UPDATED: Geometry, Release date for Eeklo70 Cyclocross Bikes
Eddy Merckx today released details on his company’s complete lineup for 2015, including four new models specifically targeted to pure speed, endurance riding, women, and cyclocross. The four new bikes join Merckx’s pro racing machine, the EMX-525, which carries over from 2014.
Like the EMX-525, commemorating Merckx’s 525 professional wins, each of the new models is named for The Cannibal’s accomplishments. The endurance focused Mourenx69, pictured above, and which we covered yesterday, is named for his 140km breakaway win into Mourenx at the 1969 Tour de France. The new San Remo76 is a purely speed focused machine named for his ninth win at La Primavera. The new Eeklo70, named for Merckx’s only cyclocross win of his career, is the company’s first bike offering disc brakes, and its first carbon ‘cross frameset. The new women’s bike, the Milano72, is named for the fashion capital where he both started his winning ride in Milan-San Remo and finished his third Giro victory in 1972. Tying all the bikes together is what Merckx calls their four pillars: Speed, Stiffness, Stability, and Safety and a guiding vision of “Power Under Control.”
We have details on lineup, including US models and pricing, geometry charts, lots of pictures, and a video after the break…
EMX-525
Merckx’s top of the line race bike is largely unchanged from 2014. Built with absurdly strong 600 GPa carbon, the claimed stiffness for the head tube is 150 NM and the bottom bracket is 215 NM. The Aerofork II fork features an over sized crown to optimize steering forces, and the bike has both asymmetrical seatstays and chainstays to balance pedaling loads.
The EMX-525 will be available in the US in four builds or as a frameset, and Merckx offers a customization program through its dealer network if you want to trick out your build; only two color schemes are offered. The full zoot Dura Ace Di2 build includes a Zipp 303 wheelset, Deda Superleggera cockpit, and Prologo Scratch Pro Nack saddle for $12,495. The same build for mechanical DA is $9,995. Di2 (pictured above) and mechanical Ultegra builds with Fulcrum Racing Quattro wheels, a Deda Zero cockpit and the Prologo Triox saddle are $7,295 and $6,295, respectively. A notable choice in the spec across all four models is the use of the Pro Compact crankset running 52-36 chainrings, paired to an 11-25 cassette. The frameset is $4,995, and there are seven sizes from 48 to 60. Geometry is unchanged from 2014.
San Remo76
Promotional video for the San Remo72
In 1976, Eddie Merckx lined up for his ninth Milan-San Remo, the 300km Spring Classic. Nearing the end of his career, he succeeded in beating a peloton full of younger, faster sprinters, easily dropping the last man in the final 300 meters. Commemorating that win, the Merckx San Remo72 is a pure speed machine. Built with lower strength 300 and 400 NM carbon fiber than the EMX-525, the bike offers aggressive riders a more affordable alternative.
The bike will only be available with Ultegra Di2 ($5,095) or mechanical ($3,995), running Fulrum 5s, a Deda Zero cockpit, and the Prologo Zero saddle. Frameset-only is $2,995.
Like the EMX-525, the bike is designed to keep the rider long and low.
Eeklo70
The new Eeklo70 is Merckx’s first disc brake equipped bike, and Merckx’s first carbon cyclocross steed. The bike will be available in two builds, the hydraulic disc equipped Ultegra 11 speed mechanical shown above, or with the new 11 speed Shimano 105 gruppo with cantilever brakes shown below. Both use the same carbon layup as the other new Merckx bikes, a first for the company, which in the past only offered aluminum frames, and put team riders on competing brands’ frames with Merckx paint. The Ultegra bike is built up with Deda Zero 100 bar, stem, and post, and a set of Shimano RX31 wheels under the rather uninspired Vittoria XG Pro tires. The Ultegra bike is geared for speed, with a traditional 36 and 46-tooth chainrings tied to a relatively big small 12-25 cassette, versus the 12-27 or 11-26 many riders prefer.
The 11 speed 105 bike uses Shimano CX50 cantilever brakes, entry level Deda components, and the Fulcrum Racing Sport CX wheels. Its comes geared with a huge 11-32 cassette, making well suited for ultracross racing and touring, but most likely sacrificing reliable shifting in muddy conditions. Thankfully, both bikes are built around a BSA threaded bottom bracket, rather than a press fit BB, which are notoriously creaky in off road applications. Merckx is offering six sizes from 48 to 58, neither frameset is available on its own, and each build is only available in the pictured color schemes. The bikes are priced at $3,999 and $2,799. A geometry chart was unavailable. UPDATE: Merckx expects US availability in December, and here is the geometry chart:
Milano72
The all new “Cannibal ride for women,” the Milano72, is pitched as a bike that emphasizes stability. Using the Female Race Geometry introduced in 2014, Merckx aims to create a riding position that rotates the pelvis back to reduce pressure on the perineum, arms, and shoulders. The bike is built with the same carbon layup as the San Remo72 and Moureax69, so expect a similarly responsive ride.
Merckx is releasing three sizes: 40, 43, and 46, which based on the conventions used in their other models, probably translates to something around 49 to 55 cm effective top tube measurements. Unfortunately, we do not have geometry charts. There will only be a single build option and one color scheme. The bike will come equipped with full Ultegra 11 speed mechanical, Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels, and a Deda Zero 100 cockpit. Like the ‘cross bikes, the bike uses a normal seatpost in lieu of an integrated mast. It comes geared with a very forgiving combination of a compact crank and 11-28 cassette. Unique to the entire Merckx line, the bottom bracket is Italian threaded. Pricing is set at $3,995.
Mourenx69
We covered the new endurance bike in depth yesterday, but US pricing, specs, and geometry are now available.
The Mourenx69 will only be available as a complete bike with Ultegra Di2 or mechanical gruppos and Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels. The endurance oriented bike will be geared with a 50-34 compact crank and 11-28 cassette, and has the Ultegra 6700 brakes, meaning maximum tire diameter is limited to 25 mm. The complete bikes are priced at $5,095 and $3,995, and the frameset will set you back $2,995 – better than than yesterday’s quote based on the Euro exchange rate. If you want to get the über sexy Campy build we drooled over yesterday – or make any other changes to the bike spec – you dealer can go through Merckx’s customization program.
The geometry numbers alluded to in yesterday’s post are below, providing a better understanding of how the Mourenx69 (and, yes, it is pronounced MORE-awn) compares to the more aggressive San Remo72.
