Cervelo has been incredibly active, unveiling a series of exciting innovations this year. From launching cutting-edge bikes to celebrating Jumbo Visma’s triumphs in professional cycling, the brand has consistently delivered noteworthy news. Following the release of the Aspero-5, their gravel race marvel, Cervelo has once again redefined racing design with the revamped R5. This road bike, already proven with pro tour victories before its official launch, boasts a redesigned fork, internal cable routing, and a lighter frame, solidifying its position as Cervelo’s premier choice for conquering mountainous terrains.
Key Features of the Cervelo R5:
- Evolution of an All-Rounder into a Climbing Specialist: The new R5 is meticulously engineered to excel as a climber’s bike while retaining its versatile road bike DNA.
- Enhanced Front-End Compliance: Experience improved comfort and control thanks to a refined front-end design.
- Significant Weight Reduction: The new R5 frame sheds 130g compared to its predecessor, contributing to quicker ascents and agile handling.
- Featherlight Chassis: A frame weight of just 703g and a 329g fork result in a combined chassis weight of a mere 1032g (claimed).
- Clean Internal Cable Routing: Enjoy a sleek aesthetic and aerodynamic advantage with completely internal cable routing.
- Disc Brake Performance: Equipped exclusively with disc brakes for consistent and powerful stopping in all conditions.
- Price Range for Complete Bikes: Available in premium builds ranging from $8,400 to $12,000.
- Frameset Option: Build your dream bike with the frameset, priced at $5,000.
- Immediate Availability: The Cervelo R5 is ready to ride and available now.
Delving into the Cervelo R5 Frame
Cervelo’s primary objective with the new R5 was clear: transform it into an unparalleled climbing bike without sacrificing the renowned stiffness that Cervelo bikes are known for. The challenge in reducing frame weight lies in carefully shaving grams while ensuring structural integrity and maintaining exceptional responsiveness. Feedback from Cervelo’s professional cycling teams played a crucial role in the R5’s development. A key concern was the front end’s stiffness, which pro riders felt was overly harsh. In response, Cervelo engineers designed a new fork with reduced “longitudinal stiffness” compared to the previous iteration. This strategic modification aimed to enhance front-end compliance, providing a smoother and more comfortable ride, especially on long climbs and varied road surfaces.
Complementing the fork redesign, Cervelo also strategically adjusted the headtube stiffness. While prioritizing front-end comfort, maintaining the crucial stiffness ratio between the headtube and bottom bracket, previously at 45%, remained paramount to preserve the R5’s celebrated performance characteristics. Through meticulous engineering, Cervelo removed surface area from the top tube and downtube, achieving a significant 130-gram weight reduction from the previous generation R5 frame. Remarkably, this weight optimization was accomplished while maintaining a stiffness ratio of 44.8%, demonstrating Cervelo’s commitment to balanced performance.
Drawing inspiration from the Caledonia-5 and Aspero-5 models, the Cervelo R5 incorporates a complete overhaul of its cable routing system. Embracing full internal cable routing, all cables and wires are seamlessly integrated through the stem and steerer tube. This design choice not only contributes to a remarkably clean and aesthetically pleasing appearance but also yields tangible aerodynamic benefits. By concealing the cables within the frame, Cervelo engineers successfully reduced drag by 25 grams. While aerodynamics wasn’t the primary focus for the R5, this drag reduction serves as a valuable bonus, enhancing overall performance.
Further enhancing versatility, Cervelo increased the tire clearance of the R5 to an accommodating 34mm, with an additional 4mm of clearance for real-world conditions. This expanded tire compatibility allows riders to explore a wider range of terrains and enjoy enhanced comfort and grip with wider tire options. Attention to detail extends to the seatpost clamp, where a bulky rubber cover has been replaced with a more streamlined and integrated version, reflecting Cervelo’s commitment to refined design.
Cervelo has maintained the R5’s proven geometry, with only a minor 0.5mm adjustment to the trail to perfectly accommodate the increased tire clearance. The Cervelo R5 remains exclusively disc brake compatible and utilizes Cervelo’s BBright bottom bracket system, known for its stiffness and efficient power transfer.
Cervelo R5 Configurations and Pricing
The Cervelo R5 firmly positions itself in the premium segment of road bikes, with all available builds featuring high-end componentry. The top-tier configurations are equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (the latest 12-speed iteration) and SRAM Red eTap AXS, both priced at $12,000. Following these flagship models are builds featuring Ultegra Di2 at $8,700 and SRAM Force eTap AXS at $8,400. Notably, all complete Cervelo R5 bikes are equipped with Reserve 34/37 carbon wheels, enhancing their performance pedigree. Both SRAM-equipped models include power meters as standard, catering to performance-focused riders. For those seeking a customized build, Cervelo offers the R5 as a frameset, which includes bars, stem, and seatpost, for $5,000. The Cervelo R5 with Dura-Ace Di2 is available immediately at authorized retailers, with Ultegra Di2 equipped models expected to ship shortly.
Related Reading: Reserve 50 Wheelset Review
Cervelo R5 Ride Experience
Having extensively ridden the previous generation Cervelo R5 for a year, it became my trusted companion for countless road miles and even tackled the challenging Belgian Waffle Ride. Its exceptional stiffness, responsiveness, and surprising versatility, despite limited tire clearance, made it a personal favorite. Therefore, the opportunity to test the new Cervelo R5 sparked considerable curiosity about whether Cervelo could elevate an already exceptional bike.
The new R5 immediately impressed with its fully internal cable routing, resulting in an undeniably clean aesthetic. Setting up the fit, mirroring the virtually unchanged geometry, was straightforward. The SRAM hoods subtly increased reach, necessitating a minor saddle adjustment. Weighing in at just 16 pounds in a tubeless setup for my 54cm test bike, the R5 proves remarkably light for a disc brake equipped bicycle.
The initial ride immediately revealed a noticeable improvement in ride quality and compliance. Even before delving into the technical specifications, it was evident that Cervelo had successfully enhanced the bike’s smoothness without compromising its inherent responsiveness. While the Prologo Skratch saddle wasn’t a personal match beyond the initial rides (saddle preference being highly subjective), the core riding experience resonated with the familiar R5 character – stiff and responsive, particularly when pushing hard out of the saddle. My testing is ongoing, with plans to explore mountainous routes and even venture onto unpaved roads, further evaluating the capabilities of the new Cervelo R5.
Explore the new R5 and other Cervelo models at Competitive Cyclist
