If you're new to cycling - and maybe carrying a bit of weight - or you're simply looking for a sportive bike; pound for pound this is great value.
By Myles McCorry
A Merida is being ridden this year by World Champion Rui Costa; and loads of us too. As the second biggest manufacture of bikes in the world, they make cycles for lots of other brands. Peel away a few Belgian stickers and the odd ‘Designed in America’ advert and it’s a Merida.
By the looks of this bike, that isn't a bad thing. The ‘Merida Ride Alloy 93’ is designed for newcomers to the sport and sportive riders.
As a package it is pretty good. At just €1,100 this is cent-for-cent a good non-competition bike. I got chatting to the rep about the specification and loved a few of the facts.
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The bike takes 52 hours to be hand made from scratch; it’s hand welded and painted. It sounds like a cottage industry, but one is made every seven minutes in a factory of 900 employees.
One kilometre into my only spin and I think we all should buy one to retire on. I want to be very fat at 75 with a large beard and riding very flat lanes on a Merida 93.
The women's version comes in the shape of the Juliet 91.
Comfortable to the point of relaxing; the very upright position will suit leisure ride customers perfectly. Predictable and dull handling make this a safe and secure first bike.
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The Shimano Tiagra 10 speed gear-set is exacting; not as smooth as its 105 big brother. But it still returns a very reassuring ‘clunk’.
An inexperienced cyclist will not need to look down to know the gear has shifted. The full carbon forks remove a lot of the road shock and partner well with the carbon seatpost; amazing value at this price point.
My first reaction was to conclude the brakes were rubbish, though only when you are used to a good pair of Campagnolo stoppers. After a few more kms, I decided they won’t chuck a new cyclist over the bars when a bit of panic breaking is acted out.
I love to see a bike designed to fit people rather than people trying to fit themselves onto a racing bike. Even the shallow drop bars are secure and reachable for someone owning extra weight.
It is not a light bike; at 9.6kgs.
But it is a great package and a super starting point for the Gaelic footballers of Ireland who have given up holding on to the cruciate ligament excuse.
Anyone looking for a starter racing bike or winter trainer - same components with a sharper frame – should look at the Merida Scultura Alloy 903.
- For: Great value bike-to-work deal. Internal cables and mudguard clearance. Nice female version also available the shape of the Juliet 91.
- Against: Talk the bike shop into swapping the basic saddle instead of discount. There’s a weight penalty compared to the similarly priced - but not as well speced - Specialised Allez.
- Score: 7.5 out of 10.
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