Merida Reacto 5000 Road Bike (2018) NOW $2,149.00 (RRP $2,999.00)

Merida Reacto 5000 is a performance oriented aero road bike, best suited to road riders or triathletes looking to take their riding or racing to the next level. For those who follow the Pro Tour, the Reacto was the bike of choice for the majority of Team Bahrain Merida for most of the the Tour De France this year. That’s because this bike is designed to minimise the effect of air resistance on the bike, maximising speed without sacrificing other factors such as weight, stiffness and comfort. This means the Reacto retains the versatility and comfort of a road bike, but takes off when you put the foot down, and holds well at high speed. This balance makes it a particularly appealing option for triathletes, as it takes some of its cues from a time trial bike, while still having that versatility of a road bike that can be ridden anywhere. The Reacto 5000 comes spec’d with Shimano Ultegra gearing, this means you get precise shifting and a smooth feel, helping to maintain a smoother pedal stroke through gear changes. A semi-compact crankset from FSA offers a good blend of useable climbing gears without sacrificing top end speed.