Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

TECH NEWS

Cervélo S5 - first ride review

Small changes add up to a big difference with the redesigned Cervélo S5

Cervélo’s S5 has long laid claim to being one of the fastest aero road bikes. It was launched in 2011, at a time when aero road bikes were really in their infancy. Fast forward to 2015 and the Canadian bike brand has redesigned the S5. It’s now a much better looking bike, but more important than that are the claims that it's a faster and better handling version of the original.

I took to the silky smooth roads around Germany recently and found the new S5 to provide hugely accessible speed, with a noticeable improvement in the handling department. But really this bike is all about speed, and in that department, it doesn't fail to deliver. I didn't need a cycle computer to tell me how fast I was going, the pure sensations were enough. It's an easier bike to ride fast than the old one, less compromise in the way it handles.

- Cervélo launch revamped S5 aero road bike

That the S5 would be fast was never really in doubt. The frame and fork have been shaped in the wind tunnel and the deep section wheels only add to the sensation of unbridled speed. There are a lot of changes with the new S5 to get out of the way first. For a start, it looks a lot different. Some say better. I tend to agree; the previous S5 wasn’t the best looking bike, the new S5 is easier on the eye. 

The headline figures for the less subjective changes to the new bike include a 21.3 watt drag reduction at 40kph, a 35% stiffer head tube, 17% stiffer fork and 6% stiffer bottom bracket, while maintaining the same weight as the previous version. Not only has the company redesigned the frame and fork, it has developed its own aero handlebar. According to the company’s claims, the carbon aero handlebar is good for a 4.4 watt drag reduction compared to a conventional handlebar, a big part of the near 22 watt aero improvement. 

It’s interesting that as bike brands have continued to develop their aero road bikes, that they've also started looking elsewhere on the bike improvements. This has led to the likes of Trek, Canyon and Specialized developing similar aero handlebars as well. 

- The fastest aero road bikes

Why? It’s all about reducing the frontal surface area, so the entire bike slices through the air more cleanly. Tricky to determine this improvement in real-world riding though. Riding in the drops or on the hoods, and it feels like any other handlebar. It’s a nice shape and the drops have a comfortable bend. The top section isn’t really intended for using, though you can of course rest your hands on them.

Other small, but no less important changes to the new S5 include a compartment in the down tube to house a Di2 battery, and future-proofed internal cable routing so it’ll take any new groupset that might be launched in the future. Of more importance however, and applicable to any cyclist with an interest in wider tyres, is the news that the S5 has been designed with wider rims and tyres in mind, up to 25mm. The latest aerodynamic experts in the bike industry seem to (currently) agree that wider rims and tyres are more efficient, and bike manufacturers have been responding with frames and forks better designed to accommodate the extra girth.

The geometry is unchanged, save for a 15mm lower stack height on the 56cm, due to the short head tube, placing you in a lower, more aerodynamic position. Fine provided your back can deal with it, but you wouldn’t ride an aero road bike if you couldn’t ride in a reasonably aggressive position, especially since it’s the cyclist that accounts for as much as 80% of the wind resistance.

How does it ride?

All those little changes add up to a big difference. The most noticeable improvement is how good the handling is. It feels faster, tauter and more responsive. The quest for speed with aero road bikes can lead to compromise: incredibly fast in a straight line, but not great through the corners. The S5 however feels like a really good road bike, much like the R5 in fact, when it’s pushed and pulled through corners. It’s clear the changes to the frameset, particularly at the front with the new fork and stiffer/shorter head tube, has increased how tight and direct the new bike feels.

I'd like to talk about the ride comfort, but to be honest the test roads were so silky smooth and the saddle time too limited to really reach a verdict here. Hopefully a test ride on UK roads is on the cards so that aspect can be thoroughly tested.

The original S5 has long been considered the benchmark aero road bike, and based on this short first ride, it seems like it's a position the new bike isn't going to give up easily. There’s a lot more competition in this market though, with several new bikes from Trek, Canyon and Specialized launched this year, that will certainly push the new S5 very hard indeed. I can feel a grouptest coming on here.

One thing is for sure, aero road bikes are maturing fast, with improved aero efficiency and less tradeoff in handling and all-round performance. More time is needed to thoroughly assess the new S5, but based on this first ride, it’s clear the updated bike is an improvement on the previous version. 

That's all very good, but how much does it cost?​

The new Cervélo S5 is available in three builds, and there’s a frameset (£3,499) option as well. The range starts off with a Shimano Ultegra model, rises to Shimano Dura-Ace, and tops out with Dura-Ace Di2.

That’s the bike I rode, and it also comes with HED Jet 6 Plus SCT wheels with Continental Grand Prix 23mm tyres, and finished with a Rotor 3D+ BBright™ 52/36 chainset. And FSA OS-99 CSI stem clamps the Cervélo Carbon Aero handlebar in place, and a Fizik Antares saddle finishes the build. This build costs £ 7,299.00. Yes, it’s not cheap.

It’s also available as the S5 Team Dura-Ace Di2, complete with the same paint job featured on the Team MTN-Qhubeka race bikes. 

More at www.cervelo.com/en/bikes/s-series/s5.html

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

Add new comment

18 comments

Avatar
rascal6000 | 8 years ago
0 likes

The geometry is changed a little more than suggestef; the R-Series and S3 along with the predecessor S5 all share the same geometry, the new S5 has longer Reach and lower Stack across the board.

Superb bike, lovely bar shape and my out of the box Garmin mounted tells me it's fast....

Doubters doubt

Avatar
Rixter | 8 years ago
0 likes

I guess now that it's no longer Garmin/Cervelo, they don't have to bother trying to mount a GPS on the front of that weird aero handlebar  16

Avatar
steviemarco | 8 years ago
0 likes

" I didn't need a cycle computer to tell me how fast I was going, the pure sensations were enough".

A slight head wind would give that sensation also.  24

Avatar
hampstead_bandit | 8 years ago
0 likes

the bar is not pretty but it makes a lot of sense from a bike fitting point of view, and I cannot see the faceplate making an aero difference as the front of the bar will already have broken the air (I'm sure Cervelo did their homework!)

10mm on the stem reach can be the difference between a great fit, and always over reaching.

that new Cervelo bar allows an easy swap out to get the correct stem length, and makes fitting much easier / cheaper.

One of the aero bikes we sell has an integrated bar/stem, and several occasions during a fit I've had to swap it out to get the fit right for the client, which means taking a "soiled" bar (once fitted its always marked by the STI clamps) back into stock(cannot be sold as new), providing a brand new boxed bar/stem (£350) and then the workshop having to recable the entire bike due to the internal bar cable routing.

Avatar
RobD | 8 years ago
0 likes

I think the Team version is the best looking team bike out there, and doesn't scream pro wannabe as much as most of the others available, I love the Movistar coloured canyons but they definitely aren't subtle about being a team bike.

Avatar
finbar | 8 years ago
0 likes

That bar might fast but my goodness it's ugly compared to integrated 'cockpits' (for want of a less cringey word).

Avatar
peted76 | 8 years ago
0 likes

Quick...! Somebody get Crikey a snickers!

Avatar
woodsie | 8 years ago
0 likes

Dave Arthur is doing a job where you have to appreciate how difficult it is to get across the fine differences in thest 6 to 10 grand bikes...... i have read many of daves reviews as i`m buying a new bike soon and have found his reviews really helpful in me gaining at least some of these fine differences

Avatar
crikey | 8 years ago
0 likes

Dave isn't that bad, I think you're over-reacting.
 3

Avatar
Kadinkski | 8 years ago
0 likes

Can I suggest two improvements to this site:

1) Introduce a 'block' function so I don't have to see posts from certain users.

2) Remove the 'reply' function. It doesn't do anything except cause confusion.

Avatar
crikey | 8 years ago
0 likes

Yes, some people like to question the things they read, it's an old habit and one that should be adopted by more folk.

Avatar
1961BikiE | 8 years ago
0 likes

Christ on a bike,some people.

Avatar
crikey | 8 years ago
0 likes

Yes, and goes a long way towards the idea that this is a real review, thank you.

I'm constantly irritated by the 'fast' claims though; measure it or don't say it.

Avatar
Nick T replied to crikey | 8 years ago
0 likes
crikey wrote:

I'm constantly irritated by the 'fast' claims though; measure it or don't say it.

38.5km/h

Helpful, right?

Avatar
crikey | 8 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

I didn't need a cycle computer to tell me how fast I was going, the pure sensations were enough.

I see the usual high standard of reviewing 'fast' things still hold true...

I would lend more credence to 'reviews' of this kind if you told us what the full deal was; did you get to travel to Germany and get your stay there paid for?

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to crikey | 8 years ago
0 likes
crikey wrote:
Quote:

I didn't need a cycle computer to tell me how fast I was going, the pure sensations were enough.

I see the usual high standard of reviewing 'fast' things still hold true...

I would lend more credence to 'reviews' of this kind if you told us what the full deal was; did you get to travel to Germany and get your stay there paid for?

The bike was ridden at the Eurobike Demo Day. It's held the day before the show, and provides an opportunity to ride many of the latest 2016 bikes. with no marketing people around, we're free to get on and ride the bikes. road.cc covered all costs travelling to, and staying in Germany for the week we were there. Does that help you?

Avatar
themartincox | 8 years ago
0 likes

4 bolts on that stem - facing directly into the wind.

surely something can be done about that to shave off another 3 watts at 62kph!

Avatar
Namasteve replied to themartincox | 8 years ago
0 likes

From the pictures, if you buy the S5 Team model, they cut down the stem for you...

themartincox wrote:

4 bolts on that stem - facing directly into the wind.

surely something can be done about that to shave off another 3 watts at 62kph!

Latest Comments