Now in its fifth generation, the Scultura is the bike the road range is built around: light, quick to change direction and calm enough over rough tarmac to leave you with something in reserve for the last climb. Aerodynamic thinking carried over from the Reacto has tidied up the tube shapes, but the priorities here are still low weight, agility and comfort rather than chasing outright aero numbers.

The geometry is World Tour race, the same fit that took stage wins at the Tour and the Vuelta, so the front end sits low and the steering is direct. The 4000 uses the CF3 V carbon frame with a matching Scultura CF3 Disc carbon fork, internal cable routing, a 1 1/2 to 1 1/4 tapered head tube, a 142 x 12mm rear axle, a Pressfit 86.5 bottom bracket and a flat mount rear brake with the Disc Cooler heat sink. There is clearance for tyres up to 30c.

This is the mechanical build in the line-up, and it is a well judged one. Shifting and braking come from Shimano 105 with hydraulic discs, running a 105 R7100 chainset in 50-34 with an 11-34 12-speed cassette and a 105 GS rear derailleur. That is a wide enough spread for long days, headwinds and properly steep lanes without giving up close ratios in the middle of the block.

Merida Expert SL aluminium wheels with 28 double butted spokes and Shimano TC500 Centerlock hubs are built to be ridden year round, and Continental Grand Prix 28c tyres are a sensible place to start. The finishing kit is the brand's own Expert SL: an aluminium bar, a 27.2mm in-line carbon seat post that takes the edge off broken surfaces, and a saddle with a minitool tucked underneath. If you want a carbon race frame with parts any shop can service and upgrade later, this is where to begin.

Features

• CF3 V carbon frame with Scultura CF3 Disc full carbon fork
• World Tour race geometry with a low, direct front end
• Shimano 105 R7100 12-speed transmission, 50-34 chainset with an 11-34 cassette
• Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brakes, flat mount rear with Disc Cooler
• Merida Expert SL aluminium wheels, 17mm inner rim width, Shimano TC500 Centerlock hubs
• Continental Grand Prix 700x28C folding tyres, frame clearance up to 30c
• Internal cable routing, 142 x 12mm rear axle and Pressfit 86.5 bottom bracket
• Merida Expert SL 27.2mm in-line carbon seat post for extra compliance
• Saddle supplied with a Merida minitool