Nat Bromhead
As the cycling world counts down the days to the biggest calendar event of the year, the Tour de France, Merida have announced the latest update to their ever-popular REACTO range of road bikes.
With their partner team Bahrain Merida having given fans a sneak peak of the new design at the Giro d’Italia, we suspect the new REACTO will make a serious splash at Le Tour, which starts in just two day’s time.
Originally launched in 2011 and gradually improved each year – the biggest step up being the 2013 launch of the REACTO II – for 2018 the bike gets a complete redesign, and significant 18% reduction in frameset weight.
Merida claim the frame to be “most likely one of the most aerodynamic frames in the market”. Aero, yet retaining simple cable routing, the company says there’s no over-complicated cockpit or brake design and therefore can serviced like any regular road bike. “Aerodynamics simplified,” say Merida.
“The new REACTO combines fantastic air slicing abilities. There’s reduced weight and high comfort with a new sleek appearance and an array of new features. Aero performance is increased over the previous model by around 8 Watts which equals somewhere around 5 percent. This was achieved by slimming down the tube shapes, introducing a lower seat stay connection and adding a one piece cockpit with integrational features to our bike.”
Geometry
The REACTO CF4 frame shares, for the most part, the race geometry of our SCULTURA CF4. This means a short head tube and a relatively long reach, which will make the bike quick and nimble.
“The REACTO can be thrown into hard corners without losing control,” said Merida in the product release.
“The CF2 geometry follows a more relaxed position where the rider sits in a slightly more upright position. This is mainly due to the taller head tube. This geometry suits people who are not used to a more racy geometry perfectly.”
Frame Weights
Carbon CF4 (Rim brake version) Frame: 1000g
Fork: 368g
Carbon CF4 (Disc brake version) Frame: 1030g
Fork: 398g
Carbon CF2 (Rim brake version) Frame: 1093g
Fork: 403g
Carbon CF2 (Disc brake version) Frame: 1150g
Fork: 443g
The New REACTO Range & Pricing
REACTO TEAM-E $8499
+ CF4 frame
+ Disc brake version available
+ DA Di2
+ Brand new Fulcrum Speed 55 wheels + Integrated cockpit.
REACTO 9000-E $7999
+ CF4 frame
+ Disc brake version available
+ Sram Red eTap
+ Wide Vision Metron 55 wheels + Integrated cockpit.
REACTO 7000-E $4299
+ CF2 frame
+ Disc brake version available
+ Ultegra Di2 mix with FSA Energy
hollow forged crank
+ Lightweight alloy aero wheels
from Fulcrum
+ Sportive high end Prologo saddle.
REACTO 6000 $3499
+ CF2 frame
+ New mechanical Ultegra drivetrain + Lightweight alloy aero wheels
from Fulcrum
+ Sportive high end Prologo saddle.
REACTO 5000 $2999
+ CF2 frame
+ Disc brake version available
+ New mechanical Ultegra drivetrain
Gossamer PRO crank
(updated decals)
+ Merida Expert wheels + Continental tires.
REACTO 4000 – $2499
CF2 frame
+ 105 drivetrain with Gossamer PRO crank.
