We just announced Merida’s mountain bike collection for next year. For 2013, Merida also dropped two new road lines mixing carbon and flax on higher end models. “Flaxply”, Merida’s carbon and flax bio-fiber combo, is said to dampen vibrations and is used to reinforce the chain stays, seat stays, and fork blades on the Scultura SL Team (pictured above). Other Scultura models get the same frame mold as the top end SL, but flax gets dropped for standard carbon. On top of Scultura, Merida released the Road Ride endurance line with a flax-rockin’ range topper.
Weight for the Scultura SL carbon/flax frameset is listed at 1290g, 844g frame only. Equipped with full SRAM Red, DT Swiss wheelset, and PRC cockpit with Selle Italia SLR monolink saddle and FSA K-Force bars, the SL comes in at £6,000.00.
Click ‘more’ for Scultura and Road Ride highlights, plus info on Merida’s flax tech…
Mixing flax and carbon in the chain stays, seat stays, and fork, they claim carbon vibrations are dampened. The use of flax in bicycles isn’t new, Schwinn’s done it with their commuter bikes to great effect, as have some of the small bamboo builders.
Asymmetrical chain stays and a rib bridging the frame should make for a stiff bottom bracket.
Scultura Comp 905-Di2: £2,800.00
Same frame mold as the SL but pure carbon, the Shimano Ultregra Di2 version gets FSA Energy cranks, a Merida cockpit with FSA Gossamer Ergo OS bars and Selle Italia X1 saddle, and Fulcrum Racing comp wheelset.
Scultura Comp 905: £2,000.00
A sub 1100g frame-weight, 905 gets Ultegra, but besides that is built the same as the Di2 version. This frame has a wider offering, sizes 44, 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 59cm opposed to the models above in only 50-59cm.
Scultura Comp 904 – £1,500.00
Equipped with Shimano 105, a Mavic Aksium wheelset, and a Merida cockpit with Selle Italia X1 saddle and Controltech ONE bars, this is Merida’s affordable racer.
Scultura Comp 903 – £1,350.00
Comp 903 gets Shimano Tiagra groupset with a Merida cockpit and Shimano R501-30 wheelset.
Road Ride
Road Ride 95 – £2,000.00
Road Ride 95 is Merida’s top of the line endurance build. Reinforced with flax like the Scultura SL, 95 gets Shimano Ultegra groupset, Mavic Aksium wheels, Merida’s cockpit and a Selle Italia Q-Bik Flow saddle. All Road Ride bikes are sized 47-59cm in the same increments as Scultura.
Road Ride 94 – £1,500.00
Equipped with Shimano 105 groupset, a Merida cockpit with Selle Italia Q-Bik flow saddle and FSA Gossamer Compact OS bar, 94 rolls on an Alex Race 24 wheelset with Shimano 105 hubs.
Road Ride 93 – £1,350.00
The entry level 93 gets the same cockpit as 94 with Shimano Tiagra groupset, and Alex Race 24 rims with Tiagra hubs.
