Mekk's road bike offerings have always been big on value, but for 2015 the UK maker has upped its game further to offer more for less.
Pinerolo series
The Pinerolo series now starts with the £549.99 (US$TBC / AUS$TBC) AL ZR. The butted alloy frameset is a carry-over from the previous model, but the componentry has improved: you get a predominantly Shimano Sora drivetrain mated to a Mekk branded alloy chainset, with finishing kit from Saturae. The real highlight of the bike, however, is the Shimano RS20 wheelset shod in Continental Ultrasport rubber – great quality that you rarely see on bikes at this price.
Mekk's entry-level AL ZR comes generously kitted with Shimano RS20 hoops and Continental Ultrasport rubber
Up one level is the AL1.5, a £799.99 (US$TBC / AUS$TBC) model that's the first in the range to feature Mekk's new triple-butted, hydroformed and smooth welded frame. It also features full internal cable routing and a tapered carbon fork. Mekk co-founder Ken Knight explained that for the new design, the team concentrated on creating a bike where the stiffness of the front end, down tube and bottom bracket is offset by a tapered and flattening top tube and slim 27.2 seat post – offering more comfort than the previous alloy frame. At this price bracket we'd expected to see some down-specs on the equipment, so it's surprising to find that Mekk has managed to fit a full Sora groupset (including brakes) along with Shimano R500 wheels and a San Marco Era saddle. In a range that already packs in value, this bike still stands out.
Carbon forks and Mekk's brand new triple-butted hydroformed alloy frame make an appearance on the AL1.5
Next comes the AL2.0: this £899.99 (US$1,399.99, AUS$TBC) model features the same frame, but upgrades the drivetrain to full Tiagra alongside identical R500 wheels and San Marco Era saddle.
The AL2.0 gets a full Tiagra drivetrain
Topping the range – and showing the faith that Mekk has placed in the new SuperLite alloy frame – is the AL3.0. The bike comes with full Shimano Ultegra and up-specced wheels in the form of Shimano's RS31s. Priced at £1,459.99 (US$2,600 / AUS$TBC), it's one of the cheapest full Ultegra bikes we've seen.
Lastly in Mekk's tin-framed selection is the company's version of a classic winter bike, the Inverno. The frame is based on the one used by the AL range, but with added mounts for guards (fenders, if you're in the US) – which come fitted as standard – as well as a rear rack. The bike has a 105 drivetrain and prices are TBC.
The Inverno is ready for foul-weather riding – but features a similar alloy frame to the rest of Mekk's AL range of bikes
Poggio series
Mekk's Poggio series is its take on a classic fit race bike. The carbon frame uses an oversized head tube, large diameter down tube and substantial chainstays mated to a slender arched top tube and a 27.2 diameter post sandwiched between pencil-thin seatstays. The frame is fully internally routed and Di2 ready. Compared with the race-ready ready Primo series (see below), its a little taller at the front, very slightly shorter in reach and has a longer wheelbase for added stability.
Entry level in the Poggio series is the 1.6, on which the frame is matched to a full Sora groupset and R500 wheels. For £1099.99 (US$TBC / AUS$TBC) this looks to be great value, and the top class frame is certainly worthy of plentiful upgrading further down the line.
The Sora-kitted Poggio 1.6, Mekk's bottom-end carbon offering, offers plenty of scope for upgrading as your wallet allows
Next up is the 2.0 at £1249.99 (US$TBC / AUS$TBC) – it comes with a full Tiagra groupset, Saturae bar, stem and post, San Marco saddle and Shimano R500 wheels.
The Poggio frame, with wishbone-slender seatstays and arched top tube, features full internal routing and is Di2 ready – pictured here is the 2.0
All bikes in the Poggio range share the same frameset (bar colours), and third in line is the Poggio 2.5 £1,349.99 (US$2,099.99 / AUS£TBC). It upgrades to full 11-speed Shimano 105 for 2015 with R500 wheels and the same finishing kit as the 2.0.
Move up to the Poggio 2.5 and you get full 11-speed Shimano 105
The Poggio 3.0 upgrades to full mechanical Ultegra 11 speed and Shimano RS31 wheels for £1,849.99 (US$4,499 / AUS£TBC).
Kit and livery changes again on the Poggio 3.0, but the frame remains the same
Topping out the Poggio range is the new 3.5, at £2,799.99 (US$6,199.99 / AUS$TBC). The bike is upgraded to full Ultegra Di2 and Shimano RS31 wheels.
The range-topping Poggio 3.5 boasts full Ultegra Di2 electronic gearing
Potenza series
For 2015, Mekk's Potenza frame looks unchanged from the exterior – but stiffness has been increased at the BB and a few grams shed in the process. The Potenza has a slightly relaxed take on classic racer geometry, making it the true all-rounder of Mekk's road range.
Two new models have come arrived for 2015. The first is the £1,349.99 (US$TBC / AUS$TBC) Potenza 2.5, which gets full 11 speed 105 and R500 wheels.
Mekk's Potenza frame (pictured here is the 105-specced 2.5) has lost a little weight for 2015
The Potenza 3.0 £1899.99 (US$TBC / AUS$TBC) uses full Ultegra and RS31s as upgrades over the 2.5.
The Potenza's slightly relaxed geometry makes it a strong endurance machine – the 3.0 pictured here gets a slinky charcoal paint job and full Ultegra
The Primo
Mekks road bike stable is topped by its aero-influenced race machine, the Primo. For 2015 the frame has been revised to increase head tube to BB stiffness without compromising comfort. The Primo range is topped by the 7.0 at £3499.99 (US$6,499.99 / AUS$TBC) with full Ultegra Di2, Ritchey WCS cockpit, Mavic Aksiums and a San Marco saddle.
As with the Potenza, the racy, aero influenced Primo has been stiffened around the bottom bracket – with no detriment to comfort, according to Mekk
The Primo that created the biggest stir, however, was the 6.2 – with full Shimano 105 and a pair of full carbon Saturae 50mm clinchers. These all-new wheels feature a smooth aero profile that's wide – at 22mm – and, it's claimed, weigh in at 1650g a pair. These hoops alone would cost £800 a pair, so its mightily impressive to see them on a bike thats set to retail for £1999.99 (US$TBC / AUS$TBC). Mekk's Mark Edwards said of the 6.2: "We wanted to make a model in the Primo range that really makes a statement, both in performance and price. We want this one to offer the best value around, and also be a bike thats ready to race straight out of the shop." We've already put our order in for the 6.2, so expect to see a full test of it soon.
The Primo 6.2, with Saturae aero carbon clinchers – we'll hopefully be getting our mitts on one of these soon
Pista range
Mekk's Ken Knight is an obsessive track rider, so as part of the new range he wanted to create a family of true track machines, affordably priced for budding racers. No road-going concessions have been made, so the rear wheel features a single cog-sided hub for the perfect chain-line, there are no brake drillings and geometry is aggressively pure-track. Each bike ships with three chainrings so you can tune your gearing depending on the event you're riding, adding versatility to what is a single minded bike.
The standard track machine is the Pista T1, which uses the same triple-butted alloy as the new road frame with the shaping adapted to the track and plenty of extra stiffness. Up front a track-specific bladed carbon fork finished things off. The T1 is priced at £749.99 (US$1,299.99 / AUS$TBC)
The concept is pure track, but the Pista-series bikes ship with three chainrings so you can tweak your steed to the event you're pointing it at
If you want a bit more glamour and tech with your track machine then the new Pista C1 has a lot to offer. The carbon frame is aero optimised with a matched carbon fork, and the fat bladed aero seat post offers a massive range of adjustment to the saddle position. Like the T1 this ships with three chainrings, so you can tune your gearing to your event. The C1 is priced at £1399.99 (US$3,999.99, AUS$TBC).
Tripro range
Finally Mekk has a range of low-pro bikes for TT and triathlon. The Tripro AL frame is consistent throughout the range, with various builds available. Mekk was also set to launch a new carbon TT bike, but last minute revisions to the frame design has meant the firm holding off on the machine until the 2016 model year.
The Tripro range starts with the AL1-2.5 at £1000 (US$TBC / AUS$TBC) – you get full 105, R500 wheels, a San Marco saddle and Ritchey tribars.
For now, Mekk's sticking to alloy builds for its tri and TT machines
Next is the Tripro AL2-3.0 at £1499.99 (US$3,999.99, AUS$TBC), which upgrades the Ritchey bar setup, and adds full mechanical Ultegra and RS30 wheels.
The mid-range Tripro AL2-3.0 gets the Ritchey bars common to all bikes in the series, as well as full mechanical Ultegra and RS30 wheels
The top of the range alloy tri bike is the AL3-3.5 £2699.99 (US$TBC, AUS$TBC), which retains the same RS30 wheels as the 2-3.0 but adds Ultegra Di2 with tri-specific shifters on its Ritchey cockpit.
The Tripro stable tops out with the 3.0, which features Ultegra Di2 and tri-specific shifters
