If you go to Merida's website, you'll be confronted with the bold tagline, "1 Brand, 67 Countries," along with a world map with those 67 countries highlighted in Merida's signature bright green color. And you'll notice that both the United States and Canada are not among the 67, instead colored in with a meek shade of grey. So why, then, are Merida bikes unavailable in the US and Canada? Back in 2001, Merida acquired a large stake in Specialized Bicycle Components, which they still hold to this day. With Specialized capturing plenty of North American market share during the last 10 years, the decision was made to keep the Merida brand out, lest the two brands face consumer competition with one another.

The Taiwanese company was founded in 1972 by Ike Tseng, who sadly passed away at the end of January this year. In a press release, Merida described Tseng as "a man whose vision, leadership, inspiration and dedication over 40 years have successfully built Merida into the best global quality bicycle production company and a leading brand in the world... He had a passion for bicycles and the bicycle industry... He shared this commitment with everyone he worked with." (Image courtesy of Merida)

This week, FSA unveiled the 2013 Vision wheel line on the island of Mallorca. And to get attendees on the road and trying out the new hoops, FSA provided a fleet of Merida Scultura SL road bikes. Unless you opt to import one yourself, you just can't get a Merida bike in the states. So to have the chance to ride one in an idyllic setting was something I was extremely excited for, to say the least. This was especially true when, after a day of pouring rain, the sky opened up and the sun shone brightly throughout our scheduled ride day.

The Merida Scultura SL Team strikes a solid pose. Officially, it's a 2013 model year bike and it has the look of a a dedicated race bike, thanks to a SRAM Red drivetrain, a set of Vision's TC 50 carbon tubular wheels, and some Vittoria Corsa EVO tubular tires. Claimed frame weight for the all-new model is 844 grams for a size 56cm frame, and three build options are available (in countries that Merida bikes are sold).

The Scultura SL features a tapered headtube, as well as internal cable routing.

While the Scultura SL featured SRAM Red derailleurs and shifters, the crank was an FSA K-Force Light model with compact chainrings.

SRAM's 2012 Red front derailleur will come with a proprietary chain catcher. My Merida Sculpture Team test bike was decked out with the previous generation Red derailleurs, but also featured a chain catcher from Rotor.

All eleven build options in the Scultura line feature a BB386EVO bottom, created by FSA (along with help from BH and Wilier). Based on the BB30 system, BB386EVO combines a 30mm spindle with a press fit bearing cup, and features a 68mm bottom bracket shell. The result is a big and boxy bottom bracket area, which provides plenty of room for beefy downtubes and chainstays.

Speaking of chainstays, the Scultura SL's are very tall and squared-off at the bottom bracket, but gradually thin out and become rounder at the rear dropouts.

This Scultura SL test bike featured a Selle Italia SLR saddle with custom color details. It also featured Selle Italia's Monolink design, which utilizes a single carbon rail for maximum adjustability.

SRAM Red brakes provides the Scultura SL with stopping power. The brake pads are manufactured by SwissStop and are Vision's recommended model for their carbon wheels.

The Vision TC 50 wheels were wrapped in Vittoria Corsa Evo tubular tires.

Here's a Merida Scultura SL sporting a pair of Vision's 2013 Metron 81 wheels.

When you ride in Mallorca, you'll encounter plenty of beautiful scenery. On the northwest area of the island is a small mountain range, which was dusted with pure, white snow during my visit. There's also a seemingly endless array of vineyards, farms, fields and orchards within the island's interior, and several large metropolitan cities out near the coastal areas. My 60-kilometer ride around the northern area of Mallorca didn't take me into the high mountains. Instead, the route was mostly flat with a few short, punchy climbs, and there was a steady wind throughout the day. The Vision TC 50 carbon tubulars I rode were an ideal choice for the conditions. When encountering crosswinds, the wheels didn't feel like they were 50mm-deep, but instead felt much shallower.

Weighing just 1490 grams for the pair (without quick releases), they were also rather light for a medium-depth wheelset. But the best part about them? Quite simply, they roll exceptionally well. The Vittoria tubulars were a treat, but there's definitely a bit of magic in the TC 50 design that makes them stiff, aerodynamic, and a great choice if you're in the market for an all-around race day wheelset.

For more information, check out Vision and Merida Bikes.