Mertrux saddles up to back Raleigh’s cycling stars
East Midlands Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealer Mertrux has joined the chain gang after signing up to a sponsorship deal with one of the region’s best-known businesses.
Raleigh, which has been creating market-leading bicycles in Nottingham for more than 120 years, is now running a new, low-emission Euro 5 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van.
The company is using the impressively liveried, high-roofed 313CDI Long as a mobile promotions unit and workshop at cycling events nationwide – it serves as the focal point for a motor sport-style pit area where potential customers are invited to “try before you buy” a Raleigh or Diamondback (BMX) bike.
The van is also providing service support to the highly successful Raleigh Avanti Racing teams, whose amateur riders compete in various cycling disciplines and between them recorded more than 70 wins in their first season last year. They include 15-year-old Sam Lowe, the Derby-based National Youth Circuit Race Champion, and Ian Wright, from Yoxall, Staffordshire, who is the reigning National Cyclo-cross Champion in the veterans category.
Mertrux has a dealership on Nottingham’s Lenton Lane Industrial Estate, as well as headquarters in Derby and other outlets in Leicester and Mansfield. The family-owned business, whose name as a main sponsor also appears prominently on the Raleigh Avanti Racing teams’ latest jerseys, is a leading representative of the famous three-pointed star –it has held its truck and van franchise since 1974, when the manufacturer opened for business in the UK.
Although it no longer manufactures in Nottingham, Raleigh continues to design and develop bicycles in the city. “The Raleigh name is still synonymous with that of Nottingham,” explained Mertrux Dealer Principal Colin Oakes.
“This, coupled with the increasing popularity of cycling as a family-orientated means by which to achieve a healthy lifestyle, and the fact that Raleigh is also a long-standing operator of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles, made it an ideal sponsorship partner for us.”
Raleigh UK Marketing Manager Geoff Giddings said: “We’re delighted to have secured this support from Mertrux, a company with a high profile and great reputation locally. The Sprinter van looks fantastic, and makes a great mobile advertisement for our brands.
“It’s also smooth and comfortable to drive, and loaded with active and passive safety features, while the spacious cargo area is comprehensively equipped for use as a very efficient cycle workshop.”
He added: “There’s a great deal of interest in cycling at the moment and we’re keen to exploit this momentum to develop our competitive teams, many of whose members come from the East Midlands, while also recruiting more talented youngsters to their ranks. The backing of Mertrux will help us to do just that.”
One of the new Sprinter’s first public appearances will be at the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride, which takes place at the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierrepont on Sunday 20 June. Thousands are again expected to turn out for the biggest mass participation cycle ride in the Midlands, among them a team from Mertrux led by Colin Oakes.
“It’s years since I’ve been on a bike,” he admitted. “I went out for a training spin recently, did three miles and was absolutely shattered at the end. As well as confirming how unfit I am,” he laughed, “it also made me realise that my old bicycle was rubbish – which is why I’ve just bought myself a new Raleigh!”
