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TECH NEWS
cervelo r5 2017.pngNew Cervelo R5 breaks cover at Dubai Tour
A replacement for the Cervélo R5 has broken cover at the Dubai Tour with photos appearing on social media, the dazzling camouflage paint job, rather than concealing it from public gaze, making it easy to spot against the regular team Dimension Data race bikes.
It’s the first update since the R5 was launched back in 2013, a frame which used technology first developed for the US-made RCA with its 670g frame weight and $10,0000 price tag.
Without seeing the bike in the flesh, it’s difficult to really determine the key changes to the new R5, but there are some noticeable differences. It has clearly moved the previously external seat clamp inside the top tube, a design approach that is increasingly common on top-end carbon frames. It allows more exposed seatpost to provide a bit more deflection.
Comparing the new bike to the current R5, it does look like the down tube has a substantially larger profile. Has Cervélo developed a new version of the Squoval 3 (Cervélo's name for rounded square tube profiles) to increase stiffness and improve aerodynamics without adding an extra weight? My guess would be that Cervélo has looked to improve the stiffness-to-weight ratio, much as Giant did with its new TCR Advanced race bike last year.
The new model appears on the UCI’s list of approved frames where it’s called the “R5 rim brake version” and was confirmed on 6th January 20167. Does that name mean there’s a disc brake version on its way too? It wouldn’t surprise us; Cervélo has made disc brake versions of the R3 and S3, and a disc version of the bike favoured by many of the Dimension Data team would be obvious.
We’ll have to wait and see what developments and changes the new bike offers when Cervélo decides to release it. We’ve contacted Cervélo for comment.
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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8 comments
Gold Chains.....
Always has a soft spot for Cervelos, shame my last one wasn't actually built "straight".
Looks setup like Cav's come to think of it. That bar shape and gold chain..
See his S5
Which, as opposed to surly, I think looks immense. Only topped by the XR4. Bars would need to go though.
Plain black bar tape would make it look less 'busy', and also match the wheels.
A bit yawn. They look good in small size with Enve deep section wheels and the crazy paint job (although those handlebars are minging; and the pointy down saddle is unusual). But I imagine when they paint it like the rest of the R series and show it on their website it'll look as dull as all other Cervelos. At least it isn't as eye burningly horrible as the S series.
The paint job is a 'camo' application, much like car manafactuers use to hide the shapes of their new cars.
Nah! Nice looking bike but that paintjob looks like a dog's dinner. Talking of which, those chainstays look mighty meaty.
Loving that fat downtube. They should release it with this prototype paintwork. Looks class.
700g frame would be drool-worthy, but it'll probably be similar to the existing R5. 800g or so..