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Reynolds, RAV and Reacto: Merida Made Faster With Reynolds Aero Design
Mar 11, 2026
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When Aerodynamics Become a Symphony - The Reynolds DNA Behind the New Merida REACTO
Aerodynamics is often misunderstood as a singular pursuit: reduce drag at all costs. At Reynolds, we have always taken a more complete view of performance. True aerodynamic efficiency is not achieved by minimizing drag alone. It is achieved when speed, stability, and control work together as a unified system.
That philosophy has guided Reynolds wheel development for decades, and it is known internally as RAV: Reynolds Aero Velocity. The concept is simple but powerful. Design components that are not only fast in the wind tunnel, but stable enough in the real world to allow riders to maintain an aerodynamic position longer.
Because the greatest aerodynamic variable on a bicycle is not the frame or the wheels. It is the rider.
When riders feel stable and confident, they stay low, stay aero, and stay fast.
This philosophy has helped Reynolds produce some of the fastest and most stable aero wheels in cycling. It is also the knowledge base that Merida engineers tapped into while developing the latest generation of the Merida REACTO aero platform.
A Shared Mission: Faster, More Stable Aerodynamics
The development of the new REACTO was not an incremental update. It was a complete redesign that began in May 2022 and spanned nearly four years of engineering work, incorporating extensive CFD simulations, prototype iterations, and wind tunnel validation.
Merida engineers ran hundreds of aerodynamic simulations and dozens of full-bike CFD analyses, refining individual tube shapes and testing the interaction between every component of the bike.
To accelerate the process and push the boundaries of real-world aerodynamic performance, Merida partnered with one of the industry’s leading aerodynamic specialists: Reynolds.
Reynolds engineers supported the project from its earliest stages, helping refine the aerodynamic behaviour of key frame elements and providing expertise in airflow interaction around deep-section wheels and crosswind stability. The collaboration also helped refine Merida’s internal CFD tools and development process.
The objective was clear.
Create a complete aerodynamic system where frame, fork, cockpit and wheels work together rather than independently.
As Todd Tanner, Head of Wheel Development at Reynolds, explains:
“The RAV philosophy has always been about balancing drag reduction with stability. It is easy to create something fast in perfect conditions, but real performance comes from solutions that remain stable when the wind is unpredictable. That thinking translates incredibly well beyond wheels. When you apply the same aerodynamic principles to frame tube shapes, forks, and cockpit structures, you begin to see the potential of a truly integrated aerodynamic system. Seeing a complete package where both the wheelset and the bike itself are developed around the same RAV approach is incredibly exciting.”
The result is a platform where the aerodynamic behaviour of the frame complements the performance characteristics of deep Reynolds wheels.
In other words, the new REACTO carries Reynolds aerodynamic DNA throughout its structure.
Breaking the 200 Watt Barrier
One of the central goals of the REACTO project was ambitious: break the 200 watt barrier in the TOUR Magazine wind tunnel test standard.
This benchmark has become one of the most respected performance indicators in cycling aerodynamics. Unlike traditional wind tunnel tests that measure static objects, the TOUR protocol simulates real riding conditions by incorporating a pedalling mannequin and varying wind yaw angles to replicate real-world airflow conditions.
Breaking the 200 watt threshold represents a major milestone in aerodynamic bicycle design.
The new REACTO ONE achieves an astonishing 196 watts at 45 km/h, making it the most aerodynamic REACTO ever created.
That level of efficiency is not achieved through a single component. It is the result of an integrated system where each element contributes to aerodynamic performance.
Frame tube profiles.
Fork shape.
Cockpit integration.
Wheel interaction.
Everything working together.
According to Merida’s R&D team, Reynolds’ aerodynamic expertise played a key role in refining that system:
“Working alongside the Reynolds aero engineers gave us a deeper understanding of how aerodynamic behaviour changes when the frame interacts with deep section wheels. Their experience developing stable, low-drag wheel profiles helped inform our tube shaping and cockpit design decisions. It allowed us to refine the REACTO into a platform that not only tests fast but also maintains stability in real riding conditions.”
Why Stability Is the Key to Speed
The cycling industry often focuses on rim depth when discussing aerodynamic wheels. But depth alone does not determine speed.
Reynolds’ aerodynamic advantage comes from developing solutions that minimize drag without sacrificing stability. When a wheel remains calm and predictable in crosswinds, riders can confidently use deeper rims in conditions where other designs would force them to choose a shallower profile.
In practical terms, this means something powerful.
A 60 mm wheel that rides like a 45 mm wheel, while delivering the speed advantage of a deeper aerodynamic profile.
This stability allows riders to remain aerodynamic longer, especially in complex wind environments. Because the rider represents the largest aerodynamic surface area in the system, keeping the rider comfortably in an aero position delivers far greater gains than chasing marginal drag reductions elsewhere.
This same philosophy guided the aerodynamic thinking behind the REACTO platform.
Reynolds + REACTO: A System Working in Harmony
The Merida REACTO benefits from Reynolds aerodynamic expertise regardless of how the bike is built.
Every tube profile, airflow transition and integration point has been shaped by aerodynamic principles informed by Reynolds’ experience in rim development and crosswind stability.
However, the maximum performance potential of the platform is realized when two elements built around the same aerodynamic philosophy are combined.
A frame developed using Reynolds aerodynamic thinking paired with Reynolds aero wheels.
When both components follow the same design principles, they do not simply coexist. They amplify one another.
Deep Reynolds rims interact seamlessly with the airflow characteristics of the REACTO frame, allowing riders to take full advantage of the stability and efficiency built into the platform. The result is a system where deeper wheels remain usable in more wind conditions, translating into more speed in more situations.
Rather than competing elements, the frame and wheels become parts of a single aerodynamic strategy.
Engineering That Plays in Harmony
At Reynolds, the fastest bicycles are never simply collections of fast parts. They are systems in which each component contributes to the same aerodynamic objective.
The collaboration between Reynolds and Merida on the new REACTO platform is a clear example of that philosophy in action.
As Joshua Riddle, Marketing Director for Reynolds, puts it:
“It is incredibly refreshing to have something so tangible to talk about. The RAV philosophy has always guided how we design wheels, but seeing those same principles applied to a frame platform really shows how powerful the concept is. What makes this particularly exciting is that the performance gains are not theoretical. Independent testing and third party data clearly demonstrate the efficiency of the system. It is a real-world application of our brand philosophy.”
The frame carries Reynolds aerodynamic DNA throughout its structure. The wheels embody decades of Reynolds aero engineering. When those elements come together, the result is a machine capable of delivering speed, efficiency, and stability across the full range of real-world riding conditions.
Ultra-fast wheels meet a frame developed with the same aerodynamic philosophy.
Together, they do not simply perform.
They play in perfect harmony.
