Just had this review sent to us from Germany (not the best translation)

German “TOUR” magazine, Europe’s biggest bike magazine well known for their hard and merciless testing procedure, made a test of the most trendy aero-style road racing bikes.

This new category is getting more and more poplar – famous road-brands as Cervelo with their S3 were setting this trend, other ProTour players, such as Felt (being specialized in aero-concepts), Scott (F01 Project – not available yet) , Kuota (Kult), Canyon (Aeroad), Ridley (Noah) are following with new frames supporting this trend.

Beside the standard testing procedure, as first bike-magazine, “Tour” went to a wind-tunnel at Dresden/Germany to get the answer about the question, if aero-shaped road-frames at regular road-bikes really offer measurable improved results, compared to standard road bikes with round tubes and regular shapes.

Amazing result: at 45 km/h, the saving of an aero-shaped road-bike such as a MERIDA REACTO, compared with a standard road-frame is about 13 Watt less drag (wind-resistance).

Riding with stable 35 km/h average speed about a distance of 45km, the advantage over the traditional shaped frame would be 50 seconds.

At most aero-bikes, the wind-resistance is lower and there is a noticeable speed-improvement compared with standard road-frames. But due to the more narrow and profiled, deep section tubing, these aero-frames are heavier, have less stiffness, less comfort and therefore – lower overall performance than a top-level frame with traditional layout.

Not so the REACTO – it combines all the benefits of a top level, traditional carbon road-frame, such as low weight, precise steering and reserves at high speed descents, power transfer without any loss, topped with the aero-advantage of the new aero-bikes.

The REACTO Team was able to beat top-players, such as Cervelo S 3 in every technical matter.

Just see the translation in following:

Comment MERIDA REACTO Team individual:

Most recent example of MERIDA’s quality-offensive. Amazing outlook, extreme riding stability and still in some way affordable price.

Only positive reactions to MERIDA’s REACTO: with consequent adjusted colors at all components and drivetrain-parts, it appears as being made real from one piece. As well at the technical side, there is no space for complain. At the wind-tunnel, it accomplishes a reasonable result within the middle of the competitors; at the “Tour”-lab, the frame leads together with Canyons Aeroad.

No other frame is lighter; the stiffness results are at one level with very good “non-aero” models.

Pure beauty shows the aero-seatpost, which appears even at the second view as being a total integrated post. In fact, it can be easily adjusted in seat-height, what should be done in respect of the painted surface not to frequently. The positive picture gets completed whit high quality equipment from SRAM and FSA. The stretched rider’s position underlines the REACTO being designed as a race-tool free of compromises.

Results:

MERIDA REACTO TEAM got first place at the frame-ranking (with lightest frame weight, best headtube-stiffness, best fork comfort).

2^nd place at the total bike ranking, just 0,1 points behind Canyon (which is direct sales and therefore offers higher specs for same price-point) ; Some of the competitors bikes cost almost twice (FELT, Cervelo).

MERIDA REACTO TEAM was best IBD bike.

Bikes attending the test beside MERIDA REACTO TEAM:

• Cervelo S3

• FELT AR 0

• Kuota Kult

• Kestrel Talon SL

• Canyon Aeroad CF 0.0 Team

• Stevens SLR Aero