News & Features

Merlin Cycles take over as headline sponsor for Cycling Time Trials ‘Classic Series’ in 2021

Cycling Time Trials, the national governing body for time trials in England, Scotland and Wales return for their annual ‘Classic Series’ in 2021, this time under different sponsorship.

The ‘Classic Series’, which has previously been sponsored by American wheel brand Knight Composites, Sigma Sports and Rudy Project, will return after the 2020 series was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.

Established in 1993 by John Moss, Merlin Cycles are one of the longest running online bike stores in the UK.
Merlin Cycles was initially a mail order business started in June 1993 by John Moss in the spare bedroom of his house in Whittle Le Woods near Chorley. A few months later the company opened a shop premises in Ormskirk, Lancashire. In 1998 Merlin Cycles moved to larger shop premises in Leyland.
Merlin Cycles spent ten years in the Leyland premises. During this time they began designing their own mountain bikes, including the Rock Lobster steel hardtails and then the Malt aluminium hardtails.
From an original concentration on the UK mountain bike market, recent years has seen the company switch to catering equally for the increasing road cycling market. In 2008 the company moved to their current shop, warehouse and office premises in Buckshaw Village, Chorley.

Cycling Time Trials are very pleased to be working with Merlin Cycles, creating a positive partnership for the benefit of the riders.

The Classic Series consist of six events in total across the UK, including categories for men, women, juniors, veterans, paracyclists with a new category for road bikes. The criteria for the road bike category is below

• No tri bars, clip on bars or Spinaci bars
• No disc wheels. Both front and rear wheels must have a minimum of 12 spokes each. The maximum rim depth on all wheels is 65mm
• No aero helmet or a helmet that covers the ears or a helmet with a visor is to be used
• Riders must not ride with their forearms resting on the handlebars at any time.

A list of all 2021 dates for the Merlin Cycles Classic Series is outlined below.

Note – due to the Covid restrictions and the South DC event not being able to be held, it has been necessary to move the date & district of one of the rounds.