dirtypete

found what looks like a deal, $775 for a MERAK de rosa frame - any opinions on this frame? smooth? bumpy? flexy? fast?

thanks!

Pasqually

Had it, very stiff and light for when it came out in 2000? first generation newton bars & stem, carbon record (9 speed) and neucleous wheels. Stunning bike.

Does it have a carbon fork or alloy? Early ones had alloy. I had the matt dark blue finish, rubbery feel paint. It was hard to scratch.

I really liked that bike and wish I kept it. It was around the time Alu was at a peak (I know alu has gone further since, just carbon has taken over for most range topping race frames.)

I cant really help you with the price, if it a good deal or not as I'm not in the USA or know the market. Is it used?

EDIT: by the way it was my do everything bike, race, train, long all day rides everything. top frame for the time.

dirtypete

yeah, it's new. it'll be my everyday bike too. carbon forks, blue/red finish, very bright, nice though. thanks for the reply!

Pasqually

I found it a very nice frame. I weigh close to 100kg and am 195cm tall. Can drag the group along >40kmph , got a good 100m sprint etc etc. Worked for me, nice and stiff.

I had a alloy seat post at first for a while. I am not the best climber but I like a stiff bike and weigh a bit more than average. If you are lightweight it might be a bti harsh? depends on your way of thinking.

classic1

$775 is a bargain. A mate has one. He loves it.

Note that the seatpost on his (its an 04 or 05 IIRC) is a propriatry size - 31.4 or 31.8 or something.

ed073

bewdiful bike.

was the team issue of the Vini Caldirola pro team.

buy it.

dirtypete

this is it...

https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-De-Rosa-Mera...QQcmdZViewItem

Pasqually

haha, I have looked at that one too. Shipping for me OS is the only thing that turned me off (well that and my wife finding another bike). I like that colour scheme, can't remember which trade team rode that one. But pretty sure it was a team colour.

It is my size too. If I was in the USA I would get it in a heart beat.

It does mention 27.2 seatpost and I am 99.9% sure mine was a deda blackstick (or something) in 27.2mm.

classic1

Not the same as my mates. His is the one with the weird hydroformed alu tubing and carbon stays.

531Aussie

Yeah, they've changed over the years, using different aluminium


I know a shop stuck with several of these iTeam Nova Meraks

What happened to that team?

They won't be $775 US, but they'll be brand new

dirtypete

would that shop happen to have a website?

531Aussie

yep, this shop, but they don't have any De Rosas on their site. Last time I was there
I counted 20 De Rosas (frames and bikes), including Visions and Vegas,
along with the model above

https://www.acrtriathlete.com.au/index.htm

531Aussie

shogun17

We sold a guy an 06 Merak. Gorgeous frameset (in the blue/grey and chrome paint). Interesting dropout/stay joints. Soom blemishes in the chrome paint though so that was a little disappointing.

ed073

liquidity issues. Tried to apply the Eusaltel-Euskadi model to a country obsessed with footy and cricket...was never going to last long.

dirtypete

531Aussie that is a fine looking bike - the geometry looks very tight at the rear end, i like that... hmm....!

531Aussie

that's not my bike, in case you're wondering

It does look very tight in that photo, but I'd say it's pretty standard, like 405mm stays, or similiar

531Aussie

was it a different setup to Drapac-Porche (pro vs pro/am), or have Drapac done something better?

NoGaBiker

I had a Maserati Merak once...

Bantam

A buddy of mine has one. He was a Cat 5 for 3 races (2 wins, Top 10), and he placed 3rd in his first race as a 4.
It's a great bike.

snhrider

I used to have one

Before ...



and after ....

ed073

Tried to fund a pro team through supporter subscriptions via the web.....neglecting the fact that bike racers are the tightest pricks out there.

Drapac is just a dude with deep pockets who loves bike racing.

531Aussie

Hmmm, I see