Merida's philosophy is that you should work with industry experts when they can do something better than you. This is definitely true when looking at carbon production. We collaborate with the best producers to ensure we are always at the leading edge of technology. Our partners are constantly developing highly refined production techniques for other industries, meaning that we can select the best manufacturer to satisfy the varying needs of each frame we develop.
CARBON PRODUCTION IS VERY COMPLEX
Marketing has created a mystique around carbon frame quality; labels such as high tensile, high modulus, super high modulus and ultra-high modulus dominate the market. These terms relate to carbon’s properties, not its quality. Toho or Torray are sometimes mentioned to add perceived credibility. Some brands say all carbon is the same, or that they use only ultra-high modulus fibres. In reality, high performance carbon frames must incorporate many different fibre types, each carefully positioned to achieve the right technical properties. For example, our Scultura frame weighs 850 g (size M/L), comprises 400 individual carbon sections, it takes over 45 hours to build.
CARBON IS DEFINITELY NOT ALL THE SAME
Visually identical frames can vary in quality due to the level and mix of carbon fibres used. Merida use a CF number to demonstrate the performance level; 2 is the lowest, 5 the highest. Subtle tweaks to the carbon fibres used both save weight and improve performance.
