R5 has one job—get to the top, fast. But for all the glory and fanfare that comes with a summit finish, they’re rarely the only climb of the day. And while a race isn’t usually won on a descent, they can certainly be lost. A climbing bike that can’t carve a hairpin is a bit like a cup of decaf coffee. This is the fourth iteration of the R5, and while weight and stiffness have varied over the years, the handling, poise, and unmatched prowess on a descent have been consistent since day one.
The new R5 frame is 130g lighter than the previous model—a 16% reduction from an already-light frame. And while aerodynamics weren’t a focus with this frame the way they would be on an S5 or P5, bringing the cables inside reduced drag by 25g.
SPECS:
| Frame | Cervélo Carbon |
| Fork | Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered R5 Fork |
| Rims/Wheels | New Reserve 34/37mm Tubeless Ready |
| Hubs | DT370, Zipp 76/176 HG, Center-Lock |
| Spokes | N/A |
| Tires | Vittoria Corsa TLR G2.0 25c |
| Crankset | Shimano Ultegra 8100 |
| Chainrings | 52/36 |
| Bottom Bracket | JY-BB 24 |
| Chain | Shimano CN-M8100, 12 spd |
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Ultegra Di2 8150, 12 spd |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Ultegra Di2 8150, 12 spd |
|
Cassette/Rear Cogs
|
Shimano Ultegra CS-R8100, 12 spd, 11-30 |
| Shifters |
Shimano Ultegra Di2 8170, 12 spd |
| Handlebars | Cervélo HB13 Carbon |
| Stem | Cervélo ST31 Carbon |
| Brake Levers | Shimano Ultegra Di2 8170, 12 spd |
| Brakes | Shimano Ultegra 8170 Hydraulic Disc with Shimano RT-MT800, 160mm Rotors |
| Saddle | Prologo Scratch M5 PAS TiRox OR Selle Italia FLITE BOOST SuperFlow Ti |
| Seat Post | Cervelo SP24 Seatpost |
*In the bicycle industry, suppliers and factories sometimes change specs without notice and state that they are "subject to change without notice". This is because bicycles are made from hundreds of parts which come from dozens of vendors. Parts are sometimes updated to the most current production generation/iteration one gets better or more current parts or a comparable part. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.