Saracen was founded in 1983 and distributed throughout the UK, Europe and Asia.  Originally based in Warwick, England, the company is best known for its range of mountain bikes.  Saracen was a market leader during the early 1990s.  In 2009, Madison acquired the brand.  Since being acquired by Madison, the Saracen brand has undergone significant investment and development, helped in part by the formation of the Madison Saracen Downhill Team.  This development-focused team launched in 2011 and has several notable accolades to date including multiple World Cup podiums, a 2011 Junior World Cup winner, 2011 Junior World Champion and a Bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships.