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TECH NEWS

Cervélo launch revamped S5 aero road bike

New S5 claimed to be faster and stiffer than original version (well, you'd hope)

Cervélo launched a revamped S5 aero road bike this week at Eurobike - the world's biggest bike show. The new bike, 18 months in development, is claimed by the Canadian company to reduce drag by 21.3 watts* compared to current S5.

The current S5, introduced four years ago, is often regarded as one of the fastest aero road bikes, but Cervélo say they have finessed the design and managed to make it even faster - the only way they could make it faster now would be to add fins one Cervelo representative quipped - well we think he was quipping. While it still unmistakably looks like the old S5 - which the laws of aerodynamics being what they are you'd expect it to, it is a bit easier on the eye with slightly softer lines.

Not only is the new S5 faster, it's also boasts increased stiffness in the head tube and bottom bracket for more responsive and direct handling say Cervelo. The fork has been redesigned and the head tube is also shorter to lower the front-end put riders into a more aerodynamic position. Cervélo claim a 17 percent increase in lateral stiffness.

One of the big aerodynamic savings has been the new aero handlebar Cervélo have designed specifically for the S5. Aero shaped with internal cable routing, the new handlebar is claimed to save 4.4 watts over a competitor's handlebar.

We’ve seen increased popularity in integrated handlebars in the professional peloton, and Canyon launched a new one-piece aero bar at the Tour de France. However, the Cervélo handlebar uses a conventional stem which means your fit options aren’t restricted.

There are other neat design touches. A compartment in the down tube for a battery, future-proofed cable routing, first introduced on the S3 and R3 last year, with mechanical and electronic group set compatibility.

The frame and fork have been designed with wider rims and tyres in mind, as that is the way bicycle design is going at the moment. The bike here is fitted with HED Jet 6 Plus SCT aero wheels and with the 23mm tyres fitted, they’re much more like a 25mm tyre.

The bike should be in the shops this autumn. We will update this article with pricing details as soon as we have them. 

*Cervélo don’t tell us what speeds these savings are made at.

Click here to read all of our stories from Eurobike 2014 - the world's biggest bike show.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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7 comments

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Kiwicervelo | 9 years ago
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Looks awesome, wonder if the aero handlebars are interchangeable with the 2014 model?

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gazza_d | 9 years ago
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That would cut a couple of minutes off the commute

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CJSTEVENS1955 | 9 years ago
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UCI ban decals for not being black enough! What next?

Such strict Swiss...have a Kit Kat...no a Toblerone

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Timsen | 9 years ago
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No disc brake option then ?

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Flying Heron | 9 years ago
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Agree with the chain stay piece above, I'm lucky to have a vwd s5 and can honestly say its a beast of a bike. Not sure the wife will let me upgrade to the new model!!! Great bike, which divides opinion on looks, but I've never met anyone that doesn't like it after a ride!!!!

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DavidC | 9 years ago
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My only major problem with the original S5 is the chainstays, and these have been redesigned on the new model (but not mentioned here).

The original ones, while perhaps giving some aero advantage, have a shape which catches and shifts the chain during wheel changes, causing general hassles and delays, and makes wheel changes while in the big ring impossible.

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notfastenough | 9 years ago
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Loving the wing bars, but for such an aero bike I'm surprised to see the stem faceplate bolts sitting out in the wind. Not sure how it would best be solved - either a propietary stem design, some sort of fairing on the centre section of the bars to direct the airflow, or something else.

Be nice to see it in some other colours.

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