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Bikes of the Cape Epic: Ben Melt Swanepoel’s Merida Ninety-Six RC

November 11, 2021
By Myles Kelsey

Ben Melt Swanepoel is one of the most experienced endurance racers in South Africa and has podiumed or won just about every major event you could think of. For the 2021 Cape Epic, Melt rode the same model Merida Ninety-Six as partner Yolandi, with a few changes to things like bar width, tyre pressures, saddle and frame size. This is his 2021 Cape Epic race bike.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — At 1.82m tall, Melt rides a size large frame.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — The extra Garmin is so Melt can keep an eye on his partner’s heart rate so he can measure the efforts without the need for constant communication.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Merida has modernized the geometry on the new Ninety-Six with a steeper seat-tube, slacker head angle and a longer bike. The progressivity of the kinematics has increased, the bike now has a flex stay (no pivot on the chain/seat stay) and can be run with a 120mm fork.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Melt uses Shimano’s XTR brakes, ESI extra chunky grips and has a Sahmurai Sword tubeless repair stored in the bar.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Another angle of the double Garmin setup. Stem length is 70mm.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — It’s a tight squeeze getting underbar lockout and dropper levers synced – but this is one of the neater setups we’ve seen.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Melt uses Shimano XTR 12-speed shifting and his Merida Carbon Bars are trimmed to 720mm.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Fox 32 Step-Cast fork with 70,5psi…

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — … and matching Kashima coated Fox Float DPS Factory shock with 147psi.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Neat-looking XTR caliper and a 180mm front with 160mm rear rotor size.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — The pivotless system saves weight and makes for clean aesthetics.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — 36T cSixx chainring with 175mm Race Face Next SL carbon cranks and a Merida chain guide that comes stock on this model.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — That’s a very clean-looking Shimano XTR rear mech. Melt is very particular about getting clean bikes to the start of each stage.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Shimano 12-speed cassette.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Melt has small-block tread patterns (front and rear) to maximize rolling speed in the form of…

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — … narrow 2.25″ Maxxis Rekon Race tyres. Melt runs 13.5psi front and 14.5psi rear, with Squirt Sealant and no inserts.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Melt uses a Scratch M5 Pas saddle from Prologo and a Fox Transfer SL dropper with 100mm of travel.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — In terms of spares, Melt also carries a tube, three CO2 canisters, plugs, a quick link and a small bottle of Squirt chain lube.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — Any seasoned professional would notice changes to geometry and kinematics. Melt says this latest iteration of the Ninety-Six, with the geometry, kinematics and weight savings, is an incredible bike.

Ben Melt Swanepoel's Merida Ninety-Six mountain bike as ridden at the 2021 Cape Epic — See you in March for the 2022 Cape Epic bru!

| IMAGES: Gary Perkin |

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