No. 22 Bicycle Company debuts Reactor Aero

No. 22 Bicycle Company has announced the creation of “the world’s first” fully aero titanium road bicycle.

Fabricated using a mix of 3D printing and in house fabrication, the new Reactor is set to launch in 2025, but the prototype was shown in person for the first time at the Made bike show in Portland, Oregon earlier this month.

The Reactor has always been the most race-oriented road frame in the No. 22 lineup, and the Reactor Aero is being marketed as the world’s first truly aero optimised titanium race machine.

Developed in-house and subject to multiple CFD simulations, the Reactor Aero is scheduled for wind tunnel testing and validation prior to launch.

Testing to-date confirms 30-40% drag reduction when compared to the current No. 22 Aurora.

As with all No. 22 models, every piece of the frameset is either made by or specifically for the brand, providing an increased level of control and precision in the manufacturing process.

When developing the Reactor Aero, No. 22 aimed not only to set the bar for titanium frame aerodynamics, but to enhance performance in all other areas as well.

Drivetrain stiffness, which the Reactor is known for, was further improved upon resulting in more efficient power transfers.

To achieve this, the down tube, bottom bracket intersection, and chain stays were fully redesigned and optimised by utilising the formal freedoms offered by 3D printing.

All other tubing profiles and intersections were also built from the ground up to help temper drivetrain stiffness.

The current prototype is a fully 3D printed frame, printed monolithically from Grade 5 titanium powder, save for the seat tube.

In keeping with the previous generation of the Reactor, the seat tube is a carbon ISP, this time of an aerodynamic profile, co-developed and produced by July Bicycles.

The final version will be printed as sections which can be machined and welded in-house, allowing No. 22 to utilise their decades of expertise resulting in tighter controls over quality, tolerances, and finishes.

Bryce Gracey, co-founder of No. 22, said: “3D printed titanium has phenomenal structural properties.

“The ability to print internal support structures anywhere in the frame gives us a level of control over the ride quality that has not been possible before.

“We are able to add stiffness in high load areas like the bottom bracket, dropouts, and head tube for very little weight, while playing with structure in fine detail throughout the frame to ensure it delivers the ride quality we need.”