the training camp in calpe - Eddy Merckx

Eddy MErckx cyclEs cataloguE 201 2 

cataloguE 

201 2 

join our online communiTy on www.eddymerckx.com 

training caMp in calpE 

The Quick-Step team’s training - 

a glimpse behind the scenes 

gran Fondo Eddy MErckx 

A chance to ride alongside a legend 

uMx sEriEs urban bikEs 

Flaming orange and made of steel 

issue 02 > 2012

join our online communiTy on www.eddymerckx.com 

Historical picture all rights reserved - Tour of Flanders picture ©TDWSport.com

Editorial 

page 03 

thE Quick-stEp 

tEaM’s training 

caMp in calpE 

page 04 

Do you want to see how professional cyclists train? 

See what they eat for breakfast and what they do in 

their downtime! 

EMx-7 

EMx-5 

thE crEation oF 

an urban lEgEnd 

page 36 

made of steel and based on the famous flaming 

orange “hour-record” 1972 bike, the fabulous new 

umX series tips its hat to fixies and single gear 

bikes, and shows how urban bikes can be both safe 

and cool. 

uMx-r 

uMx-s 

2012 bikE rangE 

page 50 

issue 02 > 2012 

gran Fondo 

Eddy MErckx 

page 16 

5 Gran Fondo eddy merckx specials give you 

the chance to ride alongside the legend himself. 

Feel what it´s like to ride in a mass start race. 

EMx-3 

EMx-1 

EFx-3 

EFx-1 

thE brains bEhind 

FraME tEchnology 

page 44 

it´s almost true to say that as much time and effort 

goes into developing and designing our bikes as 

you are likely to ride them! 

gEoMEtriEs 

page 52 

thE Eddy MErckx 

cyclEs coMpany 

page 28 

eddy merckx started his company over 30 years 

ago. Times and materials were very different, but 

the passion and the attention to detail were there 

from the beginning. 

aMx-3 

aFx-1 

a FraME For liFE 

page 48 

We believe in the strength and reliability of our 

frames and so offer a limited lifetime Warranty.

The new aerofork on the EMX-7 is even more aerodynamic than its 

predecessor, and the fit into the frame is perfect. Torsional stiffness is 

of course the aim, but stiffness without feel and stability is worthless. 

And what’s the secret? Well, the cross-cut surface is now even bigger 

at the point where the fork and frame meet.

A lot has happened since last year, and there is much to look forward to. 

Our sponsorship of the Quick-Step cycling team continues and we are making very good use 

of our privileged relations there by getting good feedback from the team on the bikes. We’ve 

had positive reactions and interesting conversations, particularly during the Calpe training 

sessions at the beginning of the season. I do enjoy the chat and banter that goes with riding 

in a team, and the testing and input on the bikes received is both useful and excellent. 

The Quick-Step experience is good for us and good for you too - not only does it keep us up to date with the latest 

demands of top cyclists, it lets us test our bikes in the most severe conditions. Our aim is to get to the end of a 

season without any frame failures, and we do. For you this means we offer a Limited Lifetime Warranty on all our 

frames, it’s easy to register your bike via our website - and we encourage all new owners to do so. 

At Eddy Merckx Cycles, we’ve never tried to make the lightest bike, but we’ve always aimed to make the safest one. 

With carbon fibre technology, the weight issue is now a non-issue - everyone makes a light bike - and in any case 

none of us can go below the minimum mass stipulated by the UCI. We all know that if we want to race our bikes, 

they have to be above that minimum weight. I have always believed that it’s more important that the cyclist rides 

and controls his bike, not the other way round! 

There are 5 Gran Fondo “Eddy Merckx” events this year, and we are proud that two of them have been chosen as 

official events in the UCI World Cycling Tour. We are also very much looking forward to the final event in Eugendorf 

near Salzburg. It’s the 5th edition of the Eddy Merckx Classic, and it’s there we’ll present the winner of the “Ride with 

Eddy” campaign with his EMX-5 bike. He’ll also accompany me around the circuit in what should be quite a day. 

We’ve moved! We’re now a little closer to Brussels city centre and in a much bigger space. There’s plenty of room 

for the stock and our workshop team. The place has got a good feel to it, and I’m confident it’s a good move. All 

in all, we’re well set up and happy to say that our bikes are now available in 21 countries. And talking about city 

centres, we’re also ready with our new range of UMX bikes - our urban collection. They’re based on the look of 

my old Mexico hour bike. They’re just safer and more comfortable! Just wait until you try it! 

Good luck and ride with passion, 

Eddy Merckx founder 

5

© Frieke Janssens 

carbon series 

spain 

calpe 

Twice a year, the belgian 

Quick-step team goes to a 

training camp in Calpe (near 

Alicante, Spain) before the 

beginning of the season. 

Mid December Tom Boonen 

and co. first landed on the 

Costa Blanca where they were 

confronted not only with the 

shape they were in, but also 

with their brand new EMx-5 

and EMx-7 bikes. 

It was love at first sight...

The 

Training 

camp 

in calpe 

a glimpse 

behind the scenes 

7 

eDDy merckX cycleS catalogue 2012 

The Quick-STep TeAm’S TrAininG cAmp in cAlpe - carbon series


carbon series 

sylvain chavanEl 

bEcaME FrEnch 

road racE 

chaMpion in 2011. 

A break 25 km from the 

end saw the time trial 

champion of 2005, 2006 

and 2008 finally get the 

road race jersey he 

coveted. A group of 16 

took off shortly after the 

start, and while there 

was jockeying for 

position, it was an attack 

with 45 km to go that 

put Sylvain ahead. With 

25 km, he was alone out 

front and at one stage 

had a lead of over a 

minute. he won by over 

half a minute from 

Anthony roux and 

Thomas Voeckler. 

sMilE with Eddy 

eddy merckx was also 

present at the training 

camp. in calpe, merckx 

posed together with the 

members of the team for 

the new eddy merckx 

cycles marketing campaign 

‘ride with eddy’. During 

the photo shoot, merckx 

and the Quick-Step leaders 

were soon recognised by 

tourists spending the winter 

in calpe who naturally also 

wanted a picture with the 

cycling legends. 

you can admire the results 

of the shoot on 

www.ridewitheddy.com. 

The shoot for the marketing 

campaign that is. 

DiamanTe Beach in calpe 

heaven on earth for 

professional cycling 

teams in training. 

When the Quick-Step Team sits down at the breakfast table at the Hotel Diamante Beach for the first time, it’s immediately 

clear. They are by no means the only cycling team to have come up with the idea of training in the mountains behind 

Calpe. The men from amongst others Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, Katusha and Astana are enjoying their first breakfast 

in Spain at the resort. 

cold spaghetti with brown sugar for breakfast? or do you 

prefer a slice of dry bread and a glass of buttermilk? 

The entire Quick-Step team is down to breakfast on time. Gert Steegmans is happy to see his team mates again, after having 

been away from Quick-Step for two years. And his team mates are also enthusiastic about his return, “Yikes, it’s been a long 

time!”, “Everything OK Gert?”, and are looking forward to riding with him again. What’s noticeable during breakfast is that 

all the riders each fill up on mountains of all kinds of breakfast cereals: Honey Pops, Smacks, Special K... Honey, all kinds 

of jam and food supplements are also popular breakfast foods. Tom Boonen’s favourite breakfast? A bowl of Special K 

covered with skimmed milk and a Meli honey cake with a cup or two of strong coffee. Eddy Merckx, who has come along 

on this occasion: “I prefer the sausages, scrambled eggs and fresh fruit from the buffet” (laughs). 

© Frieke Janssens

An early start for 

the team in Calpe. 

after breakfast, down to the nitty-gritty 

Just before leaving the hotel, most of the riders see their brand-new EMX-5 or EMX-7 for the first time, shining 

outside in the sun. Everyone is pleasantly surprised by the cool look of the colouring and stripes of the Quick-Step 

team’s colours. When the first “oooohs” and “aaaaahs” have faded away, the 27 top riders cycle into the mountains 

behind Calpe for a ride that will last almost 5 hours. And who’s riding up front? Of course: Eddy Merckx himself 

who has travelled with the team to taste the ambience and also do a photo shoot, together with the team. In the 

beginning Merckx complains a little about it being nippy, but after the first two climbs we hear Boonen say to 

Merckx: “Warming up a bit Eddy?” 

Clearly he’s not forgotten how to ride. 

The 2012 

Team Bike 

At the present time, 

the colour scheme of the 

2012 team bike has not been 

finalised, but as soon as it is, 

you´ll be the first to know. 

Check out the website, 

www.eddymerckx.com, for 

the latest information and sign 

up for our regular newsletter. 


calpE, whErE 

thE FlEMish FEEl 

at hoME 

calpe is known to most 

Flemish citizens as the 

ideal place for 

pensioners to spend the 

winter, which is 

understandable, 

considering its 

microclimate and more 

than 2,800 hours of 

sunshine a year and an 

average annual 

temperature of 19°. But 

in addition to these ideal 

climatological conditions, 

calpe is extremely 

suitable for organising a 

training camp thanks to 

the enormous variation 

of the countryside and 

the excellent condition 

of the roads. 

FuturE FlEMish 

ridErs at thE top 

Topsport Vlaanderen-mercator, 

the Flemish cycling team 

that is also sponsored by 

eddy merckx cycles, stayed 

at the same hotel and also 

trained on the costa Blanca 

in Spain. For many riders of 

the Quick-Step team it was a 

happy reunion with former 

colleagues. 

chavanEl and 

thE Eddy MErckx 

bicyclE, thE 

pErFEct Match. 

“i’m constantly working on 

how to sit on the bike as 

efficiently as possible. The 

bike fitting we get here is 

fantastic. But apparently 

there wasn’t much more we 

could do to improve my 

seat.” (laughs) 

9 




carbon series 

toM with QuickstEp 

until 2013 

it’s been confirmed that 

Tom will stay with Quick- 

Step for the next couple 

of years. Quick-Step has 

been built around Tom’s 

talent and it was his first 

team when he turned 

professional in 2003. As 

he said after signing the 

contract, “i feel great 

here, it’s like a family. 

The whole set-up is 

professional which is 

exactly what i want.” 

Good for Tom and good 

for the team is the first 

few victories of the year, 

and as he said “reaching 

this agreement will be a 

further incentive to do 

my best in the next few 

races and so give the 

team new successes as 

soon as possible”. 



Or is it more a case of the riders letting him ride up front out of respect for the Master? 

The group is split into two for the training that follows: the climbers are given climbs and mountains; the other 

riders, including Tom Boonen, get to enjoy themselves on a more varied course. 

greedy guts! 

In the meantime the sun and temperatures have risen considerably and the riders fortify the inner self with lots of 

water, bananas, rice tarts and Meli Honey waffles. A scuffle breaks out for the last can of cola that had to be saved 

until the end of the training. In the end Boonen drinks most of the can, leading to comments from his team mates: 

“Hey, greedy guts!” 

italian driving skills 

BecauSe alone 

iS STill alone 

Twice a year, the entire Quick-Step team goes to a 

training camp to prepare for the new season. 

They go for the first time in mid December and 

then again in mid January, for just under a week 

each time. In addition the riders naturally also train 

individually. For example Tom Boonen and Gert 

Steegmans have a personal trainer in Monaco and 

they also often train together with riders from 

other teams who live in Monaco. 

A handful of journalists from a few Belgian newspapers are given the honour of attending this Quick-Step training 

session from the official following car. And that’s not as easy as it seems on these climbing and winding mountain 

roads. Since as many pictures as possible have to be taken, Alessandro, the Quick-Step team’s press officer, completely 

ignoring all the exhortations and cautious remarks of his passengers, flies back and forth to make sure the journalists 

get the best pictures. A few of them will remember Alessandro’s driving skills for the rest of their lives. Just like the 

sharp drops he brushes past during this crazy ride. 

iTalian caTenaccio on SpaniSh Soil? 

Supper follows after a day of training and riding. in general the riders are all 

tucked up by around 10 pm. however one evening a sports quiz was organised, 

and on another a footy match between the Belgian and italian members of the 

team. Belgium was resoundingly beaten 6-1.

11 


The Quick-STep TeAm’S TrAininG cAmp in cAlpe - a glimpse behind the scenes

EMS 

7000 EDDY 

carbon series 

colour 

Black White (BkW) 

FraME 

carbon cl+ 620 oSr – 1k 

EMc sizEs 

50/52/54/56/58/60 

For details, check geometry chart p. 52 

Fork 

carbon Aerofork – 1k 

Tapered 1 1/8” – 1 ½” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 

coMponEnts 

shimano dura ace 

compact configuration 

Wheelset: Eddy Merckx 38mm 

Full Carbon Clinchers DT Swiss 

Stem: FSA OS-99 CSI 

Handlebar: FSA K-Wing 

Seatpost: FSA ISP K-Wing stubby 

Saddle: Prologo Scratch Nack 

Tyres: Vittoria Open Corsa Black 

campagnolo super 

record compact configuration 

Wheelset: Eddy Merckx 38mm 

Full Carbon Clincher DT Swiss 


Handlebar: FSA K-Wing 

Seatpost: FSA ISP K-Wing stubby 

Saddle: Prologo C.One Nack 


stiFFnEss to wEight 

130nm/°/kg 

MERCKX SHAPING 7000 

notes: 

• both configurations 

EMS available on both colours 

• 7000 EDDY 

Also available in frame-kit 

OPTIMIZED 

STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT 


OPTIMIZED 


CL+ 

OSR CL+ FRG 

140 

120 

STW (nm / °/kg) 130 

100 OSR FRG 

140 

120 

EMX-7 EMX-5 EMX-3 EMX-1 

CARBON LAMINATE + 

FEMALE RACE GEOMETRY 


FEMALE RACE GEOMETRY

13 



EDDY MERCKX SHAPING 7000 

S 0 EDDY 

OPTIMIZED 


advancEd 

coMpositE dEsign 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Gpa 620 Fiber combination 

carbon laminate + 

oSr technology 

ABAQuS lay-up optimisation 

aErodynaMic 

shapE dEsign 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Airfoil shaped tubing 

Airfoil shaped seatpost design 

integrated Aerofork design 

internal cables (smooth design) 

optiMal 

powEr transFEr 

1 

2 

3 


carbon series 

Asymmetric chain stay 

Tapered head tube 1,5 – 1 1/8 inch 

oversized bottom bracket 

OSR 

optiMizEd 

structural 

rEinForcEMEnt 

Advanced high modular 

stiffness fibers are used 

in combination with 

high-strength fibers to 

achieve unparalleled 

performance. 

They are used in different 

strategic areas of the 

bike, as and when 

required. The front 

fork for example needs 

both for optimum 

weight reduction and 

improved stiffness 

and feel. 

OPTIMIZED 


CL+ 

CL+ 

carbon 

laMinatE + 

carbon fiber bikes are 

made using sheets of 

carbon fiber, and these 

are built up in layers 

one on top of the 

other. The carbon 

laminate + process, 

developed by and for 

eddy merckx cycles, 

R FRG 

assemble the sheets 

FRG 

together in ways that 

maximise the strength 

and rigidity of the 

resulting frame. 

The result? optimized 

performance, comfort 

and weight. 





regular round seat tube 

c d = 1,2 

airfoil shape seat tube 

c d = 0,12 

2 

1 

1

1 2 3 4 

3 

4 

2 

3 

colour 

Black red (Bkr) 


15 



© TDWSport.com 

carbon series 

victory 

in stagE 1 at thE 

tour oF Qatar 

After riding to seventh place 

in the prologue, Tom Boonen 

won the first stage in the 

Tour of Qatar. he was part of 

a breakaway of 19 riders - 

alongside teammates Gert 

Steegmans and nikolas 

maes. The strong wind on 

the course caused a split 

into several groups, meaning 

that the next group was 

some 5 minutes behind. 

in the decisive sprint Boonen 

showed some impressive 

speed, beating haussler and 

renshaw with a powerful 

sprint. 

top oF thE 

sprintErs 

in wEvElgEM 

By winning the Gent- 

Wevelgem race for the 

second time, Tom established 

that he is still one of the top 

sprinters of his generation. 

After a tough 203 km, there 

was a mass sprint at the end 

- so mount kemmel was not 

decisive this year. it was 

again Gert Steegmans that 

led the sprint out, so giving 

Tom and Quick-Step their 

second victory of the year. 

Seven years after his victory 

in the race, and the one that 

shot him to prominence - this 

win was particularly sweet 

coming at the beginning of 

the season and after a long 

fight with injury. 

The victory also put the team 

up the World Tour rankings - 

good for the sponsors and 

good for the moral. 

and the jury’s scores are? 

After this varied drive with a few sharp climbs, the riders have been able to make an initial evaluation of the shape 

they’re in. Luckily everyone’s in good shape. And the talk is all positive about the Eddy Merckx bikes. 

The driving qualities of both the EMX-5 and the EMX-7 receive great acclaim from the entire team. One of the 

differences between the EMX-5 and the EMX-7 is the fusion of the frame with the saddle, which leads to even 

more stability. So, applause from all sides. And the applause kept coming, even after the other 16 rides each lasting 

4 to 5 hours that the riders made in the mountains. 

perfect isn’t good enough 

Two professional ‘bike fitters’ have come along from the Leuven sports university to fit the Eddy Merckx bikes 

perfectly to each rider’s physique and how they distribute their strength. This investigation is carried out at least 

once a year for each rider. The pressure points of the knees, feet, back and bottom are monitored with electrodes 

on the rider’s body. Everything is visualised and registered on the computer. The seat of the rider and the height 

of the handle bars, the saddle, the distance between the saddle and handle bars and the length of the pedal cranks 

can, if necessary, be adjusted, to fit the rider’s size and physique perfectly. In this way bike and rider become one. 

> The EMX-7 has an integrated seat post that both enhances aerodynamics and increases stiffness still further. 

end

emx-5 Black Red (BKR) 

emx-5 Black White (BKW) 

geometries page 52 

FraME 

carbon cl+ 500 oSr – 1k 

EMc sizEs 

50/52/54/56/58/60 

For more details, check geometry 

chart page 52 

Fork 

carbon fork – 1k 

Tapered 1 1/8” – 1 ½” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 



Wheelset: Fulcrum Racing 3 


Handlebar: FSA K-Force Light 

NANO 

Seatpost: FSA K-Force Light 

Saddle: Prologo Zero Nack 

Tyres: Vittoria Diamante Pro 

shimano ultegra glossy grey 




Handlebar: FSA K-Force compact 

Seatpost: FSA K-Force Light 

Saddle: Prologo Scratch Pro Nack 

Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro 

stiFFnEss to 

wEight 

125nm/°/kg 

notes: 

• both configurations 

available on both colours 

• Also available in frame-kit 

140 

120 

100 

140 

120 

100 

140 

120 

STW (nm / °/kg) 125 



17 



carbon series 

A chAnce to live & experience A group stArt one-dAy rAce

© João Carlos Manita 

u.k 

austria 

portugal 

There are 5 gran fondo eddy 

merckx events this year: one 

each in Portugal, Belgium, Italy, the 

UK and Austria. 

belgium 

But what exactly is a Gran Fondo? While these are 

ostensibly recreational events, they often attract a 

mixture of amateurs and active and retired profes- 

sionals. not officially races - though sometimes 

they feel like one - they are mass start events for 

fun! To add a bit of spice, Gold/Silver/Bronze 

medals are given to participants who make the 

tour within a certain time category, hence the 

race feel.The biggest Gran Fondo type events 

can attract literally 1000s of riders, and the Gran 

Fondo eddy merckx in italy with more than 

2000 riders must be the most spectacular of the 

5 Gran Fondo eddy merckx events. With a 

mass start, these events are as close to the feel 

of a professional cycle race as many amateurs will 

experience. The chance to compete and compare 

yourself with so many other people is certainly an 

opportunity not to be missed, especially as there 

are often large crowds of spectators, refreshment 

stations - just like in a real tour event - and warm 

welcomes at the finish. 

italy 

19 

Eddy MErckx cyclEs catalogus 2012 

GrAnD FonDo - carbon series

carbon series 

CL+ 

CL+ 

carbon 


FRG 

carbon fiber bikes are 

made using sheets of 

carbon fiber, and these 

are built up in layers FRG 

one on top of the other. 

The carbon laminate + 

process, developed by 

and for eddy merckx 

cycles, assemble the 

sheets together in ways 

that maximise the 

strength and rigidity of 

the resulting frame. 

The result? optimized 

performance, comfort 

and weight. 





cablE protEctor 

eddy’s thought of 

everything. Special eddy 

merckx branded frame 

protectors prevent cable 

rub and potential damage 

if ever the cables touch 

the frame when turning 

for example. 

the grAn Fondo eddy Merckx events this yeAr 

8 May 2011 ÉVORA / Portugal – 157 km www.gfeddymerckxportugal.com 

With over amateur 250 participants, the Gran Fondo Eddy Merckx in Portugal was a success. “It was the first race of its 

kind in Portugal, bringing together the core of keen amateur cyclists in the country”, says Joao Serralheiro, the organiser 

and importer of Eddy Merckx Cycles in Portugal. 

12 June 2011 BREnTInO BELLUnO, VEnETO / Italy – 155.5 km www.granfondoeddymerckx.com 

Brentino Belluno is a small town in the Province of Verona in the Italian region of Veneto, about 110 km west of Venice. 

Limited to 2200 riders, the Gran Fondo Eddy Merckx Italy will for the first time be accredited “International GF Amateur” 

status, and as such will be the 5th and final stage of the circuit. The route this year contains 3204 metres of climbing. 

18 June 2011 HUy / Belgium – 175 km www.granfondoeddymerckx.be 

The Gran Fondo Eddy Merckx Belgium follows a classic route through the beautiful Ardennes scenery. For large parts of the 

event, it follows the route the professionals ride during the Liège-Bastogne-Liège and La Flêche Wallonne. The Gran Fondo 

starts in Huy and ends with the famous “Le Mur de Huy” (wall of Huy), a 1.3km 10% climb with a maximum ascent of 19%. 

31 July 2011 CHARD, SOMERSET / U.K. – 100 miles www.granfondoeddymerckx.co.uk 

The Gran Fondo Eddy Merckx will be the first Euro style Gran Fondo event to be held in the UK. A limited field of 1000 

riders will be allowed to ride the course through the beautiful county of Somerset. As in all Gran Fondo events, there is a 

long list of rider extras and support services including refreshments and food along the way, free gifts, pasta party, full 

event village and goodie bags. 

5 SepteMber 2011 SALzBURGERLAnD / Austria – 155 km www.eddy-merckx-classic.com 

This final event of the calendar is where the prize winner of the RidewithEddy.com competition receives his/her prize 

and then meets its maker! The ride around the picturesque Salzburg lakes is an unforgettable climax to the season, and 

just as in each of the events, Eddy Merckx himself will be there and ride in the event, though this time with “our” winner by 

his side. A very professional set-up awaits the riders of this event and some stunning cycling too. 

© Alain Buyck

prepArAtion is key 

We interviewed one particular gentleman who plans to compete in (and 

complete) two Gran Fondo events this year, the one in Italy and the other 

in Belgium. Only on his bike for about a year now, he is 

new to cycling. He has however always been a competitive 

sportsman, and was previously a keen amateur footballer. 

As he explains, “training in those days was 3 times a week 

and a match at the weekend.” This gave him in that time as 

he says, “short power muscles”! He’s seen the change 

though since he took up cycling, and even after just a year 

in the saddle he can feel the difference - and see it too. “I’ve 

never been very heavy but am now 5 kg lighter than I was 

- in fact I’m down to 62 kg for a height of 1m75 - and that’s 

with me eating all I want. And another thing my muscles 

have definitely become longer and stronger.” 

“When I first started training, I took the time to read what 

kind of preparation was best for cycling. I’m 35 now, and before I started I 

had a medical check to see if everything was in good working order! It was 

and still is, and so I started riding more regularly. It quickly became clear 

why I was so attracted to the sport - I missed the physical challenge 

“the variation 

in climbs 

is good 

preparation 

for the 

race days 

ahead.” 

and the competition, but most of all I wanted to see how far I could go.” 

“now I cycle to work every day - that’s 23 km in the morning and the 

same back in the evening, though sometimes I’ll go out 

of my way to make it longer - just to get extra time in 

the saddle. On Mondays, I take it easy, it’s my wind 

down from the long ride on Sunday. The rest of the 

week, I vary it as I can, so that by Wednesday again I’m 

pushing myself hard.” 

“There are at least 2 other guys training for the Gran 

Fondo events in my cycling club. It means that I’ve got 

some good company for those extra kilometres I do after 

the Sunday morning ride with the rest of the club. We try 

to get down to the Belgian Ardennes as often as possible 

- there’s so much more variety there, and the variation in 

climbs is good preparation for the race days ahead.” 

One piece of good advice? “Don’t forget to take the food offered at the 

feeding stations, failure to do so can easily lead to a total collapse in 

form later in the event!” 

intErnal cablEs 

oF thE EMx-3 

A cool new feature that 

is both practical and 

beautiful is when the 

cables are neatly and 

cleanly passed through 

an internal cable routing, 

as on this emX-3 frame. 

The outer frame finish is 

sleeker, smoother and 

sexier, meaning that the 

aerodynamics are better 

and there is less chance 

of wear and tear. 

21 



© Alain Buyck 

ridEwithEddy.coM 

carbon series 

The competition to 

ride with eddy 

(www.ridewitheddy.com) 

involves answering a few 

bike related questions 

- all of them linked to 

either eddy merckx 

cycles or one of the other 

sponsors in the competi- 

tion. if you get all 3 of the 

answers right, you can 

choose what prize you 

would most like to 

receive, and this from 

either the 20,000 € worth 

of prizes or the grand 

prize of a ride with eddy, 

at the eddy merckx 

classic in Salzburgerland, 

in September. 

each participation is 

also a contribution 

to the children’s 

cardiology unit at the 

uZ hospital in leuven. 

the FundAMentAl 

rules oF group riding 

It’s always more fun to ride in a group than going out 

alone. However, riding with someone or riding in a group 

requires some attention and adherence to some basic rules. 

Follow them and you’ll be safe, but more importantly the 

others in your group will be safe too. 

01 Always wear a helmet. no excuses for anybody. 

02 Make sure your bike is in good working order - especially 

your brakes and your lights - especially if you 

are out in the twilight. 

03 Drive smoothly and calmly. It’s not a race! Don’t 

change direction suddenly - cars may be coming in 

the other direction or other cyclists may be passing. 

04 Stay the right distance from the bike in front – half 

a bike length is about right. In this way you can enjoy 

the significant benefit of the slipstream created by the 

bike ahead of you. Don’t let gaps open up, and 

don’t overlap wheels with the bike in front. 

05 Point out potential danger. For example potholes, 

rocks, and other objects on the road should be indi- 

cated to those behind you. These signals should be 

fed back through the pack so that those at the back 

know what to expect. 

06 Signal and say when your turning, moving out, 

slowing or stopping - so that other cyclists and cars 

will know your intentions. If your group uses hand 

signals, get the group to explain it after you’ve been 

out a couple of times. It’ll help you become a better 

member of the group. 

07 Change positions correctly. A common mistake 

from beginners to a group is to stop pedalling just 

before pulling off the front. Keep a steady rhythm 

on the pedals until you have moved off, from the 

front. And after pulling off, soft pedal and let the 

group pull through - but keep moving or else you’ll 

create a gap - and that’s not good either. 

08 Climbing. If you need to stand, shift up a gear to 

compensate for the slower cadence and stand up 

smoothly keeping a steady pressure on the pedals. 

This will keep you from moving backward relative 

to the rider behind you. Apply the opposite technique 

when changing to a sitting position. 

09 Descending. If you are leading, keep pedalling! 

Riders to the rear will accelerate faster downhill 

as slipstreaming becomes more effective, especially 

at higher speeds. If you are following, back 

off a couple of bike lengths to compensate for the 

greater slipstream effect. 

10 Ride easy and stay relaxed. It’s not only easier, it’s safer 

too. Too much tension can cause small bump movements 

to move the front wheels immediately and this 

may cause an accident. If you are relaxed, it’s much 

easier to absorb the bump without losing control. 

There are many blogs and sites that discuss this issue on the 

web, and a whole host of good advice is offered. This information 

has been edited from interviews, experience and a 

few web sources, including a long and interesting story on 

the subject published by Mike Munk @ Bamacyclist.com.

FraME 

carbon cl+ 300 – 3k 

EMc sizEs 

42/45/48/51/54 


chart page 53 

Fork 


Tapered 1 1/8” – 1 1/4” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 

emx-3 White Carbon (WCA) 




Stem: FSA SL-K Black 

Handlebar: FSA Wing Pro Compact 

Seatpost: FSA SL-K Black 

Saddle: Prologo Nago Evo Ti 

Outer tires: Vittoria Rubino Pro 









emx-3 Black Orange (BKO) 



Wielset: Eddy Merckx 38mm 

Full Carbon Clinchers 






stiFFnEss 

to wEight 

115 140 nm/°/kg 

120 

carbon series 

100 


140 

120 

100 

140 

120 

100 

140 

STW (nm / °/kg) 115 




120 

100 

emx-3 White Carbon (WCA) 

emx-3 Black Orange (BKO) 

geometries page 53

efx-3 White Carbon (WCA) 


a lady in lovE with cycling 

more and more ladies are riding in Gran Fondo events. 

We stopped one and asked her a few questions so we could 

better understand why. katrien is a huge fan of cycling, and 

is currently training for 2 Gran Fondo races this year, having 

raced the Dolomite martoni in 2010. 50 this year, she and her 

husband christian both ride eddy merckx cycles, an eFX-1 for 

her and an emX-7 for him! katrien tells us what it’s like: 

“the cycling world has changed for ladies for the better in 

the last few years, and all in all we feel there’s more attention 

being paid to our needs. There are bikes like the eFX series 

from eddy merckx that are just made for our build and 

shorter, more compact shape - and they feel just right. 

There’s also lots of new style ladies clothing. The results are 

clear and i see more and more ladies riding and competing 

at the top levels.” She goes on, “i cycle for fitness and fun 

of course, but it’s more than that - for me it’s an occasion to 

push myself and see just how far i can go, and whether i’m 

better this week than last.” 

more and more ladies riding at the gran fondos. 

EMS 

7000 EDDY 



OPTIMIZED 


FraME 

carbon cl+ 300 – 3k 

EMc sizEs 

40/43/46 

For more details, check 

geometry chart page 53 

Fork 


Tapered 1 1/8” – 1 1/4” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 





Handlebar: FSA Wing Pro 

Compact 


Saddle: Prologo Nago 

Evo Dea Ti 


CL+ 

stiFFnEss 

to wEight 

115 nm/°/kg 

FRG 

OSR FRG 

FEMalE racE 

gEoMEtry 

eddy merckx cycles is 

above all a manufacturer of 

racing bikes, and eddy is 

the champion of racing bike 

geometry. it was normal 

therefore that the company 

should design a real racing 

bike for women. it means 

that the angle of the seat 

tube is kept as close to a 

proper racing angle as 

possible, and so the top 

tube is made shorter, and 

the front head tube is made 

larger. it’s more adapted 

to women’s body 

morphologies and much 

more comfortable to ride. 



25 

Eddy eDDy MErckx merckX cycleS cyclEs catalogus catalogus 2011 2012 


the emx-3 has been designed with both 

performance and comfort in mind. More comfort, 

better fit and feel equates to better results on the bike. 

27 



FraME 

carbon series 

carbon cl+ 240 – uDm 

EMc sizEs 

42/45/48/51/54 


chart page 53 

Fork 

carbon fork – uDm 

Tapered 1 1/8” – 1 1/4” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 

shimano 105 black 

compact/triple configuration 


Stem: FSA Team Issue 

Handlebar: FSA Wing Compact 

140 

Seatpost: FSA Team Issue 

120 

Saddle: Prologo Kappa STN 

100Tyres: 

Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 

140 

stiFFnEss 

120 

to wEight 

105 100 nm/°/kg 

140 

120 

100 

140 

120 

100 

140 

120 

100 

140 

120 

100 





STW (nm / °/kg) 105 

EMX-7 EMX-5 EFX-3 EMX-1 

EMX-7 EMX-5 EMX-3 EFX-1 


emx-1 Black White Carbon (BWC) 

emx-1 Black Red Carbon (BRC) 

geometries page 53

emx-1 White Red (WRD) 

efx-1 Carbon White (CWH) 


FraME 


EMc sizEs 

42/45/48/51/54 


chart page 53 

Fork 


Tapered 1 1/8” – 1 1/4” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 









stiFFnEss 

to wEight 

105 nm/°/kg 

FraME 


EMc sizEs 

40/43/46 


chart page 53 

Fork 


Tapered 1 1/8” – 1 1/4” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 

shimano 105 silver 






Saddle: Prologo Kappa Dea STN 

Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 

stiFFnEss 

to wEight 

105 nm/°/kg 


29 



alloy series 

ChroniCle 

eddy louis joseph merckx won 

525 cycle races in the years he was racing 

and that included the Tour de France five 

times, the Giro d’Italia five times, the Vuelta 

legend 

once, all the great classic one day races except two and the World 

championship four times. Now, years later, eddy merckx 

needs no encouragement to talk enthusiastically about his past: 

«When I ended my cycling career in 1978, I didn’t really know 

what to do with my life. All I’d really done was ride, ride, ride 

my bike. But there was one thing I did know: I always wanted 

to do something I was as passionate and enthusiastic about as 

I had been about my cycling career. I had to be able to keep 

living life to the full just like I had always done.» 

zellik 

belgium

31 


© rights reserved 

chronicle oF A leGenD - alloy series

alloy series 

The eddy 

Merckx 

cycles 

coMpany 

Eddy had for years been riding in the Italian based Molteni 

team, and it was there that Eddy met Ugo De Rosa, one of 

the sponsors. It was he who offered advice and encouragement 

when Eddy had the idea of creating his own bicycle brand. 

“I did not feel ready at that time to start producing bicycles 

myself“, Merckx explains,. “But with my contacts I was able 

to learn how it was done. I travelled to Milan regularly to 

learn all I could. I remember that they didn’t weld the frames 

but soldered them. I then sent the Belgian welders that 

I wanted to work with to Milan to familiarise them with this 

technique.” 

© Tonny Strouken

28 March 1980. The day 

of the official opening of 

eddy merckx’s 

new company: 

‘eddy merckx cycles’. 

The day had finally come 

The workshops were established at Birrebeekstraat in Meise, in the town 

where Merckx himself now lives. Merckx continues the story, "we started 

with seven employees: two welders, two bench fitters and Martine 

Acou, who - 30 years later - still works for the company, and is now 

an executive of the company. My former lieutenants Jos Huysmans 

and Ward Janssens were also with us from the beginning, as was 

Robert Lelangue, who had been my director at Molteni. All three of 

them were responsible for sales. De Rosa, who had after all taught me 

the trade, remained my technical adviser until 1981. And me? For the 

first time in my life I got to be the boss" (laughs out loud). 

SucceSS STory 

When the first completely finished bike left the factory in Meise in 

1980, no one expected Eddy Merckx Cycles to be such a success story. 

Merckx: "Between 1980 and 2008 we sold about 5000 bikes a year." 

Of course that success didn’t just come by itself. "We never stopped 

investing in new technologies and always kept our eyes open for the 

latest developments," says Merckx. "It's always been the case that 

I liked new products, product design and geometry. My aim was to 

have our entire production in Meise so that we could keep a good eye 

on quality control. That was the reason why we added spray cabins 

after a while so that we could paint the bikes in-house as well." In the 

heyday of production at the factory, the company employed 

42 people and the entire production, from the first spoke to the final 

assembly, took place in the factory in Meise. 

conSTanT evoluTion 

When titanium was on the up and started to replace steel, Merckx 

decided to send his head welder Johan to the United States to learn how 

to weld titanium. Merckx: "When I went to trade fairs, I always took 

people from the factory with me. In that way they could see the latest 

developments, the latest materials, etc. with their own eyes. I remember 

that in the beginning of our carbon production days, we cooperated with 

an Italian company." 

everyone wanTS To ride wiTh eddy merckx 

The number of professional cycling teams that rode on Eddy Merckx Cycles 

cannot be counted on one hand or even on two! "Anyone who produces 

bicycles naturally wants the major cycling teams to ride on them," 

© Stephan Vanfleteren 

33 



alloy series 

EMS EMS 

7000 EDDY 

7000 EDDY 


shaping 7000 

eddy merckx cycles are the unique users 

of the emS7000 alloy tube. it’s a different 

shape than the rest of the market - it’s 

uses the form of a bell - and delivers a 

stiffer feel and stronger construction for 

the same weight. it makes our scandium 

alloy bikes lighter, stiffer and more robust. 



REINFORCEMENT 

ORCEMENT 

> In the new workshop in Zellik, just outside Brussels, the skills to hand make frames is still omnipresent. 

Merckx explains. "In 1980 we struck lucky - the De zeepcentrale team had lost its sponsor 

so we managed to conclude an interesting contract with them at the last moment. The 

very first thing they do is to go and win two stages in the Tour de France on our bikes! 

yes, we started well." After that other teams were lining up to ride on Eddy Merckx cycles: 

Panasonic, Hitachi, Telecom, GAn, SevenEleven, Motorola, Kelme, Eurodecor, HDR and 

Lotto-Domo; they all achieved their successes on Eddy Merckx cycles. now it's the turn of 

Quick Step, Tom Boonen’s team, and 

CL+ 

Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, a non-profit organisation 

of which Eddy Merckx is the president, to ride on Eddy Merckx cycles. 

CL+ 

a bike for winnerS 

"Seeing someone win a major race on a bike you’ve built yourself, is one of the best things 

that can happen to you," says Eddy. "Did you know that Paris-Roubaix was won four 

times on an Eddy Merckx bike? Museeuw, Knaven, Demol, and Van Petegem all did it. 

And so I did a little too," (laughs). Merckx goes on to say "The Ronde Van Vlaanderen 

was also won twice on one of my bikes - by Eddy Planckaert and Peter Van Petegem. Two 

class acts. not many people remember this, but at the beginning of his career, in 1993, 

Lance Armstrong became world champion in Oslo on an Eddy Merckx bike. And my son 

Axel became champion of Belgium in 2000 and won an Olympic medal ... on a bicycle 

that I made. That really does something to you." 

GEOMETRY CARBON LAMINATE + 

METRY CARBON LAMINATE + 

© Stephan Vanfleteren

eddy merckx. The bike. The man. 

Thanks to Eddy Merckx, a number of really famous people have also been able to ride on 

a real Eddy Merckx bike. He has given bikes to King Juan Carlos of Spain, Johnny Hallyday 

and Jacky Ickx - even Tia Hellebaut, the high jumper has been riding an Eddy Merckx 

bike since she won an Olympic gold medal in Beijing. And the Belgian King Baudouin 

was presented with the bike on which Eddy had won the Tour de France in 1971. 

The legend liveS on 

now, its 30 years since the very first Eddy Merckx bike was finished in 1980, and Eddy Merckx 

bikes are doing better than ever. "I think you have to stop when you’re on a high, like I did with my 

career," Merckx explains. It's why I gave up my majority share of the company in 2008 and let some 

professional young entrepreneurs run it, namely Joris Brantegem’s Sobradis group. Eddy Merckx 

still has his foot firmly in the door though and he retains a minority interest. "I'll keep doing the 

things I enjoy and can do well just like before," says Merckx. "As long as I can, I will keep being 

involved in product development, perhaps to the irritation of other people (laughs out loud). I’m 

very happy I can still contribute actively to the growth of my brand of cycles," Merckx says. "It's an 

honour and a pleasure to travel all over the world as an ambassador for my bikes. My entire life has 

been about bikes, and now the dream continues as I share my passion for bikes with others." end 

> Eddy Merckx wins his 3 rd Milan-Sanremo in 1969. 

a nEw start (up) 

There’s no stopping the growth of eddy merckx 

cycles. kurt moons has been appointed as the new 

ceo to push the growth across more markets. 

"The eddy merckx brand is so rich and still has so 

many opportunities that i didn’t hesitate a second 

to put myself into this fantastic project," says 

moons, who earned his spurs developing the 

Brantano and Santana brands. "And to prove that 

we mean business," says moons, "we've already 

moved to new premises in Zellik on the outskirts 

of Brussels as we just needed more room. As you 

can see, we’re getting ready for the future." 

© Tonny Strouken 

35 

eDDy merckX cycleS catalogus 2012 


© Stephan Vanfleteren

amx-3 Black White (BKW) 

afx-1 White Blue (WBL) 


FraME 

emS 7000 series Triple Butted 

EMc sizEs 

42/45/48/51/54 


chart page 55 

Fork 

Full carbon fork – uDm 

Tapered 1 1/8” – 1 1/4” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 

shimano 105 black 



Stem: FSA OS-150 

Handlebar: FSA Omega Compact 

Seatpost: FSA SP-SL-270 


Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 

stiFFnEss 

to wEight 

90 nm/°/kg 

FraME 

Alloy Triple Butted 60XX series 

EMc sizEs 

40/43/46 


chart page 55 

Fork 

carbon fork 

Alloy steerer tube 1 1/8” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 

shimano tiagra triple 

configuration 

Wheelset: Shimano RS10 

Stem: FSA OS-190 LX 

Handlebar: FSA Omega Compact 

Seatpost: FSA SP-SL-280 

Saddle: Prologo Kappa Dea STN 

Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro 

stiFFnEss 

to wEight 

80 nm/°/kg 

37 



urban series

The 

creaTion 

of an eDDy 

The inspiration for this new range of 

Eddy Merckx cycles is nothing 

less than the bike that broke the 

one-hour record in Mexico City in 1972. 

A sleek, simple and strong track bike 

and made of steel - it is designed to 

be ridden in the city, and to be used 

on streets and roads whatever their 

condition. It’s also painted in that 

inimitable orange colour that reminds 

us all of Eddy in Mexico. 

39 

merckX cycleS catalogue 2012 

The creATion oF An urBAn leGenD - urban series

urban series 

> Merckx designed UMX bike with Rohloff 14-speed gear hub 

There are Two differenT 

bikes in The range, 

and The main difference 

is The number of gears. 

There is a 14-speed bike that uses the famous 

Rohloff gear hub. This particular mechanism doesn’t 

need much of an introduction, it is quite simply one 

of the best integrated gear systems available on 

the market today. Handmade in Germany, it is pure 

quality and outstanding functionality. 

14 speed gears 

The Rohloff spEEdhub 500/14 has perfect single gear ratios, a wide 

range of gears, low maintenance and easy operation; its weight and efficiency 

are ideal even for pro racing. 

The sealed gearbox ensures reliability and durability even under the toughest 

conditions. The even increments of 13.6% from gear to gear make it possible to 

always ride at peak performance and the overall range makes sure that you have 

the right gear in every situation. Pure fun is guaranteed. 

The spEEdhub 500/14 is operated by a twist shifter that changes gear 

simply by pulling separate cables up or down. The indexing of the shifting lies 

not in the shifter as with common designs, but inside the hub. There is neither 

wear on the indexing system nor any need to adjust it.

a fix for the fixies 

The other bike has just one gear, and has the option - if the back wheel is 

flipped - to become a fixed gear bicycle. This type of bicycle has been around 

on the track for years - all track bikes are fixed gear bikes - but has slowly 

built up a fan base on the streets. 

For those in the know, it’s an all or nothing relationship - and it seems the 

secret is in the permanent link to the road. With a normal pedal bike, you 

can stop pedalling and free wheel for a little while, and there’s always a brake 

to stop you if you need it. With a fixed gear bike, you’re either pedalling or 

your standing still! There’s a tactile connection to the road that fixies love. 

For those in the know, nutcase helmets are the best-kept secret in the business. 

created by michael morrow in portland, uSA, this X-nike creative director 

saw a gap in the market for helmets that offered cool graphic designs and 

decorations and high quality security standards. And cool they are, or as the 

company brand slogan goes “the most fun a helmet ever had!” 

The range now includes more than 60 helmet designs for any sport where a 

helmet is advised and necessary: biking of course, skiing, snowboarding, 

skating, mountain climbing, kite surfing, wakeboarding, kayaking and so on. 

But from this year, there will be a new addition to the range: namely a joint 

eddy merckx/nutcase helmet, one that will be offered free with the purchase 

of an eddy merckx urban bike. 

safety first 

The Eddy Merckx hybride single speed/fixed gear bikes are made so that 

they can be driven on the road. There’s a hand-controlled brake that helps 

control speed and stopping. In many countries this is mandatory if you 

want to go on the streets. 

The gear set-up - important when you have just one gear is mid-range: 46 

teeth at the front, and 17 at the back. Depending on where you live, you 

might want to change this. Flip the wheel and you have a normal single 

speed bike that can be used as a normal free wheeling bike. Lights are part 

of the base equipment, and street credibility and style is guaranteed. 

This is no ordinary urban bike. It’s ideal for those that want the best of both 

worlds when and where they want it. 

one helmet will be 

offered free 

with the purchase 

of one of the first 

1000 eddy merckx 

umX bikes 

noun. ‘nʌtkeɪs/ : a mad or foolish person. 

The true definition of a nutcase is really anyone who DoeSn’T wear a helmet 

when cycling. 

look at the numbers: 

• Head injuries are the most common and severe form of injury 

• Anyone who rides without a helmet increases his/her risk of sustaining a head 

injury or fatal crash by 14 times 

• 85% of bicyclists killed in 2003 were not wearing a crash helmet (USA data) 

• Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by 85% 

• Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a brain injury by 88% 

• 75% of fatal bike crashes could have been prevented if the person had been 

wearing a bicycle helmet 

41 



ohloff “handmade in germany” 

The company was found in 1986 as Rohloff GmbH (Ltd.) by Barbara and Bernhard 

Rohloff in Kassel (Germany) in order to produce bicycle chains, and the 

first production site was in the backyard at Moenchebergstraße 30 in Kassel. 

This is where more than 100,000 chains/year were manufactured - in triple 

shift - with the help of a self-constructed assembly machine called the fabulous 

“green monster”! 

In 1990 the Rohloff chain - the S-L-T 99 - won the “Tour de France” and the 

Street Bike World Championship. Over the next few years a host of other bike 

related products were produced e.g. the Rohloff Revolver, the Rohloff Caliber, 

the HG-IG Check and the automatic chain lubrication system, Lubmatic and 

from 1994 onwards, the chain lubricant “Oil of Rohloff ” was introduced. 

In 1996, just in time for the company’s 10th anniversary a new invention, the gear 

hub SPEEDHUB 500/14, was created. Even after all these years, the Rohloff gear 

hub is still the only hub drive able to replace a 27-gear chain drive completely and 

which is especially made for active sport use. Made with separate parts manufactured 

by over 150 German companies, a year’s production is only 20.000 hubs. 

Each and every part is inspected for quality and tolerance before being assembled 

by the 35 highly qualified technicians. These hubs are rare birds indeed! end 

> The elegantly beautiful Rohloff gear hub has been handmade in Germany since 1996. 

rohloFF 

“handMadE in gErMany” 

43 



umx-r Orange 

umx-s Orange 

FraME 

columbus steel Sl tubing 

sizEs 

50/53/56/59 (urban geometry) 

Fork 

columbus Sl 1” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 

umX-r groupset 

Wheelset: UMX-White wielset 

Rohloff 14spd Speedhub 

Stem: Cinelli VAI 

Handlebar: Cinelli LOLA bullhorn 

Seatpost: Cinelli VAI 

Saddle: UMX-White 

Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro White 

FraME 

columbus steel cromor tubing 

sizEs 

50/53/56/59 (urban geometry) 

Fork 

columbus Sl 1” 

groupsEt 

whEElsEt 

umX-r groupset 

Wheelset: UMX-White wielset 

Stem: UMX-White 

Handlebar: UMX-White bullhorn 

Seatpost: UMX-White 

Saddle: UMX-White 

Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro White 

45 



frame technology

the brains behind 

frame technology 

as many hours goes into 

developing and designing an 

Eddy Merckx bike as you are 

likely to ride it! 

The conception of a new Eddy Merckx bike involves a subtle mix of Formula 1 level technology, 

artisan craftsmanship and lots of experience and understanding. We wanted to understand 

the process better, and examine just how much work, time and effort is involved in the 

development process to produce the perfect bike, with the least compromises possible in 

terms of comfort and efficiency. 

advancEd dEvElopMEnt 

The first stage is a continuous one. It involves ongoing research into new materials, and how 

they can best be used, exploited and maximised. 

The advances in this domain have been remarkable over the last decade, and still there is 

plenty of scope for new concepts, as new technology and manufacturing techniques are 

developed. Eddy Merckx Cycles leads the way in the optimum use of carbon fibres, and the 

results are there for everyone to see. It comes from a real appreciation of the material 

characteristics and an in-depth understanding of how they can be put to the best use. CL+ 

technology and OSR are just two example of how the research engineers have been able to 

make the difference. 

It shouldn’t be underestimated, but a lot of work also goes into appreciating the latest trends 

in design - and not just in terms of look and style, but colours too. Another reason why the 

bikes always look so good. 

47 


The BrAinS BehinD FrAme TechnoloGy - frame technology


> A fraction of a degree and a few mm makes a world of difference. 

concept engineering 

and design 

detailed design prototyping 

dEtailEd dEsign 

market launch 

0 +6 > +8 months +10 > +14 months +18 > +20 months 

+20 > +24 months 

concEpt EnginEEring 

and dEsign 

First sketches are produced at this stage, and despite what anyone says there’s 

always some sort of a trade-off. It’s a mixture of looks, price and performance. 

With the last two being measurable and quantifiable. This stage often starts 

almost 18 months to 2 years ahead of the actual bike getting to the dealers, so 

while there’s scope for change, there’s also a deadline and a launch date. A lot 

of the work is done here, and production options and decisions are mapped 

out. A host of different elements come into the mix here: geometry, frame 

sizes, loads, stresses, manufacturing, parts, orders, stock etc. 

materials 

production design 

production 

engineering 

now there is a clear idea of what the bike will look like, and the established 

Eddy Merckx look and style is integrated into the design. After the first 

sketches and long fruitful discussions with Eddy, the engineers start to 

nail down the final frame geometry - and this for the different frame sizes. As 

some of you may remember, Eddy was always fiddling about with his 

bikes - he was even known to fiddle about during a race, often changing 

the height of his saddle. With his 50 years of experience at the heart of the 

bike world, there is no-one better at detailing just what it takes to make a 

better bike. He can see things that others can´t, in fact you could say that 

Eddy is the best test pilot there is. It is his tweaks and adjustments on the 

final angles and lengths of the seat posts, wheelbase and trail that - 

amongst the most important of measurements - make all the difference. 

Before moving into actual frame prototypes, the detailed bike design is fully 

tested and structurally analysed by technical research engineers at the 

University of Gent. They work with the 3-D computer models of the bikes, 

measuring and pushing the limits using different materials and composites.

prototyping 

After everyone is happy and satisfied with the theory of the bike, the rubber 

starts hitting the road! yes, it’s time for the prototypes. A first frame 

is produced, but this is just for the look and feel - it’s not strong enough 

to be ridden on. A second frame is produced - actually at the size of the 

leading design engineer! 

He just happens to be a bike fan. It is he who gets to be the first guinea 

pig, sorting out issues that he sees and feels, as well as making sure it’s safe 

to ride - because the next frame is for Eddy. 

It’s his instinct that can tell whether the combination of ride comfort and 

racing performance is right. naturally there’s discussion and a difference 

in opinion, but ultimately decisions are made. Another series of frames is 

produced, this time for the Quick-Step Cycling team members - it’s interesting 

and useful to have their feedback too. 

This is the stage where many of the small changes are made - particularly 

relating to comfort for the rider. It’s a chance to check actual performance 

against virtual performance. The frames are evaluated, measured and the 

designs are modified if necessary. 

The prototyping stage takes several months to complete, because there are 

several stages of testing and retesting - each time involving the modification 

of designs and the manufacturing of a new set of frames. As many as 15 or 

more prototypes are made and tested before a final bike design is decided 

upon. Finally, the bikes are ready to go into production. end 

exclusive eddy 

merckx wheelsets 

Both the EMx-7 and EMx-3 have full carbon clincher 

rims of 38 mm. on the EMx-7, the hubs are the famous DT 

Swiss 240S hubs and Sapim spokes, while the EMx-3 uses 

custom created eddy merckx hubs and SkF bearings, again 

with Sapim spokes. 

These are merckx designed and made wheelsets. They are 

manufactured in the same workshop as the bikes and as such 

are made to the same high specifications. This means reliability 

and quality control, like no other. 

> Craftsmanship and a passion for details 

49 


The BrAinS BehinD FrAme TechnoloGy - frame technology


a dEalEr givEs 

his opinion 

We asked mr. Godeau, 

owner of a dealership 

that’s been working with 

eddy merckx cycles for 

more than 30 years what 

his experience with the 

limited lifetime 

Warranty has been like, 

and he was happy to 

give his comments. 

“Truthfully, we haven’t 

had any claims as yet - 

and i’m not surprised. 

eddy has always made 

quality - and safe - bikes, 

and the latest carbon 

fibre range is no 

exception. i know 

however that if we did 

have an issue, there 

wouldn’t be any 

problems or hesitations 

from the company. eddy 

has always been 

extremely correct in that 

respect.” When asked 

what customers actually 

think about the llW, he 

says “it is indeed a little 

extra reassurance that 

some of the clients need 

- yet another rational 

reason to choose an 

eddy merckx bike.”

a frame for life 

Eddy Merckx bikes are designed 

and built to withstand years of riding, 

without incident or accident. 

We test them in the toughest of conditions, and with the hardest of taskmasters 

- namely the professional cycling team at Quick-Step. Fortunately the 

team bikes past the test with flying colours, and it confirms what we know 

that the best demonstration of strength is that there are zero Quick-Step team 

bike failures due to frame failure at the end of a hard season on the road. 

WE oFFEr you ThE saME GuaraNTEE 

Eddy Merckx Cycles have so much belief in the quality of their frames 

that each new carbon model bought at a recognized Eddy Merckx dealer 

comes with a ‘Limited Lifetime Warranty’. 

1. To benefit from the ‘Limited Lifetime Warranty’, you must register 

your recently purchased Eddy Merckx Cycles bicycle via the website - 

www.eddymerckx.com - within one month of the date of purchase. 

you will receive a registration-verification via e-mail. 

2. Every Eddy Merckx Cycles frame has its own unique ID number. That 

number is the basis of the bicycle passport. you can find your number 

underneath the bottom bracket of your bicycle. The ID number is 

made up of 3 letters and 5 numbers. 

3. The ‘Limited Lifetime Warranty’ is only available to a bicycle’s first 

owner, and so please note that this guarantee is therefore nOT applicable 

to second-hand bikes. note too, that the Limited Lifetime Warranty 

does not apply to bikes used in competitions. 

4. The ‘Limited Lifetime Warranty’ is not the only benefit of registering 

your bike. By signing up, you open a door to the Eddy Merckx Cycles 

Community, making you one of the first to receive information about 

new models, VIP tickets to competitions and events, special dealer 

promotions, etc. 

IMporTaNT 

- The warranty is only available for bicycles purchased from officially 

recognized dealers, and for the Limited Lifetime Warranty to remain 

valid, the frame must be inspected at least once a year by an official 

Eddy Merckx Cycles dealer. 

- When claiming against the Limited Lifetime Warranty, you must 

present the original receipt of purchase. We recommend you keep a 

copy of your receipt inside the back cover of your passport. 

51 


A FrAme For liFe - frame technology

MS 

7000 

emx-7 

EMS 

7000 

CL+ 

OSR FRG 

CL+ 

SR FRG 

EMS 

7000 EDDY 

EMS 

7000 EDDY 


OPTIMIZED 


EMS 

7000 

emx-5 

EMS 

7000 

pro carbon OSR FRG 

elite carbon 

EMS 

OSR FRG 

7000 EDDY 


optiMizEd 

structural 

rEinForcEMEnt 

OPTIMIZED 


Advanced high modular stiffness 

fibers are used in combination 

with high-strength fibers 

to achieve unparalleled 

performance. They are used in 

EMS 

7000 EDDY 

7000 EDDY 

different strategic areas of the 

OSR FRG 

bike, as and when required. 

The front fork for example 

needs both for optimum weight OSR FRG 

reduction and improved 

resulting frame. The result? 

stiffness and feel. 


OPTIMIZED 



OPTIMIZED 


OPTIMIZED 




CL+ 

OSR FRG 

CL+ 

OSR CL+ FRG 

carbon 



EMS 

CL+ 

carbon fiber bikes are made 

using sheets of carbon fiber, and 

these are built up in layers one 

on top of the other. 

The carbon laminate + process, 

developed by and for eddy merckx 

cycles, assemble the sheets 

together in ways that maximise 

the strength and rigidity of the 



optimized performance, comfort 

and weight. 



CL+ 

CL+ 

FEMalE racE 

gEoMEtry 





eddy merckx cycles is above all a 

manufacturer of racing bikes, and 

eddy is the champion of racing 

bike geometry. it was normal 

therefore that the company 

should design a real racing bike 

for women. it means that the 

angle of the seat tube is kept as 

close to a proper racing angle as 

possible, and so the top tube is 

made shorter, and the front head 

tube is made larger. it’s more 

adapted to women’s body 

morphologies and much more 

comfortable to ride. 

EMS 

EMS 7000 EDDY 

7000 EDDY 


shaping 7000 


eddy merckx cycles are the 

unique users of the emS7000 

alloy tube. it’s a different shape 

than the rest of the market - it’s 

uses the form of a bell - and 

delivers a stiffer feel and stronger 

construction for the same weight. 

it makes our scandium alloy bikes OSR 

lighter, stiffer and more robust. 

OSR 


OPTIMIZED 


OPTIMIZED 

STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT

EMS 

7000 

emx-3 

CL+ 

OSR efx-3 FRG 

EMS 

7000 

EMS 

7000 

CL+ 

CL+ 

OSR FRG 

OSR FRG 

amx-3 

umx-r 

EMS 

7000 

emx-1 

performance alloy enthousiast alloy 

CL+ 

OSR FRG efx-1 

EMS 

7000 

EMS 

7000 

CL+ 

CL+ 

OSR FRG 

OSR FRG 

performance carbon enthousiast carbon 

EMS 

7000 

afx-1 

CL+ 

OSR FRG 

umx-s 

columbus steel columbus steel 

carbon 

alloy 

stEEl 

53 


Bike rAnGe

geometries 

EMx-7 pro gEoMEtry 

size sl size reach stack a b c d e f g h i j l trail isp 

50 450 383 511 533 114 73,8 71,3 71 408 979 581 365 43 139 68,7 680 

52 466 387 526 545 129 73,4 71,7 71 408 985 587 365 43 149 66,2 710 

54 482 392 541 557 145 73,1 72 69 410 995 595 365 43 157 64,3 740 

56 498 396 556 569 160 72,7 72,4 69 410 1000 600 365 43 167 61,8 770 

58 514 401 571 582 174 72,4 72,7 69 412 1009 606 365 43 175 59,9 800 

60 530 405 586 595 191 72 73,1 67 412 1014 611 365 43 185 57,4 830 

EMx-5 pro gEoMEtry 

size sl size reach stack a b c d e f g h i j l trail 

50 475 383 511 533 114 73,8 71,3 71 408 979 581 365 43 139 68,7 

52 491 387 526 545 129 73,4 71,7 71 408 985 587 365 43 149 66,2 

54 507 392 541 557 145 73,1 72 69 410 995 595 365 43 157 64,3 

56 523 396 556 569 160 72,7 72,4 69 410 1000 600 365 43 167 61,8 

58 539 401 571 582 174 72,4 72,7 69 412 1009 606 365 43 175 59,9 

60 555 405 586 595 191 72 73,1 67 412 1014 611 365 43 185 57,4 

SIZE 

f 

pro gEoMEtry 

c 

l 

EMx-7 . EMx-5 

g 

a 

REACH 

e 

Ø674 

d 

h 

b 

i 

j 

stack

EMx-3 . EMx-1 pErForMancE gEoMEtry 

size reach stack a b c d e f g h i j classic size (k) trail 

42 368 526 519 129 74.2 71.5 71 414 973 570 365 43 507 67.4 

45 373 547 534 149 73.7 71.9 71 414 982 578 365 43 530 64.9 

48 378 568 550 173 73.2 72.3 69 414 991 586 365 43 554 62.4 

51 383 589 567 193 72.7 72.7 69 414 998 594 365 43 577 59.9 

54 388 610 583 216 72.2 73.1 67 414 1006 602 365 43 600 57.4 

EFx-3 . EFx-1 pErForMancE gEoMEtry 


40 353 523 498 130 75.0 70.4 73 408 967 570 365 48 502 69.0 

43 360 546 514 155 74.5 70.8 71 410 980 581 365 48 527 66.5 

46 366 569 531 178 74.0 71.2 71 410 990 591 365 48 553 64.0 

pErForMancE gEoMEtry 

EMx-3 . EFx-3 . EMx-1 . EFx-1 

k 

f 

SIZE 

c 

g 

a 

REACH 

e 

Ø674 

d 

h 

b 

i 

j 

stack 

55 


TechnicAl SpeciFicATionS

aMx-3 pErForMancE gEoMEtry 


49 368 526 519 129 74.2 71.5 71 414 970 570 365 43 507 67.4 

51 373 547 534 149 73.7 71.9 71 414 982 578 365 43 530 64.9 

54 378 568 550 173 73.2 72.3 69 414 991 586 365 43 554 62.4 

56 383 589 567 193 72.7 72.7 69 414 998 594 365 43 577 59.9 

59 388 610 583 216 72.2 73.1 67 414 1006 602 365 43 600 57.4 

aFx-1 pErForMancE gEoMEtry 


40 353 523 498 130 75.0 70.4 73 408 967 570 365 48 502 69.0 

43 360 546 514 155 74.5 70.8 71 410 980 581 365 48 527 66.5 

46 366 569 531 178 74.0 71.2 71 410 990 591 365 48 553 64.0 

k 


f 

SIZE 

c 

aMx-3 

g 

a 

REACH 

e 

Ø674 

d 

h 

b 

i 

j 

stack 


k 

f 

SIZE 

c 

aFx-1 

g 

a 

REACH 

e 

Ø674 

d 

h 

b 

i 

j 

stack 

57 


TechnicAl SpeciFicATionS

editor 

eddy merckx cycles 

Frans Schachtstraat 29, 1731 Zellik, Belgium 

www.eddymerckx.com 

bike shots 

eric cherpion, www.shimera.be 

retouching 

hyacinthe Arthurs, www.shimera.be 

art direction 

[SiGn*] www.designbysign.com 

writer 

Gavin Watt, www.wow.be 

All products presented subject to change without prior notice. 

All rights reserved. unauthorised copying of this brochure prohibited.

eddy merckx cycles nv/sa Frans Schachtstraat 29 - 1731 Zellik - Belgium 

t. +32 2 269 62 72 - f. +32 2 269 93 67 

info@eddymerckx.com - www.eddymerckx.com

the training camp in calpe - Eddy Merckx

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