Merida Scultura 300 2020

The Merida Scultura 300 may sit at the lower end of the company's line-up, but it goes to prove that you don't need to spend a fortune to own a very capable and comfortable performance road bike that'll give you a grin from ear to ear. At its heart is a very good aluminium alloy frame, plus a full carbon fork and a smattering of decent kit.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

Ride

I first rode an aluminium Scultura back at the beginning of 2019, the 200 Disc, and was very impressed with the frame. While the 300 we've got here is the rim brake option, that same impressive ride quality is still very much there.

Those who've been around the sport since the turn of the century will remember the early, harsh aluminium bikes on the market with their massive, oversized tubes that resonated every tiny vibration back through to the rider.

Now, with the use of various alloy grades, butting (creating differing wall thicknesses across the length of a tube), hydroforming (creating tube profiles using liquid under pressure) and computer analysis software, manufacturers are delivering bikes like this Scultura, with a frame that is stiff where it needs to be, but with plenty of comfort included thanks to the manipulation of the tube profiles.

The Maxxis tyres aren't exactly the most supple either, so the fact that the Merida manages to shrug off any resonation from the road is further testament to how good the frame is.

It's not the lightest bike out there – offerings below a grand seldom are – but its 9.26kg (20.4lb) doesn't really hold the 300 back on anything but the steepest of climbs, and gives it a planted feel on the road. It never feels flighty when you hit a section of rough tarmac at speed, and on descents it brings an extra level of confidence, like the Scultura has got your back.

I tend to ride a lot on big main roads so I'm often competing at roundabouts and traffic lights with motor traffic, especially when travelling through large towns and cities. The Merida feels quite sprightly off the mark, not like my 6.8kg (14.9lb) B'Twin, but it doesn't feel like you are having to use loads of energy to get it rolling even when you are having to do it every 200 yards or so.

The geometry seems to work well – for me at least – allowing me to stay seated for long periods without having to move out of the saddle to relax my lower back. This meant that on the majority of climbs I could just stay seated and tap out the efforts.

When it gets really steep the weight becomes more noticeable but the frame is ripe for upgrades, and if you really wanted to you could shed plenty of grams by treating yourself to some lighter wheels and tyres.

Handling-wise, things are well balanced. The front end is quite aggressive in terms of the head angle, but the steering comes across as quite neutral without being boring.

At cruising speed it's a very easy bike to ride with what feels like minimal input. Crank things up a notch and the Merida will happily change direction from bend to bend with little fuss. The only time I would have liked something just a little bit quicker was on really technical sections. That would make the steering twitchier elsewhere, though, which I wouldn't be keen to see as the Scultura makes for a very good first serious road bike or a quality upgrade from bikes around the £500 mark.

Frame and fork

The Scultura range contains both carbon fibre and alloy models, the latter covering the 100, 200, 300 and 400 versions.

Known as Scultura Lite, it is constructed from triple-butted 6066 grade aluminium alloy, the only difference between the 100, 200 and the other two higher models is that they are designed for a threaded bottom bracket whereas the 300 and 400 are Press-Fit 86.

At the front end you are getting a tapered head tube, 1 1/8in at the top and 1 1/2in at the bottom. Beneath that is a full carbon fibre fork which is painted to match the frame. I was impressed with its stiffness under heavy braking and steering at speed.

One of the benefits of using the press-fit BB system is that with the bearings pressing inside the frame, the BB shell can be wider without affecting the distance between the pedals (Q-factor).

A wider shell allows you to use a wider down tube for stiffness. Merida has gone with a large 'D-shape', and has also flared the seat tube out at the bottom, although it hasn't really exploited the width to use wider chainstays – not that the Scultura seems to suffer for that when it comes to power transfer.

I'm a big fan of the colour – the grey with red accents gives a classy look, and although the welding isn't the prettiest I've seen at this price point, it does have a sort of functional look.

One thing that might not be to everyone's taste is the recommended maximum tyre size of just 25mm. Personally it doesn't bother me – on a bike like this 25mm is just fine for me – though I did find a set of 28mm tyres fitted fine, you just don't quite have as much room.

The rim brake callipers limit the use of anything bigger than 28mm.

The majority of the cable routing is internal. The rear brake cable runs through the top tube, and both mech cables exit just above the bottom bracket. It's not something I'm really a fan of as it means they are re-entering the outside world exactly where they are going to take the brunt of road spray and mud from the front tyre.

Here, though, Merida has countered this by enclosing both cables in a sleeve to protect them from the elements.

When it comes to mounting points, all you get are bolts for two bottle cages, but hey, it's a race bike – you don't need guards or a rack!

Not requiring expensive moulds like a carbon fibre frame, alloy frames are often available in a larger range of sizes and that is true here. The Merida comes in nine options from 4XS to XL, 49cm to 59cm when it comes to the top tube length.

Finishing kit

The Scultura 300 is based primarily around a Shimano Tiagra groupset, which sits above Claris and Sora, but below 105.

It's the only 10-speed groupset in the line-up and basically mimics the performance and ergonomics of the previous 105 5800, but with one sprocket less on the cassette.

What this means, in use, is that you get precise shifting across the cassette and chainrings alike, with a definitive click at the shifter as the chain moves left or right. If you want to get a more detailed description of everything on offer then check out Dave's review of the 105 5800 groupset.

Ratio-wise, Merida has gone for a 50/34-tooth chainset paired up with a 12-28 cassette. Not the lowest gearing out there, but it sits well with the performance the Scultura is designed to deliver.

Merida has fitted its own Road Comp dual-pivot calliper brakes. They offer decent levels of stiffness through the callipers themselves, but the pads let things down a bit. The compound used is very hard, so there isn't much bite on the rim surface. It did improve over the miles as the rims and pads bedded in, but I'd still recommend an upgrade to give more confidence should you need the brakes in an emergency, especially in the wet.

Merida also supplies the seatpost, saddle, stem and handlebar.

The Expert SL handlebar is quite shallow in its design, which means the drops are pretty accessible to most.

Like the handlebar, the Comp CC stem is made from aluminium and ties everything in nicely when it comes to aesthetics. Stem length is governed by frame size, starting at 70mm for the 4XS and 3XS, up to 110mm for the L and XL.

The Comp CC seatpost is also alloy. It's basic but simple to adjust and there were no issues with slippage.

Perched above it is the Comp SL saddle which I found comfortable. The padding isn't too thick or too soft (I know, I get all a bit Goldilocks when it comes to saddles), and I found it very supportive on both long and short rides.

Wheels and tyres

The Comp SL rims, also from Merida, are quite old school with their 17mm inner width. The majority of modern wheels are around 19mm to 21mm internally for road use; what it means here is that the 25mm tyres keep to their standard width when mounted.

The wheels add quite a bit of weight to the overall build, but are solid and durable, so are worth hanging on to even if you are only going to use them for winter use after treating yourself to a pair of lighter race/summer wheels... The Scultura's frame is very upgradable, so if you can stretch to a new set of lighter wheels they'll give a massive boost to performance.

Maxxis supplies the tyres and, as I mentioned above, they aren't the most supple and give quite a muted ride, as in they don't allow a huge amount of feedback through from the road.

Grip is okay in the wet and dry, and they didn't suffer from any damage or punctures throughout the test period. As with the wheels, though, if you can upgrade it will really aid the bike's speed and weight.

Value

Entry-level aluminium alloy rim-brake bikes are getting harder and harder to find, especially around this price of just under a grand, but there is some stiff competition.

The Van Rysel RR 900 AF, part of Decathlon's race bike range, offers a butted alloy frame and full carbon fork although you are getting a 105 groupset and a set of Mavic Aksiums for the £850 build price, so quite the bargain. Currently out of stock, though...

An alloy model that is a common choice in the sub-£1,000 category is the Specialized Allez, a bike that I have ridden in various builds, and even though it is not quite as race-inspired as the initial versions it is still a quick and comfortable bike.

> Buyer’s Guide: 13 of the best 2020 road bikes under £1,000

Specialized doesn't offer a Tiagra build but it does have Sora (Allez Sport) and 105 (Allez Elite) models, at £849 and £1,049 respectively. Pitched £100 either side of the Scultura, that suggests a Tiagra-equipped Allez would be around the same price.

Another popular choice is Giant's Contend SL. It's slightly more expensive than the Merida at £999, but you are getting the majority of a 105 groupset, albeit with a non-series chainset.

Conclusion

The Scultura 300 has a very good frameset that delivers a great balance of stiffness and comfort, which is what makes the Scultura so upgradable. If you are new to riding, this is definitely a bike that could grow with you as your aspirations, fitness and talent take off.

Verdict

The Scultura offers a great ride, with a very comfortable yet stiff frameset that's also eminently upgradable