De Rosa Merak Frameset

The De Rosa Merak Frameset is the Italian brand's lightweight aero road bike platform, built from High Modulus carbon fiber for the frame and the fork. De Rosa describes the Merak as lightweight, elegant and aerodynamic, the result of what it calls a relentless pursuit of balance. That balance is the point of the bike. It is meant for riders who want a frame that is quick on the flats without giving up the climbing character and handling of a traditional race bike.

De Rosa has been building bicycles in Italy since 1953, and the Merak carries that background into a current carbon race frame. The company lists the frame at 700 grams and the fork at 280 grams. Those are manufacturer figures, so treat them as De Rosa's claim rather than a number we have weighed ourselves. The shaping of the tubes is aimed at cutting through the air, and the Merak is positioned as a bike that makes sense on a fast group ride, a hilly road race or a long day in the mountains.

Several details make this a frameset you can build around modern parts and fit to a wide range of riders. The bottom bracket shell is T47 at 85.5mm, a threaded standard that is easier to service and quieter over time than a press-fit shell. The headset is integrated, the frame and fork use thru axles, and the seatpost is a dedicated De Rosa design rather than a standard round post. The frame will take tires up to 34mm wide. That is a useful allowance if you ride rough pavement or want a wider tire at lower pressure, and it moves the Merak beyond the narrow-tire race bike of a few years ago. A front derailleur, if you use one, needs a braze-on mount.

Fit options are broad. The Merak comes in eight sizes, from 42.5 to 56.5, with head tube lengths running from 107mm on the smallest frame to 185mm on the largest and a chainstay length that stays at 405mm across the range. A short, constant rear end is a design choice that helps keep handling consistent whether you ride a small frame or a large one. De Rosa also offers the Merak in fifteen colorways across three lines: Dynamic, Race and Classic. The range runs from Black, White and Silver to Gold, Violet, Rose, Iris and Green, so you can choose between a subdued race finish and something more distinctive.

This is a frameset, so the build is yours to decide. It suits a rider who already has a preferred groupset, wheels and cockpit in mind, or one who wants to work with us on a custom build from the frame up. Pair it with electronic shifting and a set of deep or mid-depth carbon wheels and you have a race bike that stays light enough to enjoy on the climbs and fast enough to hold a pace on the flats.