Cervélo is a model with true lineage in fashionable WorldTour biking. Granted, in comparison with Bianchis or Colnagos the US bike maker is a relative newcomer, however few different manufacturers have been borne out of an obsession with efficiency in fairly the identical manner – and fewer others have used the WorldTour as a check lab.
Founded by Gerard Vroomen and Phil White, when the 2 initially designed an nearly extraterrestrial Baracchi TT bike and the model was quickly on the WorldTour with the aerodynamically revolutionary Soloist.
The R5, although, was created with a fixation on weight – and it shocked the biking world when it grew to become the primary body to dip under the 700g mark with the R5 Project California. Today, the fixation on weight has light considerably as riders and types have prioritised aerodynamics and flexibility.
However, this era of the R5 nonetheless is available in at a claimed 703g – 130g lighter than the earlier era – a boon for the Visma-Lease a Bike squad which has now received back-to-back Tour de France titles on the bike. Jonas Vingegaard might combine his time between the R5 and S5, however the lighter-weight character of the previous meant it has been his constant weapon of alternative within the mountains.
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Of course, within the age of Specialized’s claimed 585g Aethos the R5 is now not industry-leading, whereas it nonetheless culminates in a motorbike that weighs lower than 7.5kgs. Our 56cm check bike weighed in nearly precisely at 7.39 – a really stable weight within the period of disc brakes.
Interestingly, Cervélo by no means lauded the aerodynamic credentials of the brand new R5 body – as an alternative directing followers of pure pace to the stalwart aerodynamic S5. However, Cervélo did give attention to positive factors within the entrance finish to see total drops of 25g when it comes to aerodynamic drag in comparison with the earlier R5 – for reference, 10g of drag is roughly 1 Watt, although that is velocity dependant. The ways had been easy – eradicating all exterior cables and integrating them inside Cervélo’s proprietary ST31 carbon stem.
The R5 adopted a little bit of a motion away from aerodynamic fixation and again to total weight and flexibility – maybe kicked off by the tremendous gentle Specialized Aethos. But the main focus away from the body itself is smart, because the entrance finish, handlebars and cables play a way more outstanding in aerodynamics and might be vastly improved with much less sacrifice in price and broader body design.
While black is at all times the quickest color, that was additionally an engineering alternative for Cervélo with the R5. The Cervélo Five Black paint job was chosen particularly to chop weight, however within the flesh cuts a good-looking determine complemented by a matt end. The refined branding additionally guarantees a degree of future-proofing irrespective of the place body design traits lead.
Bucking an extra pattern in body constructing, Cervélo claimed that the body was – oddly – much less stiff than the outgoing model of the R5. Having ridden that mannequin I used to be glad to listen to that, because the body tended to overcook the advantages of rigidity – transferring energy properly however feeding somewhat an excessive amount of of the highway again to the rider.
This give attention to rideability makes a palpable distinction – with softer carbon getting used within the fork, whereas the headtube has additionally had the rigidity dialled again and lowered to enhance compliance.
While a lowered headtube had me questioning if the R5 was taking over a racier character, the discount in all probability displays that the R5 has traditionally had a excessive headtube for the perceived rigidity positive factors (the traditional Cervélo S5 was notorious for its close to ludicrously tall entrance finish). Indeed on a 56cm body, the headtube peak was the very same as an equivalently sized Tarmac SL7 – maybe a testomony to how a lot geometry on endurance highway racers have converged.
The new body was the consequence not solely of a number of iterations and suggestions, however of WorldTour testing too. At the time of its preliminary launch in 2022, Tom Dumoulin described ‘loving’ it. Of course, sponsored athletes’ suggestions isn’t an goal providing (other than the occasional Bauke Mollema outburst).
Tweaks to carbon fibres, layup and geometry can at all times be convincing on paper, however the end result of a motorbike’s components can change issues dramatically. In that sense the providing of 34mm tyre clearance and tubeless tyres (with Reserve’s Filmore tubeless valve system – which we’ll get to later), is welcome.
But whether or not this got here collectively on the highway was the actual query.
The experience
I’ve loved the R5 for an prolonged mortgage interval, spending practically a yr with the bike (therefore whereas that is the very same body, colourway and ending package, newer variations of the R5 are provided barely totally different spec if purchased immediately). In that point I’ve additionally ridden different distinctive bikes – the Argonaut RM3 most notable amongst them –however the R5 was the staple workhorse throughout my driving.
In that sense, earlier than even dissecting the efficiency, it’s value noting that the R5 is a step on from the WorldTour racers of yesteryear. The Specialized Venge or authentic Ceverlo R5 had been each famend for being speedy bikes, however punishingly uncomfortable on tough surfaces and with barely 25mm tyre clearance provided no escape routes from their bone-jarring experience high quality. In latest years, disc brakes and large tyres have allowed the as soon as unsuitable traits of a WorldTour bike to marry properly with the on a regular basis rider, and the Cervélo provides us an ideal case research.
Cervélo’s latest actually feels inflexible – generally offering a reassuring jolt over tough surfaces and turning pace rapidly beneath stress – but it surely was by no means a disturbing experience even with the specced 25mm tyres at 70-80psi. I felt assured to experience throughout all the pieces – even veering onto the occasional gravel observe.
However, whereas versatility and luxury are fetching traits, anybody shopping for the R5 clearly has pace and climbing potential on the forefront of their minds – and the Visma-Lease a Bike group actually places a laser give attention to efficiency, evidenced by years of innovation in bike tech throughout the season.
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Rest assured, then, that the R5 is speedy.
Despite the claimed discount in stiffness, I used to be at a loss to really feel any change in comparison with the R5’s stiffer predecessor when it got here to energy switch. Any enter on the pedals appeared to ship a relative jolt in acceleration with urgency.
Of course in relation to lateral stiffness it’s value remembering that the body has to work with all the pieces holistically, and I believe this front-end setup and wheelset helped to protect total rigidity properly.
The entrance finish and fork additionally delivered rigidity when it got here to the dealing with traits that stiffness right here prioritises. The R5 was assured when it got here to descents, dealing with in an assured manner that allow you to push into corners. It’s nearly surreal to think about the R5’s rim-brake forebear, which I can keep in mind tepidly descending on in moist climate. The mixture of wider tyres and the management of disc brakes meant I used to be assured to push a lot more durable and quicker downhill.
The R5 provided me a gentle resonance from the highway all through too. I at all times felt linked with the mild buzz of the highway, which additionally provided the bike a pure sense of pace.
This actually is not pitched as an aero pace machine, however the distinction in drag is palpable on lengthy flat stints, the place the R5 would maintain its pace within the 40kph territory in a manner that did not really feel completely distinct from an aero highway providing.
The mixture of low weight and stable switch actually inclined the R5 to climbing, and so far as my energy can stretch I’m sure I wasn’t affected by any discount in stiffness in total pace phrases.
In phrases of climbing, it’s no thriller why Jonas Vingegaard elects for this bike within the mountains, because the low weight and common racey character makes it one of the vital all-round climbing frames available on the market. For me, it could be a pure alternative for any weekend within the mountains.
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Cervélo has accomplished a pleasant job in constructing a motorbike that’s greater than the sum of its components too. I’ve grow to be an growing fan of Sram for the reason that introduction of AXS, and the inclusion of a Quarq Zero energy meter provides to the broad enchantment as a climbing companion.
As mentioned, the own-brand stem and handlebar do a superb job in aerodynamic and weight phrases, but additionally ship an understated end to the R5, whereas the carbon mixture is distinct from the aluminium providing for components of the cockpit of a Tarmac SL7 or SL8 at this worth level.
While it’s onerous to think about worth at this worth level, slicing barely in need of the complete Red AXS WorldTour identikit construct that is arguably the R5 for the price-conscious. In that sense it’s a tad expensive. A equally specced Canyon CF SL8 is available in a full £2,000 cheaper, whereas a Tarmac SL8 with the identical groupset and a carbon wheelset is simply £8,000.
This era of the R5 is way from model new, although, and might be discovered at some extraordinarily good worth factors throughout totally different retailers. The 2023 Ultegra Di2 spec can be barely extra inexpensive, albeit in need of an influence meter.
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Reserve’s wheels additionally deserve a stable point out. This is a lightweight, aerodynamic and tubeless-ready wheelset. A rear 37mm and entrance 34mm depth balances weight, aerodynamics and aesthetics properly. While I used to be initially sceptical in regards to the Filmore valves, merely having no thought what I used to be once I first laid eyes on the bike. These make life simpler from a sealant and set up perspective, and you’ll learn our in-depth Filmore evaluation for extra rationalization of the deserves.
The Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 tyres are a longtime favorite amongst efficiency tubeless tyres. I used to be impressed with them all through my driving on the R5, although if I used to be to experience the R5 indefinitely maybe I’d have sided for a barely wider 28mm equal to cut back the resonance from rougher surfaces a tad.
The solely criticism I may degree on the construct, and maybe the R5 total, is the aerodynamic seatpost. It took a considerable quantity of grip paste and tightening past the beneficial torque earlier than I may make certain that there wouldn’t be a gradual slipping via a experience.
Indeed on my first outing, I completed the experience with my knees nearly beating my chest, and very sore hamstrings.
I’ve at all times struggled to reconcile myself to a slipping element at this worth bracket. This sparked a debate within the Cyclingnews editorial workplace in regards to the position of mechanical potential in bike meeting and care, however whereas I admire that enough grip paste is a should, I’d hope manufacturing tolerances could be tight sufficient to make sure that even with minimal paste a seatpost stays in the appropriate place.
Beyond that, this can be a WorldTour racer via and thru, whereas managing to combine in sufficient consolation for a variety of driving.
Verdict
There’s no denying that the Cervélo R5 is a efficiency bike with among the best lineage within the WorldTour. There’s one thing uniquely particular about having the ability to experience the very same bike because the now-monolithic Visma-Lease a Bike group.
Perhaps what units the Cervélo R5 distinctly aside from its predecessors is that it has been constructed with a wider internet of would-be riders in thoughts, and I really feel that the R5 would lend itself to sportive or Granfondo rider simply as a lot as a world racer.
For these chasing Strava PBs and flat-out pace, although, the S5 is prone to be quicker and extra aggressive aesthetically (if the sharp curves of aero bikes are what enchantment) however for a long-term accomplice within the mountains the R5 is a near-perfect match.
Of course, the ever-present caveat to reward of any high-end racer is that they’re more and more onerous to drag aside from each other. With that in thoughts it could be powerful to argue the case for the R5 over the Specialized Tarmac, Cannondale SuperSix or Canyon Endurace if any of these had been accessible at a greater worth level – and on that entrance I’ll have an interest to see the place the following era R5 situates itself when it comes to worth amid a pattern of top-end bikes to grow to be extra inexpensive.
However, Cervélo is a uniquely slick model within the historical past of biking, and one which is now excelling on the high of the game – so maybe no surprise that it is a marque that comes with a premium.
Of course, the ever-present caveat to reward of any high-end racer is that they’re more and more onerous to drag aside from each other. With that in thoughts it could be powerful to argue the case for the R5 over Specialized Tarmac, Cannondale SuperSix or Canyon Endurace if any of these had been accessible at a greater worth level – and on that entrance I’ll have an interest to see the place the following era R5 situates itself when it comes to worth amid a pattern of top-end bikes to grow to be extra inexpensive.
Design and aesthetics | Black is at all times in style, and the R5 cuts a contemporary slick WorldTour determine | 10/10 |
Build | Cervélo’s own-brand elements do an excellent job and the Reserve wheels had been a nice shock | 10/10 |
Performance, dealing with and geometry | Light, quick and assured dealing with | 9/10 |
Weight | The 703g body may be very spectacular for a disc brake body, albeit ot the lightest at school | 9/10 |
Value | There are cheaper WorldTour bikes on the identical spec, and there is a little bit of a premium on the Cervelo title | 6/10 |
Overall | Row 5 – Cell 1 | 94% |