Romāns Vainštein won the UCI Road World Championships on the first ever edition of the De Rosa Merak back in 2000 in Plouay, France. Ever since, the Merak has evolved from aluminium, aluminium/carbon to today’s high-modulus full carbon bicycle. Although materials changed, the racing heart of the De Rosa Merak remained unchanged. Literally.

It took two years of development to re-engineer all aspects of the new Merak.  It is lighter, both in weight as in appearance. The horizontal tube runs continuously towards a compact front end. The rear triangle and fork feature larger cross-sections and a stronger visual presence, giving the bike a more muscular appearance.

The new frame weighs 700 grams and the fork 280 grams. Complete builds start at 6.9 kg, depending on configuration. Equipped with a Campagnolo Super Record WRL 13-speed drivetrain and Bora Ultra WTO wheels, it comes at a price* of € 13.230. Price of the frameset starts at € 5.600*.

The new Merak comes in 3 different lines: Classic (like the DNA blue version), Dynamic (like the golden coloured example) and Race (like the silver coloured Merak). Call us old-fashioned but we prefer the classic finish, a clean design that celebrates the curves of the bicycle.

Remarkable, and for the first time ever, is the missing heart on the head tube. It is replaced by the brand name emphasizing the new path De Rosa has taken with the launch of the new Merak.

More information: https://derosa.it/merak-bike/

*Manufacturer price, this could vary by country, pls check your local supplier

Images: De Rosa