Flat-bar general purpose ATB / Hack……

[sevenfourate]

Anyone got an opinion, or better still: experience on this and its components / groupset ?

https://www.merida-bikes.com/en-gb/bike/4881/speeder-500

I will / will have to get a new ‘daily-beater’ at some point. And I’ve had a couple in mind before this point - inc this:

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/orange-speedwork-2026-bike

And ‘perhaps’ a few other sub £1500 flat-bar chunky hybrid / Gravel 🙄 type bikes.

BUT - My LBS who I’d love to support has just become a Merida dealer and is awaiting stock. And I’d like to support them. But of course not to my detriment if the components / groupset are known to be unreliable. But on paper flat bars, 32-35mm tyre fitment, carbon forks, 1 x 12 setup and hydraulic brakes looks more than enough for my use.

Any and all thoughts welcomed.

 

[oxoman]

Merida are a massive company and actually make specialized bikes, if I remember correctly. Good bikes usually with well known parts on them.

 

[Jameshow]

Anyone got an opinion, or better still: experience on this and its components / groupset ?

https://www.merida-bikes.com/en-gb/bike/4881/speeder-500

I will / will have to get a new ‘daily-beater’ at some point. And I’ve had a couple in mind before this point - inc this:

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/orange-speedwork-2026-bike

And ‘perhaps’ a few other sub £1500 flat-bar chunky hybrid / Gravel 🙄 type bikes.

BUT - My LBS who I’d love to support has just become a Merida dealer and is awaiting stock. And I’d like to support them. But of course not to my detriment if the components / groupset are known to be unreliable. But on paper flat bars, 32-35mm tyre fitment, carbon forks, 1 x 12 setup and hydraulic brakes looks more than enough for my use.

Any and all thoughts welcomed.

What other brands do they stock??

If the the Merida over the orange it pains me to say ....

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Anyone got an opinion, or better still: experience on this and its components / groupset ?

https://www.merida-bikes.com/en-gb/bike/4881/speeder-500

I will / will have to get a new ‘daily-beater’ at some point. And I’ve had a couple in mind before this point - inc this:

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/orange-speedwork-2026-bike

And ‘perhaps’ a few other sub £1500 flat-bar chunky hybrid / Gravel 🙄 type bikes.

BUT - My LBS who I’d love to support has just become a Merida dealer and is awaiting stock. And I’d like to support them. But of course not to my detriment if the components / groupset are known to be unreliable. But on paper flat bars, 32-35mm tyre fitment, carbon forks, 1 x 12 setup and hydraulic brakes looks more than enough for my use.

Any and all thoughts welcomed.

Some cheap components on the Orange.

 

[Ajax Bay]

https://www.cyclerecycleuk.com/shop
Though I appreciate my idea of a "daily-beater" may not align with yours:
"a new ‘daily-beater’ . . . perhaps . . . sub £1500".

 

[JonBuoy]

I am surprised to see QR hubs on the Merida.

 

[MichaelW2]

Merida are one of the Big 5 bike manufacturers in Taiwan and build for lots of brands. Their own label bikes have always been outstanding. As long as the rack and mudguard fixings are just standard eyelets and no Specialized propriatory grub screw fixing.