Ugo De Rosa started building bikes by hand in Milan in 1953. Eddy Merckx won races on De Rosa frames. The tradition of Italian craftsmanship that produced those results is still alive in Cusano Milanino, and the Merak Disc is where it lives today. De Rosa's lightest carbon road frame in current production, built from a precisely engineered multi-modulus carbon layup, designed for riders who want to go fast and don't need an aero bike to do it. At 800 grams for a painted 54cm, the Merak Disc makes its case in the simplest terms possible. Multi-Modulus Carbon — 800 Grams, Maximum Stiffness De Rosa didn't choose a single carbon fiber grade and call it done. The Merak's layup blends four distinct materials, each assigned to the areas of the frame where its properties are most valuable: 65% High-Modulus T800 carbon as the structural backbone, 25% High-Modulus M46JB for targeted stiffness where power is transferred, 5% Ultra-High-Strength woven carbon at high-stress junction points, and 5% High-Impact 3K woven carbon for impact resistance at the areas most exposed to road debris and mechanical contact. The result is a frame that weighs approximately 800g at size 54 — competitive with the lightest carbon production frames available — while maintaining the lateral stiffness that makes it a genuinely fast bike to accelerate and corner on. The EPS (Expandable Polystyrene System) molding process produces a one-piece main triangle with smooth internal surfaces that prevent stress concentrations and maintain consistent wall thickness throughout. No bonded inserts, no internal voids from mandrel wrapping — just precise, repeatable carbon construction. An oversized downtube handles the power transfer demands from the BB junction through the front triangle, and asymmetric chainstays optimize left-side drivetrain stiffness without sacrificing the right-side compliance that contributes to ride comfort. The dropped seatstays — lower than De Rosa's previous road designs — let the rear triangle move slightly vertically while remaining torsionally rigid under pedaling load. The ride character that results is poppy and lively rather than harsh: stiff enough to accelerate instantly, forgiving enough to sustain effort over a full day in the saddle. Geometry Designed for Speed, Not Aesthetics The Merak represents a deliberate departure from De Rosa's traditional low-and-long geometry philosophy. The compact frame uses steeper angles and a shorter wheelbase than the brand's endurance-oriented models, producing handling characteristics that are quick, direct, and responsive rather than stable and planted. The tapered 1-1/8" to 1-1/2" head tube is paired with modern race geometry that puts you in an aggressive position without requiring extreme stack compensation — the frame's proportions work for riders with a genuine race position, not just riders who think they want one. Steeper head tube angles and a tighter rear triangle mean the Merak accelerates quickly and changes direction without hesitation. On punchy climbs and technical descents, the handling rewards decisive inputs. On long flat sections, the stiff drivetrain interface means nothing is lost between effort and speed. This is not an endurance geometry bike wearing race clothing — it's a race geometry bike through and through, available in eight sizes from 43cm to 58cm to cover the full range of rider proportions. ACR Internal Routing and Disc Brake Architecture The Merak Disc runs fully internal cable routing through De Rosa's ACR (Advanced Cable Routing) system — an integrated headset design that routes brake and shift lines through the stem interface with no external housing visible anywhere on the bike. The cockpit is completely clean: no cable stops on the top tube, no exposed housing at the headset, no routing clips anywhere on the frame. The ACR system requires a compatible integrated bar and stem combination to function as designed — a practical consideration for builders. The benefit is a cockpit that's both aerodynamically cleaner and visually uncluttered, which on a bike this light and this well-designed is the correct aesthetic outcome. De Rosa partners with FSA for the ACR-compatible cockpit options, and the system accommodates both mechanical and electronic drivetrains. Flat-mount disc brakes and 12mm thru-axles handle stopping and axle retention — the standard modern race specification. The BB86 press-fit bottom bracket shell is oversized for stiffness at the most critical power transfer point on the frame, and tire clearance accommodates rubber up to 30mm for all-weather versatility without changing the frame's race-focused character. What's Included — and Who Builds It The Merak Disc frameset includes the full carbon fork and proprietary De Rosa carbon seatpost. Five finishes are available — Cielo, Bianca, Black Matte, Blue Matte, and Super Silver Gloss — across all eight sizes, giving builders meaningful aesthetic choice alongside the performance specification. The Merak Disc is for the road cyclist who wants a lightweight Italian race frame and understands what that means: a frame that rewards fitness and punishes laziness, that makes fast riding feel effortless and slow riding feel unnecessary. De Rosa built this for riders who train seriously and race when they can, for whom the frame is the most important purchase decision they'll make this season. At $6,000, it's the foundation of a world-class road build from a brand that's been producing world-class road bikes for over 70 years.
