! appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

“For when the challenge is distance rather than speed. The Castelli Unlimited Puffy Jacket brings warmth and comfort with looks that are at home on the bike or at the café stop.” I’ve been an owner of this ‘Winter Adventure Jacket’ since last Autumn and had plenty of time to put it to the test […]

The post A Review of the Castelli Unlimited Puffy Cycling Jacket appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

The Crono Winter CW1 Boot is designed with poor conditions in mind, making it a great option for winter riding.

The post Crono CW1 Winter Cycling Boots Review: Great Warmth and Protection! appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

This month I planned a gravel ride on some of my favourite trails. However, on the day, the weather was less than ideal with the forecast showing 90% chance of rain throughout the day… I had waterproof gear at the ready and therefore, no excuses to get out and test the Merlin Malt G2X on […]

The post Riding your gravel bike in the wet and rain? appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

From brilliantly crafted bikes to swanky winter boots, here’s the latest products to hit the shelves this month! If you’re quick you may still take advantage of our Black Friday Prices… Orro Terra C 105 Allroad Winter Bike – 2024 Fall in love with winter riding! In need of a winter bike? Look no further! […]

The post What’s new November? The latest products at Merlin Cycles! appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.

Black Friday Deals have arrived at Merlin Cycles! Here’s some of our top items to consider, you’ll also find our very best Black Friday Bike Deals at the end of this post… Castelli Gabba RoS Special Edition Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey The Castelli Gabba RoS Short Sleeve Jersey gives you unbeatable dry-weather comfort whilst keeping […]

The post Black Friday 2023! The Best Deals at Merlin Cycles! appeared first on Merlin Cycles Blog.