Commuting through the week, exploring at the weekend and the occasional multi-day trip - the Silex 300 is aimed at riders who want one bike to cover all of it. The Lite II aluminium frame brings the geometry that defines this platform: a long top tube and head tube with a short stem, which keeps the bike settled on rough ground without making it feel dull on tarmac. Five sets of bottle bosses, rack mounts and internal routing for a dropper post or dynamo give you plenty of scope to set it up your way.

Moving up from the entry model brings hydraulic braking, and that is the change you notice first. Shimano Cues levers and calipers give consistent stopping in the wet, and the Cues 1x9 drivetrain pairs a 42 tooth chainring with an 11-46 SunRace cassette, so there is a low enough bottom gear for loaded climbs. Schwalbe G-One Comp tyres in 700x45C are tubeless ready, as are the Comp SL II rims, and the carbon fork keeps the front end reasonably composed over washboard gravel.

Features

• Lite II 6066 triple butted aluminium frame with internal cable routing
• Silex II CF2 full carbon fork with tapered steerer
• Shimano Cues 1x9 drivetrain, 42 tooth chainring with 11-46 SunRace cassette
• Shimano Cues hydraulic disc brakes
• Schwalbe G-One Comp K-Guard tubeless ready tyres, 700x45C
• Merida Comp SL II tubeless ready rims, 23mm internal width, on Shimano TC500 hubs
• Five sets of bottle bosses plus rack mounting points
• Internal routing for a dropper post and dynamo
• Threaded bottom bracket and 142 x 12mm rear axle
• Clearance for 700 x 45c tyres, 42c with mudguards