Cycling gains morepopularity. Every year prestigious competitions are held, in the cities they lay special lanes - bicycle lanes. Two-wheeled transport is becoming more advanced. At the moment there are a large number of types of bikes. Each of them has its own characteristics. In this article, the Merida Cyclo Cross 300 model will be discussed in detail - what it is and what its indicators are.
Cyclocross word
Before you get acquainted with the bike itself,find out what it is for. Cycling race is a difficult test for the rider. The movement here is on the solid sand, mud, puddles and other natural and artificial obstacles. Rides are held on special circuit routes. One lap ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 kilometers.
All trials are hell for a simple bike,therefore, a special type was created, which is designed for such routes. This cyclo-cross bike. He has his own peculiarities that help him deal with all that horror.
At first glance, cyclo-cross bike is difficultdistinguish from all known highway. They are really very similar: that the first, that the second are designed for racing. Only here is the Merida Cyclo Cross 300 bicycle for driving over rough terrain, and the usual highwayman is for a good road.
This type of bike has a popular riderssteering wheel, a rigid fork, 28-inch wheels, cantilever or disc brakes and wide tires. The bike has a special transmission with an individual gear ratio. Specially selected ratio of front and rear stars helps to squeeze the maximum possible speed.
The combination of racing and mountain bike givesunexpected result. Merida Cyclo Cross 300 has good cross-country performance, good safety margin and high speed on a straight and smooth road. Therefore, this bike can be considered universal. It is suitable for those who like to ride in the woods, and for fans of fast extreme races
Review 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 growth from 170 to 180 cm. The largest size at Merida Cyclo Cross is 23 inches. On such a frame can ride people with growth up to 210 cm.
Designed bike for racing in stylecyclocross and for driving on flat roads. This versatility he attracts many of his fans. Also, the Merida Cyclo Cross 300 bike has good indicators: the weight slightly exceeds 10 kg - this is a very good indicator for this bike.
Frame
It is in this element of the construction lies the secretcyclo-cross bike. The frame is made of good aluminum alloy, which guarantees durability and lightness. In addition, the aluminum frame is less susceptible to corrosion, which is very important when rolling on mud, sand and puddles.
Merida Cyclo Cross 300 Metalli has somefeatures of the frame geometry - a large distance between the tires and the fork, longer frame feathers. This is designed specifically to make him feel more confident on rough terrain. Thanks to the frame design, it is easy to carry on the shoulder (this is due to the characteristics of racing).
Large gap between tire and plug does not givestick dirt. On ordinary bikes, where there is no such thing, after riding through the “swamps”, whole lumps accumulate that interfere with movement. There is no such thing on cyclocross. Elongated rear feathers provide much greater stability, and this is very important for such difficult conditions.
Depreciation
Here cyclocrosses got their hard fork from"Father" - the usual road bike. Rigid construction is needed in order to maintain the maximum possible speed on straight road sections. In addition, reinforced fork weighs quite a bit. Large and awkward shock absorbers of mountain bikes add weight to the bike. And when participating in races it is very unprofitable. Despite the fact that it is tough, a fork still takes on a certain amount of vibration.
Wheels
Here is a standard set fortsikkrossera 28 inches. Such wheels on a straight road have more advantages over ordinary mountain bikes, where wheels are only 26 inches tall. They have better roll forward, so go faster.
Manufacturers install tires fromfamous company "Maksis". 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 that have an “aggressive” tread giving full grip. Thanks to him, the obstacles in the form of sand and mud become surmountable.
Double-walled rims are an extra plus.Thanks to such a fortified construction, they will not be severely deformed, which is very important for a bicycle that travels over rough terrain. The cords made of Kevlar - lightweight and strong material.
Brake system
Since cyclocross is designed for racing, it’s importantcontrol their speed and stop in time, so the “Merida” has very good brakes. Previously, a cantilever type was put on such a class of bicycles - a kind of rim. He has a good gap between the elements, he is not so much clogged with dirt.
Now drives have become more common.Both front and rear brakes are installed mechanical type. They are slightly worse than hydraulic ones, but they also do their job quite well. Since the bike is designed for medium loads, then put it on the usual 160-millimeter rotors. These disks are enough for driving on difficult terrain.
Transmission
Without this element you will not go far.Front and rear switches - very high class. The transmission is fully assembled from high-quality parts from the firm "Shimano". This company is known to almost everyone who has a bike.
Transmission feature is that the front isonly 2 stars. Cyclists often use only 1 forward gear, so in order to save, they decided to remove one extra star. So the design becomes cheaper and easier.
The back is worth as many as 10 stars. That is how much they put on modern bikes. This amount is enough for any riding style.
Steering wheel
Because of him, drivers often confuse roadies andcyclocross among themselves. The fact is that both the first and the second have a steering wheel "ram". He was so named because he was twisted like horns. With his help, a cyclist can change the slope of the torso, keeping away or closer. Most often it depends on the road surface. With a distant road, there is an opportunity to constantly change the grips - so hands will get tired much less.
Reviews of Merida Cyclo Cross 300
This is a good bike that fits almostany type of riding. Thanks to its features, taken from the highway and mountain bike, it can be called universal. Attachments of high quality, which always works flawlessly, a good aluminum frame and low weight make this model worthy of attention and worth its $ 900.
Sometimes there are disputes over the network thatbetter: Jamis Expat or Merida Cyclo Cross 300. The first model has its own horse - a carbon fork, which attracts all those who are keen on cycling. But unlike the “Merida”, its frame is made not of aluminum, but of steel. And already some minuses are connected with it. Moreover, this design weighs more. “Merida” on a half a kilo is easier. And in the heavy race, even such an advantage is felt quite strongly.