Test: With the Mourenx 69, Eddy Merckx has a colorful long-distance bike in its portfolio. Velomotion did a little sprint with the red arrow.
Racing bikes designed for comfort and long-distance suitability promise that the rider will tire less quickly and will still benefit from a pleasant riding experience even after hours in the saddle. In this respect, the half-hour trip with Eddy Merckx's Mourenx 69 at the Eurobike demo day was nothing more than a small sprint. But sometimes short flirts are remembered for a particularly long time.
The name of the marathon racer goes back to Eddy Merckx's stage victory in the 1969 Tour de France. In Mourenx, the "cannibal" celebrated after a long solo escape over the Tourmalet and Aubisque passes. The Mourenx 69 should make such epic rides possible. The geometry has been adjusted for this: an extended head tube and a shorter top tube put the rider in a more upright sitting position. Compared to other comfort bikes, however, the Mourenx 69 always remains a racing bike in the true sense of the word.
According to the manufacturer, the frame weighs only 990 grams, despite the bulky-looking tubes, and the fork weighs 360 grams. We found the strong red to be nice to look at, which pleasantly stood out from the often very sedate colors at the Eurobike. The cables are integrated into the frame, and the seat post clamp is also hidden under the top tube. The chain stays are asymmetrical, the seat stays change their cross-section and diameter about halfway.
The suspension comfort on the saddle was decent, but less noticeable compared to bikes designed purely for comfort. The cause may be the wide seat post with an offset of 20 millimeters, which, however, suits the flat appearance of the Mourenx 69 much better than a 27,2 millimeter narrow seat post would. A simple way to further increase comfort would be to fit wider tires, which the frame and fork allow for without any problems - 25mm tires are installed as standard, with space for tires up to 30mm.
The equipment is solid and should make the user happy for a long time. The test bike came with Shimano's Ultegra and hydraulic disc brakes. However, 140 millimeter discs are rather small and can get very hot on long descents in the mountains. Alternatively, the Mourenx 69 is also available with classic rim brakes.
Overall, the driving impression was positive. The bike is not a cornering runabout, but went through all the driving maneuvers without complaint. It immediately converted acceleration into propulsion via the bottom bracket with BB86 standard. Only the medium-high carbon rims could not convince. Contrary to the trend of achieving good aerodynamic values with bulbous rim shapes, the rims on the test bike were curved inwards. The result was a higher susceptibility to crosswinds and sometimes nervous handling. However, current models are fitted with the lower Fulcrum Racing 5 Disc wheels.
The Mourenx 69 is available in six frame sizes and six configurations, three with disc brakes and three with classic rim brakes. Prices have not been announced, the previous models are around 2.200 euros for the frame set and around 3.000 euros for complete bikes with mechanical Shimano Ultegra.
Website:
www.eddymerckx.com
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