Cervélo R5 ridden and rated
Tested by: Rupert Radley | Miles ridden: 321 | Size tested: M | Weight: 7.12kg
Cervélo’s engineers wanted to create a bike that would make riders really feel the ride as well as exploring how a bike could feel fast and responsive without being uncomfortable. This they aptly named “the psychology of the ride”, and the R5 frame’s carbon layup lets just enough road resonance through to make the ride feel quick and lively without being jarring.
Frame
The R5’s geometry chart is really a long list of developments that make it an all-round more aggressive beast, the most drastic of which is the drop in the head tube height from the previous model down to 151mm — an adjustment made for the company’s sponsored pro riders, according to Cervélo, which include Dimension Data.
That lowering of the head tube partnered with a lower bottom bracket and a longer wheelbase (to 993mm) is a triple whammy that creates a stable base to a proven racewinning machine.
Specification
The bike’s Formula One level geometry is matched by Formula One level specification, and in pole position is the SRAM Red etap HRD groupset. While some might not consider it traditional, it’s not difficult to get to grips with. It’s intuitive and didn’t mis-shift or skip gears, with each change met by a reassuring clunk. Thanks to its wireless transmission it’s also a beautifully clean set-up that won’t leave you fishing around in internal ports or replacing worn cables.
It does feel a little dated when compared to Shimano’s Dura-ace R9150 groupset, or even the newer Ultegra model, but happily for the
same price you can get an R5 equipped with either of the latter.
The Zipp 302 wheels create a great partnership, and their deep-section rims really complement the stiffness built into the frame. We did find the Continental Grand Prix tyres to be a touch too hard for our liking. But it’s an easy fix, and swapping in some Pirelli Pzero Velo 4S tyres really brought the bike to life.
Even better, the wide rim on the Zipps blew the tyres from 25mm up to a whopping 30mm (with plenty of clearance to spare), making for a luxuriously smooth ride.
Ride
Its fast looks aren’t let down out on the road — it’s light, stiff, feels direct under power and is a blast to ride. Swapping out the tyres took the initial harshness off the ride thanks to their superwide diameter when paired with the Zipp 302 rim.
Sweeping Italian hills and slippery British descents have confirmed that going down is truly at the heart of this bike and I’d go so far as to say the handling quality of the R5 is the best I’ve ever ridden. The longer wheelbase and the angles make it feel very stable and the lower bottom bracket makes flipping the bike into corners enjoyably easy.
Fast on the flats and even faster on the descents, the Cervélo R5 is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
Value
Yes, £7,000 is a lot of money by most people’s standards but it’s the miniumum that you’d expect to pay for a Worldtour-level race bike with a flagship groupset and Zipp wheels.
We found everything about this bike and its build to be exceptional — and that level of performance inevitably costs serious money. Not one for riders on a budget!