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An endurance focused road bicycle under 10 kgs.
Merida is a Taiwanese bicycle brand with its engineering coming from Germany. The road bicycle series from Merida is split into 3 ranges; Ride, Scultura and Reacto. The ‘Ride’ was the entry-level road bicycle range, which has all been changed to Scultura’s. This has been done to bring in the superior build quality of Scutura’s on to entry-level road bicycles. From the 2019 range, we got the opportunity to test ride the Merida Scultura 100 and here is what we thought.
Weight: 9.5 kgs
Type: Sport/Leisure
Frame,Fit and Comfort
The Scultura 100’s frame comes with an endurance geometry and is available in 7 different frame sizes
The Scultura 100 is built on Merida’s 6066 triple butted aluminium frame. This frame during the test ride was lightweight, fast and responsive on both flat surfaces and climbs. The aero profile tubing helps to an extent when riding against head winds and keeps the frame weight in check. The Scultura CF carbon fork made sure the weight in the front is less and thus helps in better power transfer.
Design
The Scultura 100 (2019) comes in 2 colour variants; Gloss Green with black graphics and Matte Black with white graphics
The bicycle which I test rode came in a full Green frame with Black as the secondary colour for graphics. The gloss paint job was shiny and enhanced the bright Green colour. The internal cable routing made sure there was no cluster of cables and hence gives a neat look around the front of the frame. The smoothly welded edges of the tube made the frame look like that of a much more expensive road bicycle.
Gearing
The Shimano Claris 16-Speed derailleurs provide smooth and precise shifting
Shimano’s Claris derailleurs handle the gears at the front and rear on the Merida Scultura 100 (2019). Claris is entry-level on Shimano’s road groupset hierarchy. During the test ride this 2x8, 16-Speed Claris derailleurs were light and sleek with smooth shifting capacity. To complete the drivetrain, Shimano’s Claris paddle shifters are installed on this road bicycle for quick and easy shifting.
Brakes and Steering
The dual pivot Caliper brakes were standard road brakes with sufficient stopping power and balance
The stopping power on this road bicycle is take care of by Road dual pivot Caliper brakes at the front and rear. These brakes are standard and had enough stopping power on flat and smooth tarmacs.
The Merida Expert SL drop handlebar was perfect in length to make sure the shoulders are wide enough for comfortable steering. The bar tape is standard material and will require gloves to make it through longer rides, especially if you have sweaty palms.
Wheels and Saddle
The 700x25C Maxxis Dolomites tires were fast rolling on smooth tarmacs
The Maxxis Dolomites 700x25C tires kept the Scultura 100 rolling fast on tarmacs. These tires had strong compounds with neat treading which made sure there was enough traction on both dry and wet roads. These tires are also resistant to smaller punctures on the road.
The Merida Comp SL saddle was designed specifically for endurance rides which made sure the rider is comfortable for long hours on the saddle.
Overall Rating
Performance
Design
Features
Value For Money
- Lightweight frame
- Carbon Fork
- Fast rolling Maxxis 700C tires
- Better grip on tires would have helped in the long run
Conclusion
This road bicycle is designed for beginners and amateurs and hence has a comfortable riding geometry. It is built for providing a smooth riding experience for long endurance rides. The gloss finish paint job and internal cable routing made the bicycle look aesthetic. Priced at Rs.64,490 (as on 13th March 2019), the Merida Scultura 100 (2019) is the ideal choice for anyone looking to buy their first road bicycle.
Prices are subject to change by the brand, without due notice.
