MERLIN ROC DISC ULTEGRA £1599
› British outfit’s all-weather, mixed-terrain machine
We’re not quite sure why this Merlin is named after a mythical bird but, as you’d expect from the long-established online retailer, it does have a very appealing price tag.
It gets better. When the magazine goes on sale and for a good while afterwards, it’s yours for just £1299, which looks tremendous value for a bike with Shimano’s 8000 series Ultegra and hydraulic disc brakes. The rest of the kit isn’t too shabby, either. Mavic rims, Shimano hubs – with quick releases, not thru-axles – Schwalbe tyres, Kalloy cockpit components and a Selle Italia saddle.
Merlin calls the Roc a ‘versatile allweather, mixed-terrain road bike’ with a ‘confident geometry that encourages all-day riding’. All the cabling is internally routed. The carbon fork has internal disc brake hose routing and an alloy steerer. Somewhat unusually for 2019, the seatpost is 31.6mm in diameter.
This might suggest a ride that’s a little firm. Not a bit of it. There’s no radical oversizing of any of the tubes and even an old-school BSA threaded bottom bracket. The tyres are quite modestly proportioned compared with some of the bikes here. But the frameset and Schwalbe’s 28mm Durano rubber do enough to take the harshness off any road surfaces. The frame is also designed to accommodate wider tyres up to 38mm, so gravel tracks are easily within its remit.
This isn’t a bike built for speed or shattering Strava times or PBs. This is a mile eater, and a very good one. The ride is unfussy but will still let you hit a decent pace – there’s no lack of efficiency through the frame, the 15cm head-tube isn’t that tall and the 73-degree head-tube delivers sharp handling. We hit very good times on our 16.5-mile commute and on longer rides it excelled.
The Roc doesn’t exactly fly up hills but the advantage of modern gearing
is the 34x32 combination. Just sit in a low gear and you’ll be able to spin up double-digit inclines, which is what we did on our local steep hills. It descends very well, balancing sharp steering, good stability and excellent braking from Shimano’s hydaulics.
Unlike the other disc-braked bikes on test the Roc doesn’t have thruaxles but sticks with quick-release levers. In spite of that we couldn’t discern any noticeable flex-induced brake rub and noise was minimal.
Schwalbe’s 28mm tyres even coped with local tracks and towpaths. You don’t get the same grip as you do from dedicated 38mm or 43mm gravel tyres but you’re not slipping and sliding around, either.
There’s not much more to say about Shimano Ultegra that we haven’t said a million times before. It’s a great groupset and fantastic on a bike at this price. The Kalloy kit is fine, if not that exciting. We got on well with the saddle though the redand-white Selle Italia is bit of a clash with the blue-and-grey frameset.
The Roc makes a great year-round commuter or training bike, helped by mudguard fittings, clearance and rear rack mounts. It’s also comfortable and efficient enough for long days out, light touring and weekends away.
This is yet another quality, wellpriced bike from Merlin with great credentials. The 31.6mm seatpost and quick-release levers are a little out of place these days, but Merlin says there’s a new version on the way and we’re guessing these will get a makeover then.