Merlin Empire
 

Reviewed | The Merlin Empire | Competitive Cyclist

Heresy or evolution?

not big enough

Heresy! That would be like a carbon Moots............nooo!

Seems like a weak attempt to squeeze more money out of a brand name.

Tubed and glued CF frame doesn't seem to offer anything that can't be had cheaper.

Other than a cool head tube emblem.

Read this yesterday and almost showered my computer screen with coffee when I saw the price.

^^^^^

This.

I think competitive cyclist being acquired by Backcountry.com has been the worst thing that ever happened to them.

I think that the UD carbon looks great. That about covers my thoughts on it.

Bill Holland, who has been locally building titanium and steel frames in San Diego for over thirty years, is doing the same thing. I think he would argue that it's not a money grab, but rather it's giving the people what they want. Just supply and demand.

Such a sameness among bicycles. There really isn't anything to get excited about, except maybe 12 speed - can't wait.

The old merlin had some cachet! Tom Kellogg designing frames, top notch Ti welders... good stuff. The only thing the new one has in common with the original brand is the name on the tubes. Not that change is bad but at 4k+ for just the frame you wont' have any change to worry about.

Heresy! That would be like a carbon Litespeed............oh wait

BikesDirect bought the Merlin name?

Competitive Cyclist ( or the people that used to own it) bought the Merlin brand last I heard.

Just saw an add for a Willier Zero 7 at $3995. I'd take a Zero 7,(or for that matter a number of other CF frames) over this at the same price every day.