Rock Lobster...what are they all about!

[sinnerman]

To be honest, whilst Merlin took the name to a different level. (good or bad thats for the masses to decide).

The end of a " Quality" steel frame for the uk, named Rock Lobster and of that California ethos made famous by the likes of Bontrager Sadoff and Shafer etc.

A bloody shame for all the UK independents at the time imho.

We lost a good product, and to my mind the closest we have to it today, is the Cotic.

It was at this point for me i realised the Mass Exodus away from American and British Product in favour of the far east was here, and there was no stopping it....!

 

[taffy]

a 93/94 Sadoff /Nti lobster has long been on my list.

The later stuff is god brand/marketing but not the genuine article (IMHO)

 

[MrM]

Q. Who can I contact in Europe to get a frame?
A. The Merlin Cycles, Ltd in Leyland near Preston, Lancs. U.K. are the exclusive distributors.

From http://www.rocklobstercycles.com/faq/ probably doesn't help clarify this, and certainly confuses me, having read the above. Could this be a legalese legacy from the contract between RL/PS and Merlin? All they're showing now is an ex showroom bike, that I can see.

 

[highlandsflyer]

It seems Merlin may not be doing them any more, or they just are not updating their site.

 

[sinnerman]

Q. Who can I contact in Europe to get a frame?
A. The Merlin Cycles, Ltd in Leyland near Preston, Lancs. U.K. are the exclusive distributors.

From http://www.rocklobstercycles.com/faq/ probably doesn't help clarify this, and certainly confuses me, having read the above. Could this be a legalese legacy from the contract between RL/PS and Merlin? All they're showing now is an ex showroom bike, that I can see.

Tbh, i think the answer is hidden there discreetly in the link.

By his own omission, in any good year he produces 100 frames per year. BY HAND.

Merlin mail Order would sell that amount per month. (fact.)

 

[sinnerman]

It seems Merlin may not be doing them any more, or they just are not updating their site.

I suspect, market demand has changed dramatically over the years.

Do the masses even get the option to by a high end hardtail in steel or alloy these days...?

Or has the market progressed to carbon, for the most part.

On that note.............................

REDUCE CARBON...............RIDE STEEL....... (that was a great teeshirt)

 

[was8v]

Q. Who can I contact in Europe to get a frame?
A. The Merlin Cycles, Ltd in Leyland near Preston, Lancs. U.K. are the exclusive distributors.

From http://www.rocklobstercycles.com/faq/ probably doesn't help clarify this, and certainly confuses me, having read the above. Could this be a legalese legacy from the contract between RL/PS and Merlin? All they're showing now is an ex showroom bike, that I can see.

Merlin do (or did) act as agents for the custom handmade frames as well as badging up their own.

See the ad "Custom Built American frames from £795":

 

[oldave]

"...option to buy...." well to me >1500 quid is high end - but doesn't look as if much demand!

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bre ... id_#select

 

[sinnerman]

"...option to buy...." well to me >1500 quid is high end - but doesn't look as if much demand!

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bre ... id_#select

And to my mind it was a sad day when Evans rejuvenated the Breezer Mark here in the Uk, they barely had stock on the shop floor, and were giving 30% discount almost from the getgo.
The minute that happened with a brand new model range, to my mind it was doomed too fail here.

But i suppose Evans were already dealing with ASI anyway, so why would ASI choose a small independant importer over Evans bulk buying power and distribution.

A good product at a discount price, a bargain for some none the less.

 

[sinnerman]

Q. Who can I contact in Europe to get a frame?
A. The Merlin Cycles, Ltd in Leyland near Preston, Lancs. U.K. are the exclusive distributors.

From http://www.rocklobstercycles.com/faq/ probably doesn't help clarify this, and certainly confuses me, having read the above. Could this be a legalese legacy from the contract between RL/PS and Merlin? All they're showing now is an ex showroom bike, that I can see.

Merlin do (or did) act as agents for the custom handmade frames as well as badging up their own.

See the ad "Custom Built American frames from £795":

Of course they would offer it, and even display it, and i suspect a small amount did see British Soil. But lets face it, you wouldnt buy a name, unless you were going to exploit the benefits, to reinforce the range they were selling (A filter trickle down effect). The provenance and back story, and propaganda style advertising all helped it to become that success it was.