Merckx Strasbourg 71 Rival Gravel Road Bike 2017

Merckx Strasbourg 71 Rival Gravel Road Bike 2017. Back in Eddie Merckx's day, gravel rides and therefore gravel bikes weren't a trend like they are today. Instead they would hit gravel road sections on their road bikes as though they were any other roads. Take for example the end of an early stage in the 1971 Tour De France. The race ended in an epic section of gravel in Strasbourg and naturally, Eddie took the win. In fact, he held the yellow Cycling Jersey from that day all way to Paris for one of his many Tour victories. These days we relish the opportunity to get off road and build bikes like the Strasbourg 71 for that very purpose. The Strasbourg 71 starts with a 6069 aluminum frame and pairs it with a full carbon monocoque fork. This combination of strength and durability continues with the SRAM Rival 11 speed drivetrain. This drivetrain delivers all of the shifting precision you'd expect out of a racing group from SRAM and steps it up a notch with the addition of hydraulic disc brakes ensuring you have the ultimate in stopping power no matter what the weather or the roads throw your way. Matching Deda Zero bar and stem give the Strasbourg a pro look and the DT Swiss R24 wheels provide durability to match even the roughest gravel road. Clement USH 32mm wide tires stand out on a bike like this and really capture the essence of the Strasbourg. They are very wide compared to an average road tire giving you an ample contact patch and ensuring that some part of your tires are in contact with a solid surface even when the road turns rough. They are also light enough that you don't feel like you're pushing some giant mountain bike tire while you're scouting out gravel and dirt roads. The Strasbourg 71 is ready to take you wherever your heart desires.