Best Value for Money Bike in the Pro Peloton? (Merida Reacto Review)

[@deecee9251]

I've been riding the 2019 Reacto 8000-e disc for a year now, upgraded from a Giant TCR Advanced, and the difference in comfort is mind blowing. I can easily do 6hr rides with no discomfort at all on the Merida but was never able to go beyond 4hrs on the TCR. The TCR is now permanently bolted to the the indoor trainer.

[@CamNicholls]

haha thanks for sharing Dee, I hear what you're saying

[@PierreC2]

i had a Giant DEFY advanced earlier this season that i sold after just 200 miles..i couldnt deal with those sluggish wheels and tyres. Gavia is not for me. Argon 18 Gallium CS at the moment is a joy to ride.

[@LucaBonato]

Strange, the tcr was buttery smooth thanks to the more exposed seatpost compared to non slooping frames.

[@deecee9251]

@@LucaBonato dont get me wrong, it was great for 2 to 3hr rides for me, but getting to 4 was rough on the back and shoulders. Maybe the combination of the bigger 25mm tyres along with the seat post cut out and different cockpit is the difference. Also found the TCR very nervous in the handling compared to the Reacto. With the Reacto you literally just look where you want to go, and it goes.

[@LucaBonato]

@@deecee9251 compared to the reacto base model the tcr has a lower stack. I agree with you, the old tcr was a bit to nervous, but the new one has a more relaxed geometry

[@murrayvenn5184]

Cam's review totally sums up this bike.I have the Merida Reacto 7000E and it's simply awesome. You can ride it anywhere all day. As far as climbing the hills, it's very good. I researched this machine before purchasing and it came out on top of other big brands. Mainly because of the price tag. $3500.00 with DI2, FSA all over it, Fulcrum wheels and all that muscle.

[@CamNicholls]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing on the thread Murray 👍

[@samuelkmaina]

Merida is a bike always on the Money, choose a frame, components and you'll always be 20% below competitors prices. Quids in you can use for a second set of wheels say for wet/winter riding; in some cases even a second bike. They've all the range of bikes anyone would need for all types of rides. They build everything in-house so QC is top. I've had 5+ of their bikes and not even had a BB click. Disc brakes rub is still a nightmare doesn't matter which bike make.

[@kingprone7846]

theres plenty of competiton in europe, they are just for some reason really cheap in australia as they dont have the 30% markup other bikes get here.

[@planetmongocommoditiesexch9079]

These bikes are TOO good. Merida keeps a low profile because they build frames for so many other brands. Lifetime warranty on frame, 5 year on fork are unusual. I have a Gen 3 rim brake 105 model. The value to price ratio on that one is off the charts.

[@indonesiaamerica7050]

Merida owns 49% of Specialized and apparently there is an agreement not to have a dealer network in the USA. That explains the "low profile" except that they do sponsor a Pro Tour team. The niches for the Scultura and Reacto obviously overlap with the Venge and Tarmac, somewhat. The newest Scultura will be even closer to the Tarmac SL7 while I hope the Reacto continues because it's a good choice if you want a "Venge" like bike with some kind of dampening in the seatpost (that's also lighter than the Trek Madone solution).

[@CamNicholls]

I hope everyone is well. Firstly, the 'rating system' I use is based on categories. So in today's video we're going the 'aero race bike' category. Secondly, I am conscious that 'technically' this isn't the EXACT same bike used in the pro peloton, however, the frame is exactly the same and the current Bahrain Mclaren Reacto, external to colours. And also, the Bahrain Mclaren version is currently only available as a frame set here in Australia, although I believe that is changing shortly, as outlined in the video. Hope you enjoy the vid, and as always, keen to have your thoughts below. Cam

[@phoebetan7519]

Hey Cam, any chance of fitting a 32mm (as measured) tire into the Reacto?

[@CamNicholls]

@@phoebetan7519 Not sure, I have given it back now also!

[@phoebetan7519]

@@CamNicholls That's a pity! Any chance of reviewing the 2021 Giant TCR? Not the SL, but the Advanced Pro (for resale reasons :).

[@АлексСайклинг]

@@phoebetan7519 In team-e review (granfondo-cycling.com/first-review-2021-merida-reacto/) there is an answer: "We were able to mount 700 x 32C Continental Grand Prix 5000 TL tires on the METRON 55 wheels and ride without any concerns about clearance and rubbing on the frame"

[@phoebetan7519]

@@АлексСайклинг Thanks for that!

[@davidlcschangi]

I owned 2 Reactos and 1 Scultura. This is the bike to go for if you want value and quality in a package. I wrote my Reacto on a 1200km ride over 5 days from Thailand to Singapore, climbed all the hills on it and still not beaten up at the end of the ride. Tells a lot on the comfort of an aero bike. Can't go wrong there.

[@Mububban23]

I think the base model Reacto will be my next bike. Aero but not overly heavy or harsh. Still lighter than my alloy entry level bike. And looks awesome. Personally I love the look of dropped seat stays.

[@herrdaniel7607]

@@Mububban23 How long did you wait before upgrading to the reacto?

[@digisuboob]

Merida is straight up quality, im riding a scultura at 160kg right now, and its takes it like a champ.

[@cameronclarke3234]

How have the rims held up?

[@digisuboob]

@@cameronclarke3234 pretty good, ive had to have the spokes tuned up a few times. and i carry a small spoke tool with me, as i have one come loose occasionally on the bigger rides. im down to 135kg now and the bikes still fantastic tbh..

[@matthewvelo]

Great review Cam. I'm rather tempted to get the new Reacto after having had a Scultara; I cop a bit of flak about my Merida from my more snobbish cycling mates but the quality is up there and at a far more palatable price.

[@vomErsten]

What are those friends riding? If it's Specialized, you can remind them that they are also riding on Merida bikes.

[@jonhh6918]

Cam you know I love your in-depth review. Thanks for this addition. Keep them coming. I hope more brands send you bikes to review. They should appreciate your detailed work and passion.

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers mate

[@GerardvanReekum]

Great review (although it's doubtful that as a 67 year old recreational Speedy Gonzales I´ll be spending that kind of money on a bike anymore). I ride the Reacto 6000 Ultegra rim brake version with Fulcrum wheel set and can confirm the amazing performance of this frame in terms of comfort on long rides. The aero quality is really noticable: when you turn into the wind, it is as if you get pushed forward (as the aero quality was a tad less whilst fighting the cross wind you're coming from), absolutely sensational! And the seat post plus lowered seat stays nicely absorb road vibrations, which you may register as near-suspension when navigating the cobbles. I just love the bike and can second everything Cam said about this much more expensive member of the family (mine did EUR 2990 when it was new in 2018).

[@stevengordon-head2420]

Just built my Reacto 9000E with Di2 and having had Cervélo S series previously I would say this frame is way better than the big C. It’s so easy to hold speed especially on my Campagnolo Bora wheels.

[@pandreoni85]

Great review! I ride the Reacto YC 2019 excellent on all components and with the best price point imaginable. Comfort is absolutely great and was able to fit dedicated aerobars on the Vision cockpit flat bar for my triathlon races. A real 2 in 1 bike. Cheers from Sweden

[@CamNicholls]

Interesting to hear, thanks for sharing on the thread

[@chrisgomez1159]

Review the up and coming Winspace T1500 bicycle that seems to be the best bang for your money.

[@Kaosad69]

I went looking for a merida a couple of weeks ago. Their ultegra endurance model is crazy good value. Long story short, you can't get them until they get a new shipment. The bike shop wasn't even doing pre-orders. I ended up with a 105 scott addict disc instead because the lbs just happened to have one in my size. It was not as good value as the merida, but now that I had it a while I am starting to really love the scott.

[@ethansmith1046]

I think the giant propel advanced 2021 model that cost 5200 AUD is amazing, its cheap but fast, it has the same frame geometry as the more expensive version. I would love to see a review on the giant propel.

[@CamNicholls]

Thanks for sharing Ethan. Giant won’t work with me unfortunately. I’ve tried many times

[@Cyclingchoice]

Recent developments in wide rims and tyres have been a game changer for the aero bike segment. A lot of hype involved when bike manufacturers talk about frame geometry and compliance.But the best way to improve the comfort factor is to go winder rims and tyres. An aero bike on wide rims will be far more comfortable than a endurance bike with narrow rims.

[@hernendezsanchez7646]

Agreed. Going from 25mm to 28mm on my propel has been a game changer. I used to worry about speed bumps, sewer covers etc. On my 28s today, I got squeezed out by a car and had to hit a few holes and lids. Absolutely no issue. Set 30+ PBs too. Let's keep this a secret though

[@damodamo7219]

Best looking Merida I’ve seen. They are very underrated brand probably their own doing with their paint jobs. Performance and build quality first rate

[@chevyyyyyyy]

Thank you so much for your detailed comparison and contrast review of this handsome bike.

[@rickvoss709]

Best review of my bike I’ve seen....didn’t know about the 49% bit in specialized...I knew my frame looked like a venge...brilliant video buddy cheers

[@johnunruh1086]

I have a 2018 reacto d/a ltd here in the states. Love the bike. The ride is fantastic if you use Silca's.tire pressure online tool. My tires a 25 conti gp5000 that measure 30mm mounted. I'm riding at 72/73psi. They roll as fast as at 100psi but are so comfortable! Great review awesome bike!!

[@weekenderfam7965]

Great in depth review on the Merida. I was looking at Giant TCR or the Propel , but went with a 7000-E. Upgraded to Dura-Ace C60 wheels (sold the original ones) and pedals, Prologo Scratch NACK saddle, it all came in to approximately 6550 AUD. Definitely a great value bike.

[@patrickparisienne1917]

Great honest review Cam, which logical observations and conclusions. Glad that Merida came to the party on this one. Keep the videos coming!💪

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers Patrick

[@darrellwhitford7084]

Thank you Cam, i currently ride a 2014 Reacto the best 2nd hand purchase i have ever made. It is fast and comfortable this new model does both and then lighter in weight. The handling allowed me to grow as a rider and now i am much more confident as i race in the GCMCC cries and need to be able to bomb a corner at what ever speed needed. The size of the tyres is critical for this so hear of the increase tyre width is another ✅. Thanks for the honest review my next choice for a new bike has become easier ✅

[@CamNicholls]

Good stuff Darrell, thanks for sharing on the thread

[@old0range]

Hi Cam, great review! appreciate how youve tried to keep it as objective (I personally think its a really good looking bike!) and structured (re scoring). If you get the chance - please try to review the Scultura Endurance!! Really interested in that bike and an really curious to hear your take on Meridas new Endurance focused Scultura. (Fingers crossed Merida asks you to review again!) all the best!

[@ilgour]

Great review as always. I dont like where road bike are going. Bike are getting insanely expensive and heavier but thanks their now aero, have disc brake and weight 18 pounds. All these aero disc brake bike are way too heavy for me. Maybe its because im 63kg but i never found i needed more braking power. Unless people are getting the top end pro bike, i think the average week end warrior consumer are getting a downgrade with all these new heavy road bike. Cyclist who want to go fast on the flat need to learn how to ride in an effective aero position and maintain the power down. The drag from the bike is over rated. Its a shame that most bike company are just stopping rim brake bike production. But its genius from a business perspective. Keep up the good work. Cheers

[@michaelblume150]

Basically, like a Venge with a slightly different cockpit. It shows that they are made in the same factory. I even weighed my Venge Pro, with speedplay pedals, enve 5.6 tubeless gp 5000, ultegra and it comes in at 18 lbs. vs the 18.2 in this vid. thanks for the content Cam!

[@jaythefordman]

Yes, I do believe specialized and Merida share the same factory, and is also the reason why Merida can't be sold in the US :/

[@michaelblume150]

North America, never found a Merida in Canada either.

[@ivorii7]

I have the 3rd generation and love every moment riding :) That integrated cockpit looks so slick on the 4th gen tho

[@cup_and_cone]

Another potential benefit for the Merida is it uses an actual production wheelset anyone can buy. The Giant and Specialized use their house wheels, and the BMC's DT wheelset is not an actual production model (they're an OEM model wheel made by DT for bike manufacturers). This may have some influence on parts support down the line.

[@CycoWarriorx]

Yup... as soon as this bike came out I tried to do some research on it when I stumbled on the first nugget that Merida owned a sizable chunk of Specialized... the second nugget was Merida wasn’t available in the US... go figure... great review Cam! 🍻

[@OLICIT]

It’s an agreement they had when Merida bought the 51%, which I think is one of the big reasons Merida doesn’t have the recognition it should in some countries because of the USA’s influence on sport in general

[@CycoWarriorx]

OLICIT That would make sense, from a business standpoint... but equally unfortunate for consumers...

[@michaelritchie1385]

Where is it available? UK? Australia?

[@OLICIT]

Michael Merida is available basically everywhere except the USA and Canada. They seem to have a good reputation in Europe and other countries where they are marketed more as a German brand. Meridas biggest failure in Australia is that the distributors have never marketed properly and the brand got in pro roadbike sponsorship quite late unlike Giant who built a good reputation from the 90’s onward

[@sonivex]

Love your reviews mate. Glad brands are starting to notice the amazing work you've been doing. Keep 'em coming! Cheers.

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers Ivson 👍

[@markhurlin715]

Cam another fantastic in-depth video you literally answered all the questions in my head aloud as I was thinking them 😂👍keep up the great work

[@CamNicholls]

Awesome, great to hear that Mark. Cheers

[@ippolea]

Great video, thx for the review .

[@sambrown1779]

Thanks Cam. Bloody good as ALWAYS. love ya work mate

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers Sam 👍

[@charlieds20]

I'd be great to hear a Reacto vs Scultura comparison.

[@juhan42]

Yes, please 🙏

[@hawarial-fath1792]

Agree

[@bbqreunie984]

The Scultera is a perfect climbing bike and less weight than teh reacto. Never the less in the current and former Lampre/Bahrein Merida teram many pro's take out the Reacto also for climbing stages which says enough.

[@vomErsten]

I kind of want to see a Tarmac SL7 vs. Reacto review, since Merida builds both and they share a lot of similarities.

[@nathanp8240]

I'm keen on the scultura 4000...

[@jesuscruz836]

Really great in-depth review!

[@IlijaStevanic]

I've got 2021 Reacto, fantastic, fast but comfortable, climbing surprisingly well!

[@olivercarpenter7563]

Great review. Great value- when it comes to Peloton I think the Canyon counterpart probably has its measure

[@CamNicholls]

Yes, I’ll need to look into that price point over there. Good call

[@olivercarpenter7563]

@@CamNicholls Haven't been on the new Merida I must admit though, it looks fantastic and like the Canyon epic value

[@Rawsan]

What a nice bike. You made it look nicer Cam. Nice and shiny with that awesome bike stand.

[@CamNicholls]

Haha cheers Rawsan.

[@LuciTulcea]

Thank you Cam for reviewing Merida bikes. Soon I want to buy a Reacto 6000 or Scultura 6000 (not decided yet) so your reviews are very useful.

[@MrChanny]

What you end up with?

[@davidtyler5129]

Hi Cam. I’ve just finished watching your review of the Merida REACTO 8000-E. Great review and yes an exceptional value for money packaged bike. Looks great as well. I considered this very bike, but an exceptional deal on an SL6 Tarmac S-WORKS came up and it was to good a deal to pass up. Thanks for presenting a practically rounded and informative review. Cheers

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers David, you made a good choice 👍

[@davidtyler5129]

Cam Nicholls, yes I think so as well.

[@Mububban23]

Heck, at 8kg, it's still 1.5kg lighter than my alloy road bike :-) So it'd be be an improvement in the hills for me!

[@silvere36]

Thank you. Good insights.

[@PIN3r]

Great Review. I live in Canada and ride a Reacto 400 there last aero alloy gen bike :(. Had to acquire through the black market. Anyways this video just assured me that i need to get this gen 4 reacto once the black market get their hands on it. Keep up the great content

[@CamNicholls]

Great stuff a Chris, thanks for sharing

[@PierreC2]

Another great review. If anyone needs to know anything about bikes you come to Cam.. Well done. The only problem with Merida is that there is no dealer here in Canada, and because of covid, shipping is a nightmare.... PS. I'm currently riding the Argon 18 Gallium CS ...made here in Montreal. It would be nice to here your opinion on this bike. Cheers !! from Montreal Quebec

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers mate. We don’t see that brand much in Aus. I would be keen to try it though. Not sure who the distributor is 🤔

[@alainpfammatter8224]

very nice and good looking bike. Great review as always

[@10067498]

Great review Cam......and a beautiful looking bike. 👍

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers Peter

[@martinth2529]

I greatly enjoy my Bianchi Oltre XR3 Disc. Value, practicality and comfort, checks all three!

[@josephtimmins1974]

Great review. Sorry we cannot get them in North America. I also wanted to thank you for connecting me with Caden rims. Ben over there was fantastic! I took a little while due to some supply chain issues, but there communications were great. I want a set of good rims I could use for training, rolling hill rides and rides in new areas where I might not be familiar with the conditions. There 38s were just want the doctor ordered. I could not be more happy with the quality, ride characteristics and customer service. Worth the wait. Thank you!

[@bondy284]

Hi Cam, comprehensive review👍. Love my 2017 Scultura 4000 however it would be great to own this upgraded Reacto🍸

[@nathanp8240]

Leaning towards the scultura 4000 myself, popped into 99 Bikes this morning for a close look...

[@Wheels1010]

just a comment on the giant propel, it comes with a dual-sided power meter in the spec shown, I would say giant has the best value for money bikes on the market. great review though!

[@CamNicholls]

Fair call. It’s a very close call either way.

[@carlom.3737]

re: the disc meat cleaver sound. I have a '19 TCR Advanced SL0 Di2 disc and '18 S3 AXS disc. Both exhibited the meat cleaver sound on occasion, the S3 w/ SRAM more than the Di2. Usually after putting the bike through some stressful turn or road trauma. For separate reasons I bought some Robert Axle Thru Axles (weight, getting rid of the TA lever, aesthetics, etc.). To my surprise, both bikes rarely now if ever have develop meat cleaver sound. I think many manufacturers are shipping with cheaply made TAs which can exacerbate the problem.

[@rexringschott]

Great review. Lovely looking bike.

[@mysho6317]

Well Done as Always..Thorough & hitting all the Key areas....interesting background ie; connection to Specialized.....Good Looking contender on the Road - ...Merida Rep should be happy with the Review. BTW - "Meat Cleaver" disc brake sound is easy to eliminate......usually a quick Caliper "alignment" adj will bring on silence.......causes = not completely dialed in assembly, Caliper bumped at some point, using different wheels - disc position could be a tiny bit different brand to brand, Disc getting bumped out of alignment.....no matter easy fix = back to Cycling Zen

[@CamNicholls]

Haha, cheers mate 👍

[@michaelkennedy9064]

Would love to see it available at this price in the team colours. I would say the biggest competitor is probably the 2021 Canyon Abroad CF SLX disc Di2 which claimed weight is lighter. Have owned a set of Reynolds and they are certainly more budget friendly but not the same level of the likes of Enve.

[@philellis386]

Cracking review 👍🚴‍♂️

[@sknkwrksowner]

Great review! Wish we could get them easily here. Cheers on the Knights CC shirt! Sold out at the moment (in black), but I'm a big supporter of mental health as a former vet and cancer widower (depression/ptsd).

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers Xavi, what size are you? I have a white one here I can send you. It's a medium.

[@sknkwrksowner]

@@CamNicholls thanks, but I went ahead and ordered up one! Plus I'm a large. Appreciate the offer just the same.

[@MarkPakula]

I set a similar goal when shopping for my last (current road bike) Maximum speed/world tour winning performance for lowest price in 2015. I ended up with a Cervelo S2, which is the same as the S3 which has won WT Stages/events. Also, 105 for value for sure, 105 parts are found in 2020 TDF bikes even. 4000 series would be my pick. Add your favourite race wheels and get top level pro performance at lowest price.

[@waynedoherty7758]

Great review!

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers Wayne.

[@malecyclist]

Interesting. For no particular reason, I've never even considered them a serious brand. Maybe their marketing team need a nudge. I always thought they were cheap crap from 99bikes. Turns out that the company started in 1972!

[@CamNicholls]

Funny you say that Scott, I thought the same because of that exact reason! Before I learned more about the brand. Thanks for sharing, Cam

[@jaythefordman]

Me neither, until I bought one. I ride a Scultura disc, and is a fantastic bike. Am eyeing off the new Reacto as its successor

[@ian1988]

As mentioned re Specialized being owned by them, if you go to their factory, all the S works are made in the same facility.

[@malecyclist]

@Bobbie Tuggboat my point precisely made (thanks) - if you want people to know about your brand, your customers shouldn't have to go to wikipedia. Pretty much every other brand is visible to me in magazines, internet, bike shops, etc. I can't recall seeing Merida anywhere, really. If I can't recall it, they've got work to do.

[@arzasa]

@@malecyclist Do you think they just don't want to erode the Specialized business, so no point marketing too hard. So this brand is just to fill the gaps where people don't want to buy one of the known top tier brands. I mean, they are no doubt making money from both streams, if they take on Specialized they need to spend money to do marketing, and win that sale, so they've lost on the high end, and won on the low end.

[@lacyleech7798]

Very nice bike. Beautiful color!

[@johnrennicks7747]

Great video Cam👍 I'd love if you done one similar with a trek madone SLR7 or even you're thoughts on it.. great work

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers John. Can’t get access to that bike unfortunately

[@Falkirion]

Thanks for the review Cam. Hope it handles your locals well, it's a good looking bike. I've always been curious how the Di2 compares with E-tap, coming from mechanical the E-tap I've got on my Emonda is far and away the better shifter for me personally.

[@hereintoca4701]

Nice review, sounds like a nice frame; typo at 6'00.

[@user-yp3pe4rb2k]

Good review. Could you review the Canyon Aeroad?

[@CamNicholls]

If you can send me one ☝️

[@KMS2468]

Hi, nice footage ! Have you ever tried the Scott Foil ? It's in my opinion a very good "aero allrounder" too. Give it a try some day !

[@CamNicholls]

No, Sheppard Cycles in Australia (distributer) ignore me

[@DynamiteDB]

I love Merida. I want to get the Endurance 7000-E

[@christianemeiners9224]

Great review; is Canyon available in AUS? I own an AEROAD CF SLX and love it. Probably comparable to the Merida? And yes, I love rim brakes. The noises from disk brakes are sooooo annoying. Cheers, Chrissie

[@CamNicholls]

Thanks for sharing, and yes they do! Online. Probably a good match and should have compared in hindsight!

[@ildaronline]

Brakes aren't adjusted decently probably.

[@bbqreunie984]

Canyon is doing well on marketing and service for sure. But the compareable Merida frames are built better. Less voids in the carbon and a better alignment of the bracket holes.

[@frankpapaleo357]

Great review....This is the only review I can find for this bike that has everything you need. Trying to decide between 7000, 8000, or tarmac sl7 comp. Can not find any of these bikes anywhere in Melbourne. Will be my first Carbon road bike and road bike im general. any suggestions?

[@jarnoklijn5908]

Thank you for the video. What do you think about the Canyon

[@jarnoklijn5908]

Aeroad CF SLX 8 DISC Di2 2021?

[@CamNicholls]

Never ridden one

[@chrischaviaras414]

Hi Cam, great review mate. Question I noticed your bike doesn’t have the rear built in like instead a ripper cover replacement can I ask where you got that from? As I want to get rid of the light as I don’t use it I’ve got a Garmin radar. Look forward to hearing from you.

[@chrisvanbuggenum871]

Definitely looks the business and good price. I don't know the numbers but it sounds heavier than the Venge which is my favourite aero bike as it is/was quite light in the models after the vias (such as year 2020 model).

[@CamNicholls]

It’s roughly 100g in the frame heavier, but similar to S5 and TIMEMACHINE

[@chrisvanbuggenum871]

@@CamNicholls thanks Cam. I'm considering buying an s works Venge frame and slowly building it up to minimise costs, but that reacto is super tempting.

[@johningrao3082]

I love everything about it

[@Channelsomew]

I don't have an aero bike and don't plan on spending beaucoup money for one but what about the Cannondale SystemSix Hi Mod? Isn't that around the same price point?

[@MrMaxlo1]

well what about the canyon aeroad? isn't that one even cheaper?

[@CamNicholls]

Good call, I’ll need to look into the equivalent 👍

[@bbqreunie984]

check out these vids of Hambini and you will underfstnad why Merida is a better bike. I had Canyon and since 2 years a Reacto and very happy with this bike.

[@MrMaxlo1]

@@bbqreunie984 So are many people with their Canyons. And Hambini just wants to sell his BBs. Furthermore Canyon bikes don't look as ugly as Merida.

[@MarkMash17]

very interesting - wish I Saw this a few months ago - probably would've picked one up - got the Giant TCR instead which is still very close in value imo...

[@CamNicholls]

TCR is great!

[@edgoks652]

Buena review gracias! Mido 1.77 y 86 de entrepierna, que tal la talla S/M? Graciss

[@jarrodfife242]

That’s pretty good weight and price! The madone in di2 pro frame costs 12k aud. You should review that.

[@arzasa]

Thanks for the vids Cam. Any thoughts on how this could compare on specs and price to some of the Canyon bikes? As have been looking at aero bikes, and the Merida is one option, but I think some of the Canyon's also seemed like good value.

[@shred3005]

Canyon have a great reputation and GCN last week rated them as the least expensive in the TdF. Love my Ultimate CF SLX but if you’re looking aero model then the Aeroad CF SL 8.0 Di with Ultegra Di2 with DT Swiss wheels weights 7.3kg without pedals currently on sale AU$5,969 but stock looks low

[@CamNicholls]

Yes I need to look into them more. The fact that they’re purely online puts me off a bit. I like working with an LBS

[@shred3005]

Cam Nicholls that’s a fair call about Canyon only bring online but I know my correct size from my bike fit (my local fitter uses Retül) and when I got the bike my fitter dialled it in for me and I get it serviced at my LBS as I would a bike I bought from them. It’s hard to best the value when you take the middle men out of the purchase chain. I also find the story of Roman Arnold growing the Canyon brand out of what essentially started as car boot sales of cycling gear by his dad at bike races in Europe while Roman raced. The cycling tips podcast interview is informing of how the success of the brand was built on needing to develop bikes that met the needs of world tour riders and being able to stand up to the best. Cadel Evans rode to his World Championship on a Canyon but they they worked hard to keep developing road bikes like the Ultimate to be accepted by the pro riders as right up with the best. Something about the Teutonic drive for technical and business success. cyclingtips.com/2020/04/from-the-top-podcast-building-canyon-bikes/

[@arzasa]

@@CamNicholls yeah online can be a little off-putting when fit is important, but still be good to hear your thoughts even if just looking at cost vs specs.

[@flyingbuddy3918]

Love the KoS shirt ;)

[@tomstephenson5452]

Can’t beat the canyon aeroad cf slx

[@joneinarmattiasvisser6113]

That was exactly what I was thinking!

[@adamgoodman3422]

Think Wider clearance on this bien allows more versatility but the canyon support is Bette r

[@adamgoodman3422]

Does it allow for gravel bike tires clearance ?

[@bbqreunie984]

Teh Merida is even built better. Not only less voids in the carbon but also the bracker alighnment is much better. Evenb the bearing holes in a Canyon are often not round. Check Hambini.

[@zhixiaoliu3017]

Tax and shipping fee of canyon in some regions can reach up to 40% of the bike's tag price

[@aniolsalacomalat5835]

Is it good for doing mid mountain and mountain routes?

[@terryvoss3436]

Would be curious to hear your opinions on the difference between the Reacto and the Scultura. As I am considering either the Reacto or Scultura Force Editions as my next bike.

[@CamNicholls]

Depends on your riding needs. Although given the comfort factor on the Reacto I would be going with it more often than not.

[@Tlhakxza]

In 8 years of cycling,I never realized that cycling could be such a snobbish undertaking,perhaps that could be due to my lack of full understanding of the sport. Mate, I’ve been roadie since 2012,I’m just a weekend warrior,have entered a few races in my country(SOUTH AFRICA🇿🇦)pretty sure you’ve heard of that country right😉🏏🏉⛳️ did just okay in those races with yearly improvements on times,technique,riding style et al. Now,in 2012,as a complete neophyte who just wanted to get into the sport for fitness purposes,I started with a(2008) aluminium frame(carbon fork) GIANT TCR which I’d bought 2nd hand from a retired Pro,it came with all the good gizmos,Mavic Wheels,Selle Italia seat,9 Speed 105(everything,cassette to shifters) and Continental Gatorskins,all these things were foreign to me,but I learnt along the way,the bike was exceptionally good for me,it was pretty fast on descents and with time and training it turned out to be a very good bike for climbing as well. When I was good and confident enough I decided to look for something “better and affordable”, and in 2014 I upgraded and bought myself an all black MERIDA REACTO 5000,the bike was so “basic”, it came with aluminum FSA Bars,FSA Cranks with an 11 Speed ULTEGRA Cassette,Shifters,105 Deraileur and very basic Fulcrum Wheels which to me were an absolute winner coz of that “nice noise” from the hub(my old GIANT) never made that noise and to me that was a turn off coz whenever I’d go out on weekends I’d come across groups on their mean machines and their bikes(hubs) made a different and very beautiful sound that I found very unique and enchanting at the same time. Also,to me that was an indication of a very expensive bike,irrespective of the brand,that served as some sort of an inspiration for me to upgrade when the time was right. Needless to say 3 months later I had saved up enough to spruce my REACTO, bought(TRIGON) carbon bars,ULTEGRA Cranks,ULTEGRA Deraileur,top of the range PRO LOGO seat,NOVITEC JETFLY Wheels whose hub noise was just what I needed along with ULTEGRA Pedals. Back then,the REACTO was an affordable,aesthetically pleasing bike which fitted well within my budget,which was then at 20k...then I’d thought I would be eternally loyal to GIANT since that was my first brand of choice but that price range changed everything. Now I’ve been riding that bike as is since 2014(was off cycling for 3 years due to an injury,not cycling related) and got back again in August 2018,it’s still going strong, I’ve done serious mileage on that frame,still climbs ridiculously well(in my opinion) coz in my team I ride with mates that have bikes that are 5-10x the value of my bike and I’m up there with them... I’ve been working on a goal in the past 3 months,that is to do my first ever 100MILE(160km) ride,I’ve been building to it slowly and judging from some of the comments here,what I’ve noticed is that after my long rides(135KM is my longest and achieved only 2 weeks ago) I don’t suffer from any abnormal discomforts outside of the usual fatigue,I suppose like any weekend warrior would. The bike feels comfortable and strong enough to get me to my dream goal of 100Miles. I still regard myself a novice in the sport,after all these years of cycling and I am extremely happy with MERIDA,I could upgrade and go for something posh and high end like your Pinarello,Specialized,De Rosa but I’m still fairly happy with my bike. In terms of quality I can and will fully back MERIDA for their workmanship,I’ve been laughed at by guys with your high end bikes but pair us on the road behind our bikes it’s a completely different ball game,some I leave so far in the dust that they bite and choke on it😁 What I would like to know honestly is that- and this goes to everyone who’s made it this far down this long comment-... is cycling REALLY ABOUT THE BIKE or is it really about the individual and their determination to be a good cyclist,a person who trains more/effectively than the next guy...?? I’ve pretty much read all the comments on this video and one thing I’ve seen is that as cyclists,we all have different views about what works and what doesn’t,what’s good and what’s bad,which brand is good and which is shit...MANY have gone on to say MERIDA makes shitty,low quality bikes(even in my team guys have teased me and some have turned around along the way to appreciate the brand)...IS IT ABOUT THE BIKE...??? My sincere apologies for a long and biblical comment.🤦🏿‍♂️

[@qibble455]

When disks win the tour I'll change my mind. Great vid though

[@angusowens1189]

Cough cough pog is doing it now 😉

[@eyebike]

I like that no cables are visible.

[@mk30b25]

So tempted by an alluminum of this bike.

[@BurgerTime7441]

Wish they'd included cable holes in the downtube and fork for those of us who don't want to kink our cables and add many hours to maintenance work just to save 2 watts and look cooler

[@vr4966]

Great review! Please share bike stand info?

[@CamNicholls]

Westwood bike stands designerbikestands.com/

[@lukealsford7079]

That colourway is sensational. You need to try get your hands on a Madone King of the all rounder aero bikes.

[@robertforbes7984]

I had been researching this bike, you have confirmed everything that I was thinking so your review is great. My question is would you go down to the next level frame CF-3 opposed to this CF-5 with the sram force which is also great value @ $6,500k AUD???

[@CamNicholls]

I’d go the top end frame for sure. Otherwise you’re really going to feel it for climbing

[@nerdsofthefist]

What’s the reach on that 56? With most other frames I would ride a 54, as well, so I’m wondering what your thoughts are with this frame size. Also if it is slightly larger, do you think that wouldn’t have made an impact on the comfort factor?

[@CamNicholls]

You'll need to look that up on the site mate, sorry, my mind is in different directions now.

[@nerdsofthefist]

@@CamNicholls no worries. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Love your videos. Keep it up.

[@hippoace]

Do you think the following statement stands; Generally comfortable bikes that are not as stiff, will have trouble accelerating from a standstill?

[@jkpisces]

how about comparing this with the polygon helios a8x ? which would be better from a frame perspective?

[@shobairhosseini9139]

Thanks for nice honest review. By any chance do you know if the the tyres are tunbeless? I know the rims are tubeless ready but I can't find information on the tyres. Thanks.

[@CamNicholls]

Cheers mate, and sorry I can't recall

[@AbigailPender]

That is a blood good colourway :o

[@john_p]

1:54 i love to hear from rim-boy fans 🤣

[@CamNicholls]

haha

[@adamgoodman3422]

Hi there, great work. How does it compare to the S works Venge in term of comfort and endurance usability ? ( I know it’s an aero bike :)

[@lodvaessen]

Just orderes this one! Size S. Delivered in June haha

[@CamNicholls]

Lovely! Great machine

[@vladimirzavyalov]

Hi! Thank you for the review! The bike seems a superb value for money! I have a BIG question on top REACTO 2021 mods which include VISION Metron ACR fully integrated cockpit. Is this solution capable of being packed in a case for an air travel? Unless you use a very bulky case (e.g. Evoc Road bike Pro), you always have to remove a handlebar and compactly secure it close to a frame. No problem for classic "stem+handlebar" mods. But in case of REACTO 2021 all the cables (incl. brake lines) are inside, and they are cut precisely. Might be impossible to move the handlebars for packing. BTW How is this Vision handlebar packed in REACTO factory box?

[@CamNicholls]

Thanks mate but unsure of your questions. I don't have the answers as the bike is now back with Merida. Sorry

[@vladimirzavyalov]

@@CamNicholls Thanks for your response. Thought you might have received the bike for the test packed in a box with a handlebar somehow removed.

[@iHqn]

Hi Cam, what's the difference between the reacto 8000e vs 8000?