Features of the Merida Reacto by Phil Bauhaus
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12; 54/40, 11-34 t.), chainrings Carbon-Ti
- Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Brake discs: Shimano Dura-Ace (160/140 mm)
- Impellers: Enve SES 4.5
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR (30 mm)
- Handlebars: Vision Metron SL 60
- Computer: Garmin Edge
- Saddle: Prologo
- Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
Eight German riders will be competing in the Tour de France 2024. Over the course of the Tour of France, we will be presenting their racing bikes. Here it's the turn of Phil Bauhaus' Merida Reacto. The sprinter comes from Bocholt in Westmünsterland - also the twin town of Aurillac, the starting point of the 12th stage. Bauhaus turned 30 just a few days ago, on the rest day of the Tour de France. The German is riding his second Tour de France this year, but had to abandon early on his debut last year. He has been under contract with his current team Bahrain-Victorious for five years now.
Merida Reacto Team preferred model at Bahrain-Victorious
Bauhaus has not yet had to change its work equipment, as its Merida Reacto Team aero racer has been around for just as long. The model is mainly ridden by the team, with individual riders only switching to the lighter Scultura on difficult mountain stages with steep climbs, which saves 200 to 300 grams with the same structure. As a new model, the Reato was in the middle of the aerodynamic field at the time. Today, the 209 watts achieved by the Reacto Team 2021 in the TOUR wind tunnel test are already achieved by some all-rounders that are not considered pure aero machines and are somewhat lighter.
However, Bauhaus' Reacto is not far off the competition in terms of weight. In aero trim with 60 millimetre high aero rims from Vision and 28 millimetre tyres, including pedals, transponder, computer mount and GPS transmitter, we weighed the bike at 7.5 kilograms. Adjusted for this, it is around 300 grams lighter than our test bike at the time, which was similarly constructed.
A good part of the saving is probably due to the carbon chainrings from Carbon-Ti and the Conti Grand Prix TT time trial tyres that Bauhaus rides as standard. At 1.84 metres tall, Bauhaus also rides a size S frame - which is unusually small even for professionals. The cant of the saddle over the handlebars is correspondingly extreme.
The model also demonstrates good all-round qualities in other respects. The standard seat post with a cut-out at the rear, in which a damping elastomer sits, gives the bike reasonable suspension comfort for an aero racer. The frame and fork also offer plenty of space for wide tyres. Sonny Colbrelli won Paris-Roubaix on the 2021 model with 32 millimetre wide tyres.
TOUR at the Tour de France: Exclusive live blog
Jens Klötzer
Editor
