The Scultura Disc would certainly be at home in the pro peloton if the UCI ever gets round to changing the rules on disc brakes
the extra few hundred grams took a bit of a toll. Merida claims the frame has been developed in a wind-tunnel, and although it doesn’t match the aero credentials of the Merida Reacto, the frame has clearly been designed with aerodynamics in mind, with aerofoil tube profiles on the head tube and down tube. In conjunction with the midsection Fulcrum Quattro Carbon wheelset, the overall build holds speed very well and I was happily sticking above 40kmh for long periods.
Handling the pressure
If there’s an area where the Scultura Disc loses out to some of its rivals, it’s the handling. Not that it handles badly, but compared to the Specialized Tarmac Disc, that tight and perfectly predictable handling quality on a descent isn’t quite there, possibly owing to the slightly longer disc-compatible chainstays. At the same time, there are benefits in weight and aerodynamics to the Scultura Disc that beat the rest of the market. With that in mind, I’d say the Scultura Disc is best suited for serious racers. It’s a bike for pounding out big distances at high speeds, and would certainly be at home in the pro peloton if the UCI ever gets round to changing the rules on disc brakes.
A caveat to that claim is that the Scultura comes in two iterations – this is the CF4, and below it sits the CF2 for bikes up to around the £2,000 mark. The CF2 boasts a far slacker geometry, adding 15mm to the head tube and relaxing the angle. Where the Team Edition did ever so slightly strain my back on long rides, I’m confident that the CF2 would have been a much easier fit, and suited to a more forgiving and enjoyable day in the saddle.
If I had to hand over six and a half grand, the bike snob in me would probably opt for a brand perceived as more desirable, such as Pinarello or S-works. But shallowness aside, the Scultura Disc might well be Merida’s best to date, and a prime example of how much disc brakes can bring to a bike when used well.