Merckx

ETT

In addition to holding the most career victories of any professional cyclist (525), "The Cannibal" also held the hour record for 12 years before finally being ousted. So, when you factor in that Mr. Merckx and his team of bicycle engineers decided to partner with Toyota Motorsport for its new TT bike, the result was bound to be one fast machine. True to form, Merckx checked all of the speed boxes with the new ETT, as it combines a wind tunnel-tested frame design with some of the most advanced carbon fiber technology in order to create a frameset that's built to cheat both the wind and the clock.

Combining the specifications of a time trial bike with the necessary ride and fit characteristics of a triathlon bike was Merckx's main objective when developing the ETT. For the construction, Merckx employed its tried-and-proven full Carbon Laminate + layup. Essentially, this technique involves layering the carbon fiber sheets together in ways that maximize the strength and rigidity of the frame. This layup was combined with Merckx's Optimized Structural Reinforcement (OSR), which, as the name suggests, places multiple layers of CL+500 carbon reinforced fibers in strategic areas for added reinforcement. These fibers were used in conjunction with high-strength 500 GPa pitch fiber weaves at force-load-heavy zones like the BB86 bottom bracket and head tube junctions. By using these methods together, Merckx engineers were able to add material where it's needed for increased rigidity, while removing material at less flex-prone areas to keep the overall weight as low as possible. This is the same method that's used for all of Merckx's top-end carbon road frames, as it yields the ideal combination of stiffness, low weight, and vertical compliance.

One of the key innovations of the ETT is its Venturi Powerbox technology. Essentially, the Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid (or air in this case) flows through a constricted tube. This UCI legal frame features slots on the down tube that allow the air to pass through, thus reducing the pressure and drag that occurs when wind hits traditional tube shapes and is forced around them, rather than through them. This design also allowed the frame engineers to maintain the same stiffness as a closed-profile down tube, but to significantly reduce the overall aerodynamic drag.

Aside from the frame's optimized layup schedule and Venturi slots, the TT-Aerofork has also been designed to deliver maximum stability and speed. The carbon blades flare to a wide, aerodynamic shape toward the 1-1/2 to 1-1/8in steerer, which works to both cut aerodynamic drag and to provide precise handling up front. Similarly, at the rear end of the frame, both the seatstays and asymmetrical chainstays were designed with handling and power transfer in mind. Their refined shapes provide the optimal blend of comfort and transmission of power directly to the rear wheel.

The Merckx ETT comes in the sizes 51, 53, 55, and 57cm and in the color White/red/carbon. The frameset includes a reversible offset seatpost (72-78 degree), an integrated ETT aero stem, and an integrated TRP TTV brakeset.