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I'm looking at the Merida Silex but the write up's talk about it being very based around an MTB geometry and I'm looking to buy this as something better suited to road riding than my 29er but that can still handle gravel tracks but wonder if such an upright position negates the benefits of having a drop bar bike. The type of riding though is probably more tour style than racing ... although we do hack along at a fairly healthy pace.
There's a link to the bike with the geometry here, it has an very long head tube and huge stack
https://www.merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bike ... 12095.html
There are 2 links here for write up’s on the bike (I believe all the different models have the same geometry frame), I think it’s the last paragraph / conclusion of the 1st one inferring it’s not so road friendly that’s making me hesitate.
https://www.merida-bikes.com/en_int/img ... .undefined
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/a ... rida-silex
My concern is how much might the more upright position be detrimental to speed / efficiency in comparison to a gravel bike with more generic geometry but be interested to hear what other's thoughts are??
Long reach (for a road bike where reach rarely goes out much longer than 400mm) for such a big stack (adding stem spaces shortens stack, so this is quite long) though. Looks cool. Means you'll actually be able to ride in the drops, without having to have a rib removed.
Though
but
You know the only true answer, right? But if you want to speculate then yes, you might be less aero riding on the hoods if the bars are higher but may find the drops are more usable. Looks interesting to me, like some thought has gone into the design rather than just adding a bit of tyre clearance to a cx frame.
My rough (very) rule of thumb for gravel - you want the drops at the height where your bar ends would be on an mtb.
Puts the drops in a nice position for climbing and imitation roadie stuff, and no ribs need be removed.
Old skool touring bikes had / have the flats at the top of the bars level with the seat. Very unfashionable nowadays tho and that bike looks lower than that.
If I've interpreted the answers correctly seems like it might be a good thing for a mixed use bike with some benefits and the penalties for using as a road bike would be fairly minimum .... have I got that right???
I'd say the geo on those is about right, but they do look on paper that they size up on the large size. I am normally an L/XL and I think I would be a M/L on one of those. Still they do look like they have nice long head tubes.
I agree with Epicyclo - want much higher bars on a gravel bike than a Road/CX unless you have Ape arms. Allows for riding on the drops much more readily and much more comfortable descending on the drops.
Only other comment looking at them is the tyre size is a bit skinny at 35mm. I'd like to be able to take 45mm 700c tyres if I was buying a gravel bike now.
Only other comment looking at them is the tyre size is a bit skinny at 35mm. I’d like to be able to take 45mm 700c tyres if I was buying a gravel bike now.
You're right it comes with 35mm ...I believe they'll take up to 44mm on 700's and up to as high as 2.1 to 2.2" in some reports if you ever wanted to go 650b.
I'd hope to be able to run Gravelking SK's, ideally 43 front and back but if not 43 front 38 rear ... or something else around 40mm on the back end ... the retailer will swap the tyres that come with it pre purchase so hopefully should find a good alternative for what I want to use it for
You could look at the Whyte Glencoe for something similarly MTB inspired but a bit more conventional looking. They'll be fine for road riding unless you intend to hammer along in a chain gang but you'd find the gearing and tyres as much of a factor as the ride position in that scenario.
You could look at the Whyte Glencoe for something similarly MTB inspired but a bit more conventional looking. They’ll be fine for road riding unless you intend to hammer along in a chain gang but you’d find the gearing and tyres as much of a factor as the ride position in that scenario.
Have seriously considered those as well ... have been following this since since his starting bid was higher a few weeks ago
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Whyte-Glencoe-Road-Gravel-Bike/202503236530
It's an awful lot of bike for the money but I really want 700 rather than 650b as I'm more road / touring rather than technical and bumpy off road and the brakes are TRP HyRd Hydraulic which have quite mixed reviews.
If my orientation was the other way round I would be placing a bid rather than providing a link for others to look at as I think they're lovely bikes ... just not quite right for me but hopefully someone sees this and may end up buying it if it suits their purpose better than mine.
You know the only true answer, right?
I guess that meant buy it .... so I have 🙂 !!! How do you out smiley's in here by the way????
1st gravel bike I've had and can't wait, should be in and built Tues / wed next week.
Cheers for everybody's help!!!