The problem is that for £5,899 you can purchase a Canyon Aeroad with full Di2 Dura-Ace, integrated aero handlebar and Zipp 404 wheels. This premier league bike is competing with the big guns - the Pinarello F8, Cervélo S5, Giant Propel, S-Works Venge and Canyon Aeroad. By way of a comparison it is substantially more comfortable than the current Cervelo S5. Let’s not get carried away, though you certainly wouldn’t want it for cobbles or rough surfaces. Using 25mm tyres further improved comfort it was a surprise to see Merida buck the wider tyre trend with a set of Continental 23mm.įor such a very stiff frame, the Reacto Team E is commendably comfortable and has been a pleasure on rides as long as 100 miles. Mavic Cosmic Carbone 40c wheels were stiffer and improved the rideĬhanging the wheels also dramatically improved the ride, reducing weight, adding cross-wind stability and easing harshness. This was highly annoying, but was resolved when I substituted the Fulcrums for a pair of Mavic Cosmic Carbones. The rear triangle of the Team E is among the stiffest I have ever ridden - to the extent I had an issue with the rear brake rubbing on the wheel when out the saddle. The bottom bracket and fork are supremely stiff, making accelerating out of corners and sprinting noticeably efficient. Owing to a different carbon lay-up, this bike feels like the bike the DA Ltd wants to be. The Team E is not just lighter, it also feels a lot stiffer in both the frame and fork. However, with regard to the ride, these bikes are poles apart, and the difference really is staggering. RidingĪppearances can be deceptive, with the Merida Reacto Team E frame looking almost identical to the slightly more affordable £3,500 Reacto DA Ltd. We think this is very respectable for an aero bike, although it is slightly heavier than the Cervelo S5. The Fulcrum wheels certainly add quite a lot of weight, with the bike weighing an impressive 4.76kg without them. Consider that the UCI weight limit is 6.8kg. By substituting the saddle for one with carbon rails and switching the wheels to some lightweight DT-Swiss 38mm tubs, I dropped the complete bike weight, with Ultegra pedals to 7.00 Kg. Our size 54cm tips the Cycling Weekly scales at 7.54 kg without pedals. It appears to work, with the Reacto offering a commendably comfortable ride for such a stiff frame. Merida have found that inclusion of flax fibres in the carbon structure of the seat, chain stays and fork blades reduces high-frequency vibrations. The carbon layup also features natural flax fibres. The idea is that by allowing flex here, it does not compromise bottom bracket stiffness. The rubber insert is designed to compress and flex, taking the buzz out of the road. The added comfort is claimed to come from a number of technologies. The S5 has been critised in the past for having a harsh ride and this is a common flaw in aero road bikes. However they claim that the Reacto is a superior package owing to its much greater comfort and flex. Marginal gains! The FrameĪccording to Merida, the Reacto is marginally less aerodynamic than the Cervelo S5 at 45kph, 0.94% to be precise. For those amongst you who are not regular players of Countdown, that is 0.14 seconds per kilometre. Rotor claim that the Flow cranks can give a 26.4 second advantage when averaging 200W over 180km. The Rotor Flow cranks suggest that no stone has been left unturned in the hope for aero gains. However, there is the option to add Q-rings to the Rotor cranks if you want to. The chainset is a Rotor Flow with NoQ, meaning that the rings are round and not ovalised. The compact rear triangle is striking and looks very stiff
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