Eddy Merckx

525 Road Frameset

To some, classic cycling nostalgia brings back images of Coppi and Bartalli, but others minds go straight to the Cannibal himself, Eddy Merckx, who's brute Belgian force took wins left and right, earning a staggering 525 podiums in his career. This astounding powerhouse of a cyclists didn't just leave us with stunning imagery and stories though, he carried on to create bicycles made rugged enough for the world's most serious cyclists, light enough to soar through climbing stages, and tough enough to withstand the blown out cobbles of Roubaix. And so Eddy Merckx Bicycles were born, and fittingly, the 525 Road Frameset, which represents each of the Cannibal's wins through his career. The 525 Road Frameset is a lightweight, all-around race bike with impressive aerodynamic performance and razor-sharp handling. It's sleeker, more aerodynamic, stiffer, and more cleanly integrated than the previous EM525 frame, but at the same time makes no sacrifices to ride quality or comfort. And considering that AG2R team rider Bardet won the King of the Mountains classification on this bike during the 2019 Tour', it's clear that this bike is an adept climber, too, dispelling the notion that an aero race bike can't also be your ideal climbing bike.

The 525 Frameset is constructed from unidirectional high-modulus carbon fiber with a carefully planned out layup that bolsters stiffness in the bottom bracket and head tube junctions for efficient power transfer and precise handling. The front end stiffness is increased over the previous 525, yet the rear end is more compliant for a smooth ride over rough roads. The flattened and kinked seatstays may look a little strange to some, but they do serve a purpose, acting as a type of leaf spring to take the harshness out of battered chip-seal roads and unexpected potholes. The stays also join the seat tube lower down than the previous 525 to further improve compliance while increasing the aerodynamic gains.

We live in a time when aerodynamics play a key role both one-day and stage racing. Modern race bikes aren't just expected to be lightweight and stiff, they must also be aerodynamically optimized in order to gain every possible advantage over your opponents. The 525 Frameset was extensively tested in the wind tunnel to maximize aerodynamics while still keeping the overall frame weight low. The frontal area is reduced over the previous 525 for a more streamlined approach, and the fork crown transitions smoothly into the down tube to further cut down on drag. The frame includes an integrated bar and stem combo with fully internal cable routing, with the housing entering into the handlebar and passing directly into the frame for a clean cockpit with minimal drag. Other aero-optimized features include an integrated headset top cap for a smooth transition into the stem spacers, F-surface aero grooves on the seatpost, an aerodynamic gasket that covers the hidden seatpost clamp, and a seat tube shape that improves airflow around the rear tire.