If you haven't heard of Mekk before, you can rest easy in the knowledge that behind this relatively new brand lies a vast wealth of experience within the cycling industry. Based in Bristol and designed in the UK, Mekk are regularly lauded by cycling magazines and websites for their high level of performance at an affordable pricepoint. If you're looking for your first venture into carbon fibre road bikes, or indeed looking for an upgrade with plenty of punch for the price, Mekk should be definitely be near the top of your list.
So, what do I need to know about Mekk?
Mekk are passionate about bikes. Full stop. Much like you and I, bikes are part of their lives and they can draw on a wide range of experience from their designers, engineers and test riders and beyond, with riders ranging from top level racers to club riders and enthusiasts. It's this varied level of experience and feedback combined with ten years of manufacturing experience which informs Mekk's two key values: Performance and affordability - or, as Mekk term it, Affordable Performance.
To achieve this affordable performance Mekk combine their passion, experience and knowledge with a wide-reaching network of long-term industry partners to deliver the things that matter the most to bicycle performance - namely frame, fork and components. The heart of the bike, one of Mekk's goals with every model is to deliver a high-quality performance frame and fork that not only makes the bike great to ride fresh out of the bike, but is also ripe for upgrading. That doesn't mean that they neglect component specification though, and careful attention is paid to ensuring that the best parts which make the biggest difference for your money are used on each bike.
Over 50 years of combined experience
Mekk's name comes from the initials of the two people behind the brand - Mark Edwards (ME) and Ken Knight (KK), both of whom have enjoyed long and successful careers in the bike business.
Mark Edwards has been a part of the cycle business for over 35 years and has an enviable industry palmares, and among the brands that Mark has brought to the UK you can include SIDI, Castelli and a little-known bike brand called Specialized. Add to that classic mountain bike and BMX brand GT, and it's clear that Mark has a keen eye for spotting an exciting brand. Alongside Mark, Ken Knight brings all the experience of a strong road racing career in addition to over 15 years of designing, sourcing and manufacturing bikes and componentry. With racing experience in Europe, Japan and the USA, Ken understands how a bike should handle and this knowledge is central to his responsibility for the design, development and testing of the Mekk's range - it's this chassis design which gives Mekk bikes their dynamic performance and unique personality.
Industry opinion
�The Mekk Poggio 2.6 comes with an excellent frame that gives great power transfer while still being smooth over rough roads.� - 8/10, Cycling Weekly
�In Mekk's short history it's marked out a decent niche for itself by making some distinct and well-priced machines with great specs for decent value prices. Our time aboard the Poggio 2.8 proved a couple of things. One, that a decent groupset, and particularly wheels, will go a long way to improving almost any bike, and two, that the Poggio's frame isn't half bad. Alone it's no world beater, but as a package, it's an entertaining ride with scope for the racier rider to enjoy many swift miles� - 3.5/5, BikeRadar
�Well priced and well specced, the more we rode the Primo, the more the impression of instant response to rider input was compounded, but it also became clear that this bike is packing more in the way of comfort than you'd imagine possible for such a taut and squat package.�� - Cyclist