You've likely noticed, if you've been out on group ride days or at local races, that Merida bikes are suddenly everywhere. The reason is that while others are chasing down the big European marques, this company has been cranking out excellent frames in their own right.

Merida’s around since the year 1972, and the hidden truth about the brand is: they actually make the framesets of the brands you may be eyeing already. They share the same factory knowledge, the same construction quality, but not the price tag associated with having a prestigious logo in the downtube area. It’s about one of those insider secrets not really secret when in the know.

The one think I like about Merida bikes is, believe it or not, they get the job done on every level. Road bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes, name your poison. The road bikes vary from being super aero to being endurance machines that won’t kill you on a long ride. Their mountain bikes, especially the One-Forty and One-Sixty models, have earned themselves a good reputation with genuine riders who actually get out there instead of just watching videos on YouTube. The gravel range is also not too shabby, to say the least.

It also ties together. This is because other manufacturers will often pair a decent frame with poor brakes and/or a groupset that could fail after one year of use simply because they can meet a certain price point. This isn't what Merida does. With this bike, you get the full package that works on day one because – and this is important – you'll be using said bike. This means that the wheels, tires, and other bits work.

If you are browsing through Merida bicycles for Sale options, do your research and determine what you're truly going to do with your bike. Weekend warrior? Commuter bike? Racing bike? They have models that will cover every event. Just don't settle on what's in front of you and find what you're going to do, and you'll find yourself a whole lot happier overall. Just speak to someone who understands what they're talking about.

As far as Merida goes, these bikes go under the radar compared to some other offerings that are overhyped, so I think this is really the best-case scenario for you. You aren’t getting stuck with a bill that has a huge marketing budget factored into it. It’s a sound frame, quality parts, and it simply does what it is meant to do without any of the headaches.