There’s a current pattern for producers to push the normal race bike in direction of aerodynamic effectivity by incorporating full-aero tubing and deeper part wheels. When it comes to straight-line pace there are big benefits with this strategy however – unsurprisingly – drawbacks too like further weight and the lack of some compliance and luxury.
Merida in the meantime has resisted the urge to leap on the stylish bandwagon, as a substitute taking a extra conventional and balanced strategy with the race-orientated Scultura. Whereas it claims to be the “most aerodynamic ever” it’s designed to optimise compliance and minimise weight delivering its rider contemporary to energy over the end line. It’s an strategy that appears to work if wins for the World Tour Group Bahrain Victorious are something to go by.
The body
The Scultura’s body is comparatively conventional in look, however that hasn’t hindered efficiency
(Picture credit score: Future)
The Scultura 6000 has a totally carbon body and fork utilizing Merida’s CF3 carbon (Merida grades its carbon from CF5 to 2, 5 is the very best). It’s within the development of the body the place Merida has actually bucked the pattern of aero-ising. As an alternative of aero-profiled tubes, the Scultura’s rounded tubes hold the burden down and preserve compliance. As we’ve come to anticipate, cables and wires are all tucked contained in the body for a tidy and environment friendly end.
The tubing might differ however the Scultura shares geometry with its full-aero sibling the Reacto. Our medium had a stack of 557mm and a attain of 395mm, which makes it comparatively longer (by 10-20mm) and better (4 -8mm) than bikes similar to Specialised Tarmac and Trek’s Madone.
Seat and head tube angles are 73.5 levels, chainstay size 408mm and a complete wheelbase of 990mm all level to sharp and snappy pedalling and dealing with.
The construct
The Scultura 6000 Di2 seems to be like a motorcycle meaning enterprise. It’s neat and tidy and pleasingly bereft of fussy graphics. It’s merely white with black particulars which pull the parts into the traces of the body; personally I like how the traces of the seatstays movement neatly into the angular seat tube junction.
The headline function of the Scultura 6000 Di2 is, reasonably clearly, the Di2. The 6000 Di2 has the entire Shimano 105 2×12 groupset; backside bracket, cranks, derailleurs brakes, levers, cassette, and shifters (in order for you extra of our ideas on the 105 Di2 groupset, head over to our full evaluate.)
Full 2x 105 Di2 spec, with compact crankset and a beneficiant cassette vary of 11-34.
(Picture credit score: Future)
Evaluating the 6000 Di2 to the mechanical model of the Scultura 6000, Merida has specced the 6000 Di2 with a extra beneficiant cassette ratio (11-34 on Di2 vs 11-30 on Ultegra) so there’s a bigger vary of gears and a extra beneficiant backside finish. Paired with its compact crankset, the 6000 Di2 has the widest gearing of the entire Scultura vary. This makes it a pretty possibility should you wish to hold gearing gentle on the hills.
With the RRP of Shimano’s 105 Di2 groupset equal to half the worth of the 6000 Di2 it’s not stunning that there are some relative compromises in the case of the construct of the remainder of the bike. The in-house aluminium rimmed wheels and entry-level 28c Continental tyres are the obvious locations the place Merida has stored the worth down. In case you are swapping tyres, it’s value noting that though the body can accommodate a 30c tyre the rim’s 17mm inner width makes the mix “suitable” reasonably than “optimum” based on trade security steerage.
Our dimension medium take a look at bike featured fairly broad 420mm bars and a protracted 110mm stem – a setup that will not go well with everybody.
(Picture credit score: Future)
The aluminium cockpit combines a Race Face stem with an in-house bar, each are sized proportionally to border dimension so our take a look at medium bike had a 420mm width bar and 110mm stem. The cockpit has a extremely tidy look to it with aesthetically pleasing spacers.
One benefit of the two-piece cockpit is the pliability it provides to swap out parts with out an enormous further expense, one thing I took benefit of throughout testing. Riders like me, who’re on the smaller finish of the bike’s sizing, might discover the bike’s size and bar dimension makes for a stretch to the levers (the small has the identical bar dimension as medium and enormous frames). If you wish to hold the device holder on the saddle’s rails you’ll discover you’re restricted on how far ahead you’ll be able to push the saddle on the layback seatpost.
The journey
The Scultura is a motorcycle that wishes to be ridden aggressively. Its stiff body responds to the trouble you place in and shortly will get you up to the mark. As soon as there, it cruises alongside as you push out the trouble. It encourages and rewards you for getting your head down and driving laborious all the way in which. The extra you place in, the extra you get out – there’s no doubting that you just’re driving a race bike.
Given its racing temporary, I used to be pleasantly stunned by the Scultura’s steadiness and management. At speeds and efforts the place I typically really feel a motorcycle is twitchy and on the sting, the Scultura steadily holds its line. It’s a praise to say it doesn’t really feel as quick as it’s.
Whereas the Scultura is stiff and exact it isn’t overly harsh to journey. The carbon body’s layup and 28cc broad tires mix properly to soak up the chatter of the tough UK roads. The alloy-rimmed wheels additionally play their half, including a little bit dampening to the system. Throughout testing, I swapped the wheels for a set of Elitewheels 50mm carbon rimmed hoops which made for a extra reactive but additionally much less comfy journey.
The Scultura is stiff, however nonetheless comfy for lengthy days within the saddle. Dealing with, although, is a blended bag.
(Picture credit score: Future)
The Scultura is nice enjoyable ridden laborious however I didn’t discover it fairly as adept once I turned down the trouble. With a extra relaxed physique place the bike feels much less balanced and the steering wandering and disjointed, it’s virtually like it’s a must to anticipate the again finish to catch up across the nook. I discovered that tinkering with my setup (a shorter and slammed stem) improved the dealing with however didn’t eradicate the lag.
I additionally discovered there was a much less reactive really feel to the pedal stroke at decrease speeds, virtually a way of inefficiency. In the identical means, the bike wants you to be up and over the entrance finish to get the perfect out of the dealing with and it wants you to be over the underside bracket to benefit from the ability switch by way of the cranks. It’s definitely more durable to seek out the appropriate tempo at decrease efforts than it’s while you’re up to the mark. For that reason, it didn’t really feel as spritely climbing as I’d have appreciated, significantly on these lengthy drags the place I used to be sitting with my weight again within the saddle.
The decision
The Scultura affords glorious worth when you think about the construct options Shimano 105 Di2.
(Picture credit score: Future)
At £3,300 the Scultura 6000 Di2 is without doubt one of the least costly Di2-equipped race bikes presently obtainable. Canyon’s Final CF SL 7 Di2 has a really related spec except for the inclusion of a 4iii energy meter however prices £500 extra. The Ribble R872 Disc-Professional is £500 cheaper for what on paper is a really related construct.
The Scultura 6000 Di2 offers every little thing it guarantees; a quick however comfy race bike that’s at its greatest ridden laborious. As a package deal, it’s an amazing possibility should you’re eager on digital gearing and don’t have an enormous finances (a future wheel improve can be value saving for). In case you’re on the smaller finish of the dimensions vary for a mannequin, take note of the part sizing in addition to the body as you could need to dimension down for a greater match.
The spec
- FRAME SCULTURA CF3 V
- FRAME SIZE XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL
- FORK SCULTURA CF3 disc
- RIM MERIDA EXPERT SL
- HUBS VP CLK170F / VP CLK270R
- FRONT TYRE Continental Grand Sport Race
- REAR TYRE Continental Grand Sport Race
- HUBS MERIDA EXPERT SL
- CRANK Shimano 105
- BOTTOM BRACKET SM-BB71-41B, Pressfit 86.5
- CASSETTE Shimano CS-R7100
- CHAIN Shimano CN-M6100-12
- SHIFTERS Shimano 105 disc Di2
- FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano 105 Di2
- REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano 105 Di2
- BRAKE LEVER Shimano 105
- BRAKES Shimano 105
- ROTORS Shimano RT64
- HEADSET FSA ACR
- STEM FSA SMR ACR
- STEM SIZE 90 mm-XXS/XS, 100 mm-S, 110 mm-M, 120 mm-L/XL
- HANDLEBAR MERIDA EXPERT SL
- GRIP MERIDA ROAD Professional
- SEAT POST MERIDA EXPERT CC
- SEAT CLAMP MERIDA EXPERT
- SADDLE MERIDA EXPERT SL
