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NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 8:52 am
by Numnut
I think this is too nice to be the 'winter' hardtail...

It was meant to arrive on Monday, but for whatever reason the delivery company didn't bring it out until yesterday. Anyway, it's arrived, nothing's broken and it's very shiny.

I've got a small front mudguard to go on, along with some red/orange pedals which will clash horribly with the frame and I've got to finish doing the tubeless. I'm not 100% sure there's not some air leaking out somewhere. There's also a nice multi-tool under the seat and a 6mm (I think) key in the rear axle for removing the wheels. The frame has a UDH which I'm quite surprised about.

I've only had a few rides up and down the road, but it's a nice thing to ride (a lot nicer than what it replaced). Will try and get out properly over the weekend.

Sorry for the crap picture, but that's the best I've got at the moment!
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Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 6:00 pm
by crust
Nice bike, mister.

Very smart :thumbup:

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 5:27 pm
by Numnut
crust wrote: Fri Jun 06, 2025 6:00 pm Nice bike, mister.

Very smart :thumbup:
Cheers!

First proper ride today, and it’s lovely. Exactly what I wanted it to be.
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Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 11:12 am
by Mr Moofo
Those pedals have to go

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 12:03 pm
by Count Steer
Mr Moofo wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 11:12 am Those pedals have to go
...and the rear tyre valve is in the wrong place. (Ming's Rules :D ).

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 8:54 pm
by Numnut
Count Steer wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 12:03 pm
Mr Moofo wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 11:12 am Those pedals have to go
...and the rear tyre valve is in the wrong place. (Ming's Rules :D ).
Yeah the pedals do clash badly, it looks worse in the picture but they’re not a good match!

The tyre’s not coming off now, can’t be doing with the sealant going everywhere, it’ll just have to be wrong until I need a new tyre!

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 9:43 pm
by MingtheMerciless
Count Steer wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 12:03 pm
Mr Moofo wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 11:12 am Those pedals have to go
...and the rear tyre valve is in the wrong place. (Ming's Rules :D ).
Not my rules….. I just follow (sometimes) The Velominati
Rule 40# // Tires are to be mounted with the label centered over the valve stem.Pro mechanics do it because it makes it easier to find the valve. You do this because that’s the way pro mechanics do it. This will save you precious seconds while your fat ass sits on the roadside fumbling with your CO2 after a flat. It also looks better for photo opportunities. Note: This obviously only applies to clinchers as tubulars don’t give you a choice.

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:31 am
by Count Steer
MingtheMerciless wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 9:43 pm
Count Steer wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 12:03 pm
Mr Moofo wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 11:12 am Those pedals have to go
...and the rear tyre valve is in the wrong place. (Ming's Rules :D ).
Not my rules….. I just follow (sometimes) The Velominati
Rule 40# // Tires are to be mounted with the label centered over the valve stem.Pro mechanics do it because it makes it easier to find the valve. You do this because that’s the way pro mechanics do it. This will save you precious seconds while your fat ass sits on the roadside fumbling with your CO2 after a flat. It also looks better for photo opportunities. Note: This obviously only applies to clinchers as tubulars don’t give you a choice.
....and since you raised it, I can't unsee it and can be regularly found, tutting, at bicycles and their misaligned valves and muttering 'Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear'. :lol:

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:58 am
by weeksy
You'd hate all of mine then, i don't give it a seconds thought.

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 6:42 pm
by mboy
Looks awesome! Red bikes are ace eh!

What size did you go for and how tall are you?

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:51 pm
by Numnut
mboy wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 6:42 pm Looks awesome! Red bikes are ace eh!

What size did you go for and how tall are you?
Cheers! Yeah the paint is lovely, a nice metallic red. Thanks for the recommendation! I’m 5’9 so went for the M, it’s bang on for me.

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2025 11:09 am
by Numnut
I'm still really enjoying this, I'm quite tempted to take it to twisted oaks for a day to see what it's like..

It's taken a while to get the fork (Bomber Z2) set up nicely. That's more to do with me being used to the Pike Ultimate on the Bird, but I've now found a happy place and it's all good.

I've got a feeling I might have a small leak from the rear brake. I can't see anything obvious in the caliper and have given it a good clean and ridden to work so I'll check again later. I'm about to fit a 3rd set of pads as the others have all lost all bite and become horrendously squeaky. The first set - OE Shimano ones weren't great but did the job - started howling, so I replaced them with Galfer blacks which have been great but have also started howling. Next up is Uberbike Kevlar to be fitted this evening...

For both the Shimano and Galfer pads, I've cleaned, sanded and chamfered the edges (some random reddit thread suggested it) of the pads and cleaned the disc each time but no change. All good fun...

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2025 11:26 am
by weeksy
It's not uncommon with Shimano brakes.

Banana Industries have some SRAM DB8 which we're now running for £60 a set.

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2025 12:37 pm
by Numnut
Yeah, hopefully I've just accidentally contaminated the pads... I've been considering those DB8s, that'll be the option if these new pads don't work, though I'll probably try and warranty the brake first and see what comes of that. If you're running the DB8s with no issue then they'll be fine for what I'll be using the bike for!

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2025 12:39 pm
by weeksy
Numnut wrote: Thu Sep 04, 2025 12:37 pm Yeah, hopefully I've just accidentally contaminated the pads... I've been considering those DB8s, that'll be the option if these new pads don't work, though I'll probably try and warranty the brake first and see what comes of that. If you're running the DB8s with no issue then they'll be fine for what I'll be using the bike for!
The boy now has them on his Fuel as well.

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2025 1:01 pm
by Numnut
Definitely going to be fine for me then!

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2025 10:47 am
by Numnut
Well that's fairly definitive! There's not been any visible moisture whenever I've checked the pads, so I guess it gave up on the way home yesterday. Tredz want the caliper back for inspection before replacing it. I'm hoping my spare SRAM level caliper fits in the meantime...
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Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2025 9:28 am
by Numnut
I'm still waiting for Tredz/Shimano to declare that caliper faulty, so I fitted a spare clarks caliper (which had bonus race matrix pads!). The shimano hose screwed straight in and there's been no leaking at all which is pretty lucky. It's likely to be another week or 2 before I hear about the Shimano caliper...
The clarks caliper is much better so chances are it'll stay on anyway!

At the weekend I decided to fit the cheap Argotal tyres I got from Banana Industries as we're getting to that time of year...They're awesome, been to work and back a couple of times and they seem to roll better than the (dual compound) dissectors I had, and have loads of grip. I'm pretty glad I didn't send them back.

Here they are on the bike, valves not lined up...
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Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2025 9:31 am
by weeksy
now THAT is a mudguard.

Re: NBD - Merida Big Trail

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2025 9:33 am
by Numnut
It's hideous, but it works brilliantly. Keeps everything nice and clean (ish) for work