£3,000 Good-value bike that’s ripe for upgrades Weight 8.97kg (M) Frame CF3 carbon Fork CF3 carbon Gears Shimano 105 11-speed (50/34t, 11-30t) Brakes Shimano 105 R7020 hydraulic disc Wheels Merida Team SL35 Finishing kit FSA ACR SMR stem, Merida Expert SL bar, Merida Expert CC seatpost, Merida Expert SL saddle, Continental Ultra Sport 700x28c tyres
THE MERIDA SCULTURA IS AN ALL-rounder, blending an aggressive race-bred geometry with a frame looking to balance low weight and aerodynamics. It scales back the spec from the Scultura 9000 and comes in at half the price. Overall, it’s not flawless but does offer upgrade potential.
Racy DNA
It uses Merida’s carbon mix known as ‘CF3’, which Merida says is near-comparable in stiffness and compliance to the pricier CF5, and comes with a minor weight penalty (997g in medium compared to the 861g CF5).
The frame and fork have clearance for up to 700 x 30c tyres, though you might be able to squeeze 32c in there. It also features NACA Fastback aero tubing (where the rear side of each tube is truncated to save weight without ruining the airflow) and dropped seatstays, while routing’s internal throughout. Geometry is slap-bang race bike. In our ‘medium’, you get matching, racy 73.5-degree head-tube and seat-tube angles. It has a 395mm reach.
The Merida Scultura Limited comes with the slick-functioning Shimano 105 R7000 groupset. Merida also specs the 11-30 tooth cassette variant and a compact 50/34 tooth crankset. The slight downside to the smaller of the two crankset options (105 R7000 can also be had in a 52/36T semi-compact variant) is spinning out on long, fast descents. Also, Shimano’s RT54 rotors don’t look as premium as the standard 105 rotors. The seatpost is a Merida Expert CC carbon model with 15mm setback, while the saddle is a Merida Expert SL model with alloy rails. If you get on with the shape, the bonus is the saddle comes with an integrated multitool between the rails.
Merida specs a 420mm-wide Expert SL alloy handlebar in a size medium married to a 110mm FSA alloy stem. Your bike fit will dictate whether these dimensions are right for you, though the narrow diameter at key touch points provides little to grasp securely.
Merida’s own Team SL35 carbon wheelset features steel spokes and the rims are only 19mm wide internally (21mm is the trend), though the 35mm depth broadly offers more aero efficiency than a shallower alloy wheelset. Continental’s 700 x 28c Ultra Sport tyres look a reasonable choice at this price.
Fine ride impaired by spec
The Merida Scultura delivers keen handling and sharp steerin
