2022 Cervelo R5 Review: Iterations on a theme

It’s not often that a new road bike launches to the world with the words less stiff within the marketing copy. But here we are, in 2021, and that’s just happened.
The new Cervelo R5, the latest in a long and storied R-series lineage, was designed to hit similar bottom bracket stiffness targets to the previous model but add a fair amount of compliance, particularly in the front end. It’s not much less stiff, mind. But it is less stiff. And it was done on purpose.
It’s also, of course, lighter. And more integrated. And a bit more aero. All the usual uses of more in the bike launch context. The purpose of these changes, Cervelo says, was to make a bike that stopped trying to be a “GC bike,” whatever that is, and just stuck to what it’s good at: going up and going down.
So did it work? Did this new R5 hit the mark? Watch the video to find out.
Want more? Our full written review may have the answers you seek: cyclingtips.co...
Our Field Test group bike tests are by no means paid events, but they’re still only possible with some outside support.
CyclingTips would like to thank the following sponsors for this round of the Field Test:
Rudy Project
rudyproject.com/
Pearl Izumi
pearlizumi.com/
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
sierranevada.com/
Lead Out Gear
leadoutgear.com/
Park Tool
parktool.com/