Given DeRosa's long frame building heritage in every material commonly used by frame manufacturers, every frameset has a defined aesthetic that tells the story of the materials used and thought process behind the design. With carbon fiber so much of the detail is hidden within a tubeset, but shapes and the desired characteristics often reveal the actual story. The 838 Frameset was developed to be an endurance-oriented model with an accessible price point, smooth ride, and more than enough performance to a true DeRosa. Created for cyclists who crave a great balance of ride quality, responsiveness, subtle road bike handling, and positive feel, the 838 should exceed your expectations. For those seeking a higher performance option road race, the DeRosa Merak may just well be your choice in that incredibly competitive category.

Designed to accommodate road tires up to 32mm on modern road rim widths, the disc brake 838 offers a great balance for riders at 30mm. Featuring a 27.2mm round seatpost on the sloping frame design and a carbon fiber blend and lay-up that damp vibration and modest impacts, the 838 delivers a pleasant ride quality, but given the Italian manufacturer's expertise, the vertical compliance does not negatively impact road feel. This is complemented by the frame geometry, which offers a balanced stance and the capability for a semi-aggressive to aggressive riding posture- again favoring the everyday road cyclist. Yet performance lies within as well, and from the front of the bike the 1½" headtube (no taper), tapered steerer, frame-specific headset/stem interface ensure torsional stiffness in the steerer tube and oversized headtube junction. That interface sets the stage for a very sleek forward facing perspective, as well as for a variably oval-esque downtube that widens at the bottom bracket zone for impressive lateral stiffness under pedaling loads, including high-output out-of-the-saddle efforts. The top tube flattens out as it slopes towards the seattube, offering a hint of vertical flex when the frame is under duress.

The rear triangle offers simplicity, with smaller rounded seatstays, and more vertically oval chainstays that are largest at the bottom bracket. The former adds compliance, while the latter ensures the torsional strength at delivers efficient standard cadence efforts and aggressive power surges with equal aplomb. Both the frame and fork feature the Flat Mount disc caliper interfaces that allow the cyclist to choose 140mm or 160mm disc brake rotors, with a 140 rear and 160 front being a common choice. Thru-axles ensure hub and frameset stiffness for greater efficiency. DeRosa supplies bolt-in style thru-axles for the 12/100mm front, 12/142mm rear dropouts. The rear features a stout, replaceable hanger/thru-axle system. Housing and wire routing for electronic and mechanical shifting systems is semi internal, with Full Speed Ahead's SRS-type headset/stem interface, for routing off the bottom of the stem into the headset topcap then routing down into the steerer and through the frameset or fork. An FSA SMR compatible stem is desired for semi/or fully internal cable routing, but most non-integrated stems will work. FSA and Vision offer visually clean stems and co-developed handlebar designs for the sleekest cockpit set-up. One note on the geometry and sizing: With this sloping design, a listed size of 52cm fits like a 54cm bike, with a 545mm toptube length. So please note the sizing variance in the Geometry chart.

Excel Sports has brought in DeRosa because we appreciate the history, quality, and efficacy of the constructed designs. The 838 may be an "entry-level" carbon offering from DeRosa, but it features a endurance ride quality and performance level associated with higher end bikes. It is a great option for long rides, multi-day pedal fests, and a quick, snappy lunch excursion. With a proper balance of stability and reasonably quick handling, descending is a joy, and the power transfer inherent to the frame design means tackling the next ascent is a challenge accepted, not wished away. If you are looking for a forgiving, everyday road bike with inherent heart, something special, from a brand not everyone else will be riding, your next bike may well proudly feature this DeRosa 838 Frameset.