FSA has developed a double crankset especially for the Taiwanese. This not only matches the "Sram XX" components used, but is also color-coordinated with the rest of the bike with a green stripe on the crank arm. The same applies to the suspension elements. The "XR Carbon" fork tuned by DT Swiss especially for the "Ninety Six Team" and the "M210" shock match the typical team green.

Fine tuning still needed
As Ralph has been riding with offset handlebars for some time now and the rest of the team has also switched to this trend, they will also be fitted as standard for customers in the coming season. At the moment, Ralph is still riding with spacers (spacer rings) on the stem. As DT Swiss has a different installation length to the previously used "Manitou R7" fork, the optimum handlebar height is still being worked on.

New axle brings too little
For test purposes, Merida engineers designed a thru-axle for the rear wheel especially for Ralph and installed it on his "Ninety Six". However, this innovation will not be implemented. Even on the test bench, only minor differences in stiffness could be measured. According to Ralph, however, these were hardly noticeable and therefore do not justify this elaborate design. Especially as you don't gain any time with a thru axle when removing the wheel in the event of a defect.

Broadly speaking, not much has changed on the new "Nintety Six" yet, but Merida's engineers have announced that Ralph will be riding a new prototype this year and that it will differ from the current model, and not just in terms of components.

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