PERFORMANCE
Cervélo R5 Disc Force
£8,599 Is this classic still the race bike of your dreams?
Weight 7.4kg (56cm) Frame Cervélo R5 Fork Cervélo R5 Gears SRAM Force 48/35, 10-33 Brakes SRAM Force disc Wheels Reserve 34/37mm rims Finishing kit Cervélo carbon bar and stem, Prologo Scratch M5 PAS TiRox saddle, Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0, 700x25c tyres
The Good
Lively ride; handling; comfort; classic good looks
The Bad
Expensive compared with its rivals and tubeless tyres.
Fettling fiddles
Up front, the decision to fully integrate the hydraulic hoses does mean swapping parts is slightly trickier than before
Aero gains
Hiding the cables has apparently shaved off 25g of aerodynamic drag, which is around 3W at 48km/h – and results in very clean lines
An extra bonus
The Reserve wheels are backed by a lifetime warranty for the original owner, including “low-cost crash replacements” if a mishap occurs
CERVÉLO’S R5 DISC Force eTap AXS is a classic road-racing bike. Cervélo has stuck to the R-Series’ original tenets –a stiff, lightweight carbon frameset with racy geometry, traditional lines and pencilthin seatstays. Though this wouldn’t be 2022 without aero gains, electronic gearing
Thanks to input from pro riders, Cervélo has actually reduced frontend stiffness and it’s a change for the better too, as it glides more smoothly over rough roads. You’ll still feel big knocks, but the more compliant front end dissipates road buzz well. Rear-end comfort is also impressive, thanks to a slim D-shaped seatpost and its dainty seatstays.
With a renewed focus on weight, Cervélo says a 56cm frame is now a scant 703g. But the R5 doesn’t totally ignore aerodynamics.
Cervélo’s trademark Squoval (square-oval) tube shapes are more aerodynamically efficient than completely round tubes, and the fork crown flows elegantly into the down tube to help smooth the airflow.
The R5’s low overall mass means it feels sprightly on the climbs, and when stamping on the pedals, the stout bottombracket area, down tube and chainstays ensure there’s no detectable flex. The agile but predictable handling, compliance and a lack of deep section tubes or rims to catch any errant gusts of wind, also make it a confident descender in all weathers.
SRAM’s Force eTap AXS continues to impress, providing reliable shifting and excellent braking. The inclusion of a SRAM Force AXS power meter is a real boon.
The Reserve 34/37mm tubeless-ready carbon wheels complement the build very well and offer a small aero benefit. The premium Vittoria Corsa tyres offer a great balance of low rolling resistance, high grip and reasonable puncture protection.
There have been lighter, stiffer R5s, but for everyone except dedicated hill climb racers, this still represents progress. It might not be the fastest or lightest bike, but it does practically everything well – though at £8,599 it lags behind its rivals for value.
That aside, the Cervélo R5 Disc remains very much the same bike many road cyclists have long admired.
Verdict
A classic road-racing bike in every sense, and SRAM Force impresses, but it ain’t cheap