racing bikes: Test: Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 – Well done off-road

Test: For €2.500, the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 has everything that a modern cross bike needs, plus some very nice and practical details.

The name Wolfgang Renner is closely linked to the Merida brand. The important driving force in the German bike industry, as a multiple German cross champion, has a great interest in cross-country cycling; and so his company Centurion and sister brand Merida offer a fairly wide range of off-road racers. In the ranks of two by seven models, the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 offers the cheapest option for exploring the terrain with a carbon bike. In any case, the air is thin now if you don't want to spend more than 2.500 euros for a carbon crosser - so its price alone makes the Cyclo Cross 5000 interesting.

Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 – a modern carbon crosser under 2.500 euros

What can you expect for this sum? First of all, modern technology, of course, and the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 doesn't hold back. Of course, disc brakes are on board - fully hydraulic, as it should be in the upper price segment. Thru-axles have also long been de rigueur on crossers; In addition, like many models intended for serious sports use, the Merida is equipped with a 1×11 groupset from SRAM.

Internal cables and lines are also a matter of honor in the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 and are desirable in cross sports in several respects: They make it easier to carry the crosser and to clean it. The front brake line is routed in the fork to match. The integrated bottom bracket is primarily used for the beautiful look.

The presumably fairly light carbon frame is designed for different shifting systems, as can be seen above all on the seat tube. Here two screws wait to hold a launcher base; the associated front derailleur can be operated both mechanically and electronically. The laminated threaded eyelets on the rear triangle and fork are rather unusual for a carbon frame; Those who use the Crosser as an all-rounder and also use it for winter street training will be happy about the option of attaching mudguards. And this option is obvious, especially since the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 hardly differs from the street racer in terms of handling. The 53 that we drive is quite short with a wheelbase of 1.003 mm and is therefore very manoeuvrable; the steep fork ensures lively steering. In addition, the frame is extremely stiff and allows for snappy acceleration.

Clever details make the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 particularly interesting

At 8,8 kilos plus pedals, the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 is on average light or heavy - that's a question of point of view, but even slightly lighter than stated on the manufacturer's website. The wheel set weighs a total of around 3,6 kilos; without tires, rim and brake discs it's only a good 1.800 grams. That's a good value for a standard wheel set with 32 spokes. The wheels are fitted with Maxxis Mud Wrestler tyres, which have less tread than the name suggests, yet have good grip in the mud and are blessed with an easy ride. Alternatively, the Merida rims could also be fitted with tubeless tires, but in this case that might not even be necessary: ​​the very wide rim (outside 26/inside 23 mm) pulls the tire far apart, making it less prone to punctures . Even with an air pressure of less than 2 bar, the tire sits securely on the rim and does not start to swim when the bike is inclined.

As far as the tires are concerned, the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 can also be used in a species-appropriate manner without any changes; one or the other driver will only want a different cassette. Although the total size of the black sprocket set with 11-42 teeth is terrific (with the 40 chainring there is even a reduction available), here and there you wish for intermediate steps when riding fast, in order to be able to ride with an even pedaling frequency. Installing an 11-32 cassette would also save over 200 grams of "rotating mass". If you come from the double chainring, you can look forward to the practical "cage lock" when removing the wheel: If you pull the rear derailleur backwards against the strong spring and press the button with the lock symbol, it locks in this position and you can do that Simply remove the impeller. After installation, the rear derailleur is pulled back a little and it "clicks" and the lock is released.

When removing the front wheel, a fail-safe device is noticeable, which ensures that the wheel does not roll out immediately when the quick-release axle is removed. During installation, the fork legs must then be pulled apart slightly. That makes things a bit more complicated, but the impeller is in the right place when you push in the axle.

Even if the cheapest of the SRAM CX groups is mounted on the Merida Cyclo Cross 5000 - there is nothing wrong with the function. After a short break-in, the discs are just as snappy as they are easy to dose; The function of the gears is great, although the chain on the largest sprockets takes a little longer than usual to fall onto the next smaller sprocket. The "X-Horizon" derailleur ensures a high chain tension when the small sprockets are ridden; the "lifebelt" runs pretty smoothly despite its many teeth. The hydraulic levers of the SRAM groupsets may seem a bit big to some people; However, they are ergonomically top, and the "hump" at the top allows for an additional grip position.

We rode the bike, which was a bit too small, with a large extension of the carbon seat post, which made the bike quite comfortable, and in this context we don't want to forget the little red wheel under the saddle, which makes it easier to adjust the angle of the seat. As far as the seating geometry is concerned, the Merida presents itself as balanced – you don't sit too stretched out or with too much elevation. In the end, an extremely positive overall impression remains, especially in view of the low price for a modern carbon crosser. Wolfgang Renner would certainly have liked to have ridden this bike when he was active.