Over the next three years i will be testing, Racing and reviewing Merida Mountain Bikes, i will post regular updates here, the first rig on the block is the 140 XT-D, Lets see how it does!
Thursday 22 November 2012
Test rider page on facebook
I have set up a new page on facebook, look for merida mountain bikes test rider brad harper i will post links to events, news, and pictures all related to merida mountain bikes.
Monday 17 September 2012
HAVE MERIDA WILL TRAVEL!
Last weekend i packed the MERIDA 140 XT test rig into a box and headed off to sunny ( sorta ) Queensland to see what the trails out that way had to offer.
After what can only be described as an interesting night in a dodgy, but bike friendly motor Inn it was time to unpack the bikes get em built and go ride!
First trails on the agenda were at Mt Coot-tha, after talking to some locals earlier i didnt hold out much hope for the trails there, but once out there i was surprised at how cool they were, perfectly suited to the 140mm travel Merida, they had a good share of flowing single track, rocks, roots and drops and jumps that traversed the hillside all made that much more fun on such a fun machine.
con= dodgy motor inn pro=two bikes in the lift
With weary legs from the previous days ride i headed off to Daisy Hill Trails which is another local spot i had been told about, after some more car park convo's with the locals i was headed to the best trails this hill had to offer, and they were good, steeper and more technical than Coot-tha and a total blast to ride!
The bike handled these tracks with to much ease, soaking up the rocks and roots with the aggression of a downhill rig but being light enough to throw around tight turns and up nasty pinch climbs with ease.
Im still yet to find a track that i wouldnt point this bike down!( or up )
After what can only be described as an interesting night in a dodgy, but bike friendly motor Inn it was time to unpack the bikes get em built and go ride!
First trails on the agenda were at Mt Coot-tha, after talking to some locals earlier i didnt hold out much hope for the trails there, but once out there i was surprised at how cool they were, perfectly suited to the 140mm travel Merida, they had a good share of flowing single track, rocks, roots and drops and jumps that traversed the hillside all made that much more fun on such a fun machine.
con= dodgy motor inn pro=two bikes in the lift
With weary legs from the previous days ride i headed off to Daisy Hill Trails which is another local spot i had been told about, after some more car park convo's with the locals i was headed to the best trails this hill had to offer, and they were good, steeper and more technical than Coot-tha and a total blast to ride!
The bike handled these tracks with to much ease, soaking up the rocks and roots with the aggression of a downhill rig but being light enough to throw around tight turns and up nasty pinch climbs with ease.
Im still yet to find a track that i wouldnt point this bike down!( or up )
Thursday 26 July 2012
Wednesday 25 July 2012
MERIDA 140 XT - BLORES HILL 6 HOUR ENDURO
Yet another awesome challenge for the MERIDA 140 XT test bike (and me!)
On Sunday the 22nd we raced the long awaited and really well run Blores Hill 6 Hour Enduro.
This track was what this bike is made for, Fast, Flowing with some nice technical climbs and descents thrown in.
The technical parts of the course where easily tackled by the merida and it was super cool being able to launch down the rock garden descent flat out, when others needed to be conservative.
For this race the only Changes that i made were changing shock pressure front and rear, and the forks adjusted back down to 120mm to give me that little bit more power and ground feel for the climbs.
It was a great days racing made even better being on such a versatile and confidence inspiring machine.
On Sunday the 22nd we raced the long awaited and really well run Blores Hill 6 Hour Enduro.
This track was what this bike is made for, Fast, Flowing with some nice technical climbs and descents thrown in.
The technical parts of the course where easily tackled by the merida and it was super cool being able to launch down the rock garden descent flat out, when others needed to be conservative.
For this race the only Changes that i made were changing shock pressure front and rear, and the forks adjusted back down to 120mm to give me that little bit more power and ground feel for the climbs.
It was a great days racing made even better being on such a versatile and confidence inspiring machine.
Wednesday 18 July 2012
MT DANDENONG- A REAL TEST!
A few weeks ago i decided to see exactly what the MERIDA 140 XT test bike was capable of, so on went the big tyres and off we headed to Mt Dandenong.
The plan was to pedal to the top of the mountain and ride down the old Downhill course that resides in amongst the trees. this course is Steep, Fast, Technical and Rocky, a true test of this bikes capabilities, and considering i have only ridden this course on a 9" travel DH rig with flat pedals the thought of barrelling down on the 140mm MERIDA with clips was a slight concern.
The climb to the top was hard no doubt, but we got there, thank god for 3 x 10 gearing as there was numerous calls for the granny ring.
Once at the top it was time to drop the post, flick the pro pedal off and go!
Section 1 is super steep with drops, rocks and off camber turns with magnetic trees, but with a much lighter bike than usual and a little weight transferrence over the back of the bike we nailed it clean.
Section 2 is my favourite, Fast, Jumps, rocks and Flow, this is the section i thought the lack of big bike travel may prove a problem but the MERIDA skipped through this with surprising ease, the rains there have exposed some gnarly rocks but we managed to stay on top and not get swallowed up, by this time i had a grin from ear to ear and couldnt wait to get to the bottom to do it all again.
The plan was to pedal to the top of the mountain and ride down the old Downhill course that resides in amongst the trees. this course is Steep, Fast, Technical and Rocky, a true test of this bikes capabilities, and considering i have only ridden this course on a 9" travel DH rig with flat pedals the thought of barrelling down on the 140mm MERIDA with clips was a slight concern.
The climb to the top was hard no doubt, but we got there, thank god for 3 x 10 gearing as there was numerous calls for the granny ring.
Once at the top it was time to drop the post, flick the pro pedal off and go!
Section 1 is super steep with drops, rocks and off camber turns with magnetic trees, but with a much lighter bike than usual and a little weight transferrence over the back of the bike we nailed it clean.
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