Eurobike: Merckx launches women's line

Is the Cannibal softening, or getting wiser?

James Huang

Published: September 15, 2009 at 10:00 am

Belgian bike company Eddy Merckx is launching a new complete line of women's road racing bikes for the first time in 2010 including both carbon fibre and aluminium models.

The top-end EFX-1 features the same carbon technology as on the rest of Eddy Merckx's E-series frames, including newly reshaped seat stays that reportedly offer more comfort and drivetrain rigidity, tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/4" front ends with additionally reinforced head tubes, and the Belgian legend's trademark handling characteristics.

The women's-specific afx-4 features a scandium tubeset, carbon stays and a tapered front end.: - James Huang

Geometry has been slightly adjusted for shorter torsos, however, with correspondingly shorter and sloping top tubes plus longer head tubes. Alloy models also feature tapered front ends, carbon seat stays for vibration damping, and smooth welds for a unified appearance. The AFX-4 uses Eddy Merckx's proven scandium-enhanced aluminium tubeset while the AFX-1 gets along with a more conventional 7005 alloy.

The efx-1 is eddy merckx's top women's-specific road model with a a carbon frame and fork plus a tapered front end.: - James Huang

Both the EFX-1 and a new standard-geometry EMX-1 will be available in special edition complete builds, too, the former in a light blue and white paint scheme and the latter in a particularly bold green and white. Both will come with a Shimano Ultegra group and FFWD carbon-and-aluminium differential profile clinchers.

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