Cycling is gaining in popularity. Every year prestigious competitions are held, special lanes are laid in the cities - bicycle paths. Two-wheel transport is becoming more advanced. At the moment, there are a large number of types of bicycles. Each of them has its own characteristics. This article will examine in detail the Merida Cyclo Cross 300 model - what it is and what its performance is.
Cyclocross word
Before you get acquainted with the bike itself, we will find out why it is needed. Cyclocross races - this is not an easy test for the rider. The movement here is continuous sand, mud, puddles and other natural and artificial obstacles. Arrivals are held on special ring tracks. One circle is from 2.5 to 3.5 kilometers.
All tests are hell for a simple bicycle, so a special type was created, which is just designed for such tracks. This is a cyclocross bike. He has his own characteristics that help him cope with all that horror.
At first glance, a cyclocross bike is difficult to distinguish from the well-known road bike. They really are very similar: that the first, that the second are intended for racing. Only here is the Merida Cyclo Cross 300 bike for cross-country riding, and the usual road bike for a good road.
This type of bike has a “ram” steering wheel that is popular among riders, a hard fork, 28-inch wheels, cantilever or disc brakes and wide tires. A special transmission with an individual gear ratio is installed on the bike. A specially selected ratio of front and rear stars helps to squeeze out the maximum possible speed.
The combination of a racing and mountain bike gives an unexpected result. Merida Cyclo Cross 300 has good cross-country ability, good margin of safety and high speed on a straight and smooth road. Therefore, this bike can be considered universal. It is suitable for lovers of skiing in the forest, and for fans of fast extreme races
Overview of Merida Cyclo Cross 300
The bike is designed exclusively for adults. You can order a bike with a suitable frame. The smallest size is 19 inches. That is, it is suitable for people with a height of 170 to 180 cm. The largest size on the Merida Cyclo Cross is 23 inches. People with height up to 210 cm can ride on such a frame.
The bike is designed for racing in the cyclocross style and for riding on flat roads. With this versatility, he attracts many of his fans. Also, the Merida Cyclo Cross 300 bike has good performance: the weight slightly exceeds 10 kg - this is a very good indicator for such a bike.
Frame
It is in this structural element that the secret of the cyclo-cycling bicycle lies. The frame is made of good aluminum alloy, which guarantees strength and lightness. In addition, the aluminum frame is less susceptible to corrosion, which is very important when riding on mud, sand and puddles.
Merida Cyclo Cross 300 Metalli has some features of the geometry of the frame - a large distance between the tires and the fork, longer feathers of the frame. This was created specifically for him to feel more confident on rough terrain. Thanks to the design of the frame, it is easy to carry on the shoulder (this is due to the features of the races).
A large gap between the tire and the plug prevents dirt from sticking. On ordinary bikes, where this is not the case, after riding through the “swamps” whole clods accumulate that interfere with movement. On cyclocross this is not. Elongated hind feathers provide much greater stability, and this is very important for such difficult conditions.
Depreciation
Here, the cyclocrosses got their tough fork from the “father” - an ordinary road bike. A rigid structure is needed in order to maintain the highest possible speed on straight sections of the road. In addition, the reinforced fork weighs quite a bit. Large and clumsy mountain bike shock absorbers add weight to the bike. And when racing, this is very disadvantageous. Despite the fact that it is stiff, the fork nevertheless takes on some proportion of the vibration.
Wheels
Here is the standard kit for the 28 inch cyclo-cross. Such wheels on a straight road have more advantages over conventional mountain bikes, where the wheels are only 26 inches. They have better reel, so they go faster.
Manufacturers install tires from the famous company Maxis. This is a very popular brand that produces quality products for bicycles. Their width is 33 mm. Even for mountain bikes, these are very wide tires, which have an “aggressive” tread that gives full grip. Thanks to him, the barriers in the form of sand and mud become surmountable.
Double-walled rims are an added plus. Thanks to such a reinforced structure, they will not deform much, which is very important for a bicycle that travels over rough terrain. The sorting cord is made of Kevlar - a light and strong material.
Brake system
Since cyclocross is designed for racing, it is important for him to control his speed and stop on time, so very good brakes are installed on the Merida. Previously, a cantilever type was put on this class of bicycles - a kind of rim. He has a good gap between the elements, he is not so clogged with dirt.
Now, disks have become more common. Both front and rear are fitted with mechanical brakes. They are slightly worse than hydraulic ones, but they also do their job pretty well. Since the bike is designed for medium loads, then they put on it the usual 160-mm rotors. These drives are enough for driving through difficult terrain.
Transmission
Without this element you can’t get far. Front and rear derailleurs are of a very high class. The transmission is fully assembled from quality parts from the company "Shimano". This company is known to almost everyone who has a bike.
The peculiarity of the transmission is that in front there is only 2 stars. Cyclists often use only 1 forward gear, so in order to save money, they decided to remove one extra star. So the design becomes cheaper and easier.
There are as many as 10 stars behind. That's what they put on modern bikes. This amount is enough for any style of riding.
Steering wheel
Because of it, drivers often confuse the highway and cyclocross with each other. The fact is that both the first and the second have a “ram” steering wheel. They called him that because he was twisted like horns. With it, the cyclist can change the torso tilt, staying away or closer. Most often it depends on the road surface. With a long journey, it is possible to constantly change grips - so your hands will get tired much less.
Merida Cyclo Cross 300 Reviews
This is a good bike that is suitable for almost any type of riding. Thanks to its features, taken from a highway and mountain bike, it can be called universal. High-quality attachments that always work flawlessly, a good aluminum frame and light weight make this model worthy of attention and worth its $ 900.
Sometimes there are disputes in the network about what is better: Jamis Expat or Merida Cyclo Cross 300. The first model has its own horse - a carbon fork, which so beckons all those who are keen on cycling. But unlike the Merida, its frame is not made of aluminum, but of steel. And there are already some disadvantages associated with this. Moreover, such a design weighs more. "Merida" is half a kilogram lighter. And in a heavy race, even such an advantage is felt quite strongly.