Eddy Merckx Sanremo76 105 Road Bike - 2016

Eddy Merckx Sanremo76 105 Road Bike - 2016. Milan-San Remo is known as LA Primavera. It's one of the longest one day races on the calendar and covers some punchy and steep climbs; but it also has a reputation as being the ultimate Sprinter's Classic. Eddy Merckx raced San Remo ten times, and won it seven of them--the last in 1976. To commemorate that momentous record, Eddy Merckx Bicycles introduced the Sanremo76--a true all around sprinters bike. So what does an all-around sprinter's bike mean? It means that it has to be aerodynamic, which the Sanremo76 definitely has covered, thanks to its integrated aero seatpost and fork, and blunted kam tail tube shape designs that cheat the wind. It also has to be stiff, which the Sanremo76 definitely is, with the massively oversized headtube, chunky BB86 bottom bracket shell, and Powerbox asymmetric chainstays--which all combine to transmit every last watt of power into forward motion. But thanks to the demands of a race like San Remo, the bike also has to be comfortable. Afterall, what good does a super-sprint bike do if you're too fatigued to sprint at the end? The Sanremo76 isn't the most compliant bike out there, but it the thinned out seatstays and large tire clearance do more than enough to mute out road feedback and improve the ride quality. The Sanremo76 is outfitted with Shimano's latest 105 5800 11-speed drivetrain. 5800 benefits from many of the technology and ergonomic developments Shimano made with Dura-Ace and Ultegra, but at a fraction of the price. With an updated shifter design for improved performance and comfort, and redesigned derailleurs for smoother, more precise shifting, and the addition of an extra gear, this might be the best value going in components. The mid-compact alloy crankset is stiff and lightweight, and is equipped with 52/36 chainrings to give you plenty of top end speed, while making the hills a little more manageable. And just in case you needed any more reminding that this is a sprint bike, the Sanremo76 is equipped with a Deda 35 Trentacinque cockpit and Fulcrum Racing Quattro wheels. The Deda 35 cockpit uses an oversized 35mm handlebar and stem, instead of the usual 31.8mm found on most bikes. This adds an impressive amount of stiffness to the bike, so there won't be a bit of front end flex during all out efforts. The Racing Quattro wheels are an excellent all-around training wheel, with a moderately deep profile so getting up to speed won't be a problem...but neither will the occasional pothole.