After half a century in the ever-evolving world of bicycle manufacturing, MERIDA looks back with pride at what has become of its humble beginnings. While 50 years is a long time, with a long list of exciting projects in the making, everybody at MERIDA knows this is just the beginning.

Following the impressive and memorable win of Paris-Roubaix in October of 2021, Team BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS manages to add another win to its tally. After Vincenzo Nibali’s Milano-Sanremo victory in 2018, this success is echoed by the perfectly calculated yet daredevilish ride of Matej Mohoric onboard his dropper post equipped SCULTURA TEAM, securing one of the most talked-about and watched victories of the 2022 spring season.

Since the first international distributor helped create the 'MERIDA family' more than 30 years ago, the family continues to grow, making our bikes available in most markets in the world. In 2021, MERIDA welcomes the 70th country to the MERIDA family, further helping to make our 'family' a truly international one.

MERIDA launches the fourth edition of the REACTO, which quickly becomes one of the most decorated bikes in MERIDA history. With multiple test wins, industry awards, and 'Bike of the Year' recommendations, the latest version of the REACTO takes its renowned aero and comfort credentials to the next level and provides the team riders with one of the most advanced and versatile bikes in the peloton.

In order to minimise production time, reduce waste and improve accuracy MERIDA introduces laser cutting technology to its production facilities. This robot-controlled technology allows our bikes to keep their distinctive silhouettes without sacrificing strength or durability. The incredibly high precision means cleaner tubing cuts that result in stronger finished joints. This technology is especially important for the growing e-bike line-up, which requires large frame openings for easy battery insertion. Once again, investing in technology helps keep MERIDA bikes at the cutting edge of production techniques. 

Seen by many as an 'ugly duckling' when first introduced, the passion and persistency of our R&D team are rewarded by the super versatile SILEX gravel bike, becoming one of our most successful bikes internationally. Used by many as a purebred gravel bike, others make the SILEX their versatile adventure bike partner, an agile commuter or a trusted training bike that can deal with any surface.

MERIDA wins its first Design & Innovation Award with the eONE-SIXTY. Every year from then onwards, at least one key bike in MERIDA’s range has been given the prestigious Design & Innovation Award, underlining the constant strive to bring the latest technology and innovation to the MERIDA line-up.

Building on the success of the LAMPRE-MERIDA team, MERIDA’s interest in the high-octane world of World Tour level road racing is as strong as ever. So, when the opportunity presents itself to get involved in the ambitious BAHRAIN Cycling Project, MERIDA joins and helps to create the BAHRAIN-MERIDA PRO CYCLING TEAM. Involved from the very beginning and instrumental to the founding of the team, Vincenzo Nibali is able to start the success story of the team by winning one of the monuments of cycling, the Giro di Lombardia.

Being an early adopter of disc brakes in the road bike sector, MERIDA is also one of the first brands to see the advantages of disc brake technology for the peloton. While initially controversial, it does not take long for others to follow, making disc brakes the new benchmark.

The rise of the e-bike is one of the most dominating factors in the bike industry and opens up new markets and opportunities. It also re-introduces the bicycle to consumers who have shied away from bikes for a number of years while giving established riders a new fun-packed alternative to their human-powered bikes. To satisfy the ever-growing demand, MERIDA updates its e-bike production facilities, turning it into one of the most advanced and modern in the world of cycling.

After looking back at a remarkable success story in the world of mountain bike racing with the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM, MERIDA’s ambition to get involved in UCI World Tour level road racing takes shape with the launch of the LAMPRE-MERIDA team.

MERIDA is given the Total Productive Maintenance Award in recognition of the ongoing focus of the MERIDA team to improve equipment and effectiveness by involving the workforce, thus boosting production, employee morale, and job satisfaction.

Following the renovation of the factory only a few years before, MERIDA introduces one of the most advanced and environmentally friendly paint plants to its factory, further helping to improve the working conditions for the staff and the sustainability of the production process.

In its constant strive to keep the MERIDA facilities at the cutting edge of bicycle production in terms of quality, working environment and sustainability, MERIDA invests $7 million to renovate and improve the factory, turning it into one of the most advanced bicycle manufacturing hubs in the industry.

After Sabine Spitz rode her magnesium bike to a respectable 9th position at the 2000 games in Athens, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå and José Antonio Hermida leave their impressive mark on the 2004 Athens Olympics by winning the Gold and Silver medals, respectively. While Gunn-Rita relies on her magnesium hardtail to clinch the victory, José uses the all-new CARBON FLX frame to secure his medal. The event in Athens marks the end of magnesium and the beginning of carbon fibre as the material of choice when it comes to race-winning equipment. 

Following the success of the MERIDA MTB team that was founded a few years prior, MERIDA joins forces with Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge to create the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM. The team is one of, if not the most successful mountain bike teams, winning more than 30 World Cups, two Olympic medals, 15 European titles and altogether 15 World Championship honours across the cross country, marathon and eliminator disciplines in its 13-year existence.

Following on from successfully debuting her MERIDA magnesium hardtail at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Sabine Spitz takes the story to the next level by winning the XCO World Championships on MERIDA’s magnesium technology. 

Still a relatively fresh face within the MERIDA MTB team that was only launched a year ago, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå finds the support and backup she needs to perform at the highest level. While her career is unrivalled, the year 2002 certainly stands out as she is able to secure her first XCO World Championships for herself and the MERIDA brand in Kaprun, Austria. Over the years, countless championship and World Cup titles will follow, making Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå and MERIDA one of the most successful partnerships in the world of cross-country racing.  

With the production facilities improving in terms of quality, consistency and productivity and the international presence constantly expanding, the team at MERIDA notice the growing need for creative input from within its core markets. With this in mind and a strong relationship with one of its key distributors, MERIDA Centurion Germany, the steps towards a dedicated R&D centre are taken. After gathering a team of some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the business, a new R&D centre is opened in Magstadt, Germany.

MERIDA and the team around Ike Tseng always had a close interest in racing. So, an all-female mountain bike team is launched to expose the MERIDA brand to the broader world of cycling and test products under the most demanding conditions. The team starts out with Sabine Spitz in 2000, with Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå joining in 2001, and Irina Kalentieva riding in MERIDA colours from 2002 onwards.

From the early days of MERIDA onwards, Ike and his team always strive to create some of the best bikes in the world by introducing and maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety and efficiency, which is rewarded with MERIDA becoming the first ISO certified bike manufacturer in Taiwan. This certification shows that MERIDA’s products and processes are world-class in their quality, safety and efficiency.

Always improving manufacturing methods and looking at ways of refining the product, MERIDA introduced and perfected the aluminium tig-welding technology in bicycles production, which remains a key manufacturing element and also provided the name for one of the longest-running MTB platforms – the MATTS (Aluminium Tig-welding Technology System) – which is still part of the line-up today.

MERIDA carries on growing, with more distributors being added, processes and production methods being constantly refined, and the range available to its international distributors being extended to capture the latest trends. All this results in MERIDA becoming the first publicly-traded bike manufacturer on the Taiwanese stock exchange, further laying down the path for a successful future.