- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
TECH NEWS
First Look: De Rosa Merak Athena EPS
We've just returned from seeing the first bike in the world that's built up with Campagnolo Athena EPS electronic components, the stunning De Rosa Merak. Distributor i-ride.co.uk invited us down earlier this week to get a close look.
Previously the Italian company's flagship race bike (it's since been superseded by the King), the Merak was completely updated for 2012. It has all the credentials for a seriously fast race-ready bike, and at £1,999 for the frame and fork it's still commanding top-end money.
The frame is a real head-turner. The top tube elegantly flows around the aero shaped seat tube into the seat stays. A BB30 increases stiffness for getting the power down.
And it's a clean looking frame with the wiring routed internally, though the frame still carries the drillings necessary for a conventional mechanical groupset.
The De Rosa Merak Athena EPS model is new for 2013 and will cost £4,299. That includes 3T Ergosum Pro bars and Arx Pro stem, Prologo Zero Ti 1.4 and Continental Ultra Sport 23c tyres.
We put it on the scales and it weighed 7.6kg (16.75lb). Fit some lighter wheels and it'll be nudging 7kg...
It's available now from www.i-ride.co.uk. You'll have to be quick if you want one, though. They've only got eight complete bikes at the moment, with another dozen coming soon.
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
Latest Comments
- David9694 48 min 15 sec ago
Trentham Estate shopper 'stuck on car park for three hours' demands action...
- Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells 4 hours 29 min ago
"One cyclist said while trying to avoid this puddle he was nearly knocked off his bike."...
- mattw 7 hours 27 min ago
Lisa Townsend very much views her police role through a political lens....
- Bigtwin 8 hours 19 min ago
My LBS has a 105 Di2 Giant road bike in the window for £5k, all bar a quid. It's been there for months. QED.
- Bigtwin 8 hours 22 min ago
Museum thread, but hey. I had one of these, before I saw this review. And it's spot on. The review, not the bike. I put up with it for a couple...
- mattw 9 hours 5 sec ago
Signed and promoted in a couple of my networks.
- mattw 9 hours 9 min ago
Trying to work out why I need a £390 3d printed titanium bottle cage....
- wtjs 11 hours 27 min ago
Good point! Over 18 months later, and I haven't seen (could have missed it!) a long term review of this groupset
- unami 11 hours 41 min ago
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/exclusive/365458/driver-whose-towbar-voide......
- Miller 14 hours 21 min ago
Pogi and a few of the others are on the divisive new Colnago aero bike in those Insta photos.
Add new comment
6 comments
"And it's a clean looking frame with the wiring routed internally, though the frame still carries the drillings necessary for a conventional mechanical groupset"
Surely it can't be beyond the wit of man and De Rosa to figure out how to use the same drilling both wires or cables - on a £2K frame. It looks a mess.
And as for the battery box.........................
Change the bar tape and I would kick our lass out of the marital bed for it.
Don't like the frame, I'm a steel fan. I would welcome the group set though.
the battery looks fugly
Looks a bit like my focus only with a great big battery pack on the down tube?? Wtf as they say
In the words of Charlie Higson on the Fast Show, "I'm sorry I've just come"