The Merida 0.Nine carbon fiber hardtail mountain bike may be the world’s lightest frame.Weighing about 930g for an 18″ frame size, it’s at or below the weight of most mid- and high-level road bike frames.  What’s as impressive is they managed to shave almost 200g from the Carbon FLX frame this bike is replacing.
But, the frame’s not some wimpy lightweight flex monster…it’s the Multivan Merida team rig, so it must perform up to World Cup pro standards.  In fact, the Carbon FLX carried team riders to 5 European Championship titles, 15 Worldcup victories and 5 World Championship titles over the past couple of years.ÂÂ
The 0.Nine features Merida’s Flex-Stay seat and chainstays, which are shaped like a flat spring and use Spectra and Vectran fibers mixed in with the carbon.  The design offers up to 40mm of “suspension” for the rider.  Combined with their redesigned seat tube that uses a thinner diameter seat tube (which offers more compliance than a thicker diameter one), the ride is more comfortable than comparable hardtail race bikes.
As for lateral flex, Merida claims the bike is 20% stiffer than the FLX, even with a regular bottom bracket. A BB30 frame will be offered, which adds 30g, but is supposedly 35% stiffer than the FLX.
The frame is guaranteed for five years for riders weighing under 260 lbs (seriously?  do you know any 260lb cross country racers?), even for racing.  Pricing is not set, but framesets should be available late Summer, and complete bikes later in the year.
Hit ‘more’ for additional pics and specs…
The Multivan Merida team bike edition.
The team bikes roll on Maxxix Larsen tires hooked to Alex Rims and DT Swiss hubs and skewers.  SRAM XO rear derailleur and PG-990 cassette link up to FSA K-Force Light carbon triple crankset.
What?  VW kicked Trek to the curb and went with Merida?  That little sticker would lead us to believe it…  Anyway, check out the thick headtube with integrated FSA headset.  Going down from there is a Manitou R7 suspension fork.
Notice how the downtube is virtually as wide as the bottom bracket shell where they meet, no doubt leading to the bike’s overall stiffness under World Cup-winning power.  Also notice the sculpted seat tube, which gets really narrow toward the top.
Mmmm…. Carbon.
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