When you have a budget, but seek speed and efficiency with great reliability, you simply have to find the bike with "Cervelo S-Series" and "Ultegra" in the name. With it's most recent S-Series frameset release (a carryover from the 2019 S3), Cervelo has made significant improvements over the previous generation S3 frameset with specifications that deliver a stiffer, faster, smoother, and more aerodynamic experience across the full S-Series range, including this Ultegra R8020 equipped bike, which is positioned for everyday efforts without fuss and the reliability of Shimano's mechanical shifting and mineral oil based hydraulic disc brakes.

As popular and respected as the R-series bikes are both within and outside Cervelo, the S-series truly represents the core engineering and aerodynamic values of the Canadian company. The current TrueAero tube and overall frame design represent the evolution of NACA-derived aero shapes and the application of flatback, or what is also known as a Kamm tail design. Perhaps the best way to think of this is consider the NACA shapes as variations of elliptical or oval airfoils, as commonly seen on airplanes. The Kamm tail is essentially a foil with a squared-off back side. This is much more effective at speeds that bicycles attain, with the overall oval widening slightly as from the front to back. This increases the time the frontal or angled onrushing air stays cleanly on the tube and releases cleanly off the back, while providing a push, from what is known as laminar boundary layer.

The aerodynamic advantages of this are clear, but the focus of the engineering is on how to bring each tube shape and junction together to create a complete aero package. Yet that is only a portion of the S-Series, or any other frameset story. The assembly needs to be a performance bike that offers torsional headtube and bottom bracket stiffness- which is augmented by the flatback design, along with proper geometry, an appropriate level of vertical compliance. Overall safety is, of course, paramount. So the sleek lines and optimal integration you see from the outside houses a lay-up of various carbon fiber types that deliver safety, strength, power transfer, control and a connection to the road that inspires. Of course some of the engineering can be seen as well, with the Asymmetric BBright system and chainstays the most obvious. The aero fork, frame interface is both visually impressive and aerodynamically sound, while the partial seattube cutout carries the air that clings to the frame and guides it as cleanly as possible beyond the rear wheel.

The disc brake design of the full carbon proprietary fork and frame has allowed the the designers to improve tire clearance (up to 30mm) and overall dropout stiffness, while improving the aero principles of the fork and rear stays that no longer have a brake to carry. The disc caliper mount is the Flat Mount standard, and the maximum rotor size is 160mm. Cable/housing routing for the fork and frame is internal, with the S-Series employing the Aero Cable Management system. For the S-Series a unique aspect of this is the included AB09 aero handlebar and the A029 Stem combination. These are not off-the-shelf equipment but S-Series specific options designed to work together to bring the housing and wires underneath the bar to pass into the stem and down the headtube to the frame. Yes, this requires a new headset bearing tension system and some deft and knowledgeable handling when building or adjusting, but when wired or cabled, with hydraulic hose set-up, this is actually a practical design, and once assembled once becomes much easier to manage. The end result is a super clean bar and stem set-up that features your levers and tape. It is impressive, and improves aero efficiency.

From a geometry perspective, the S-Series Ultegra Bicycle is race ready, though with a slightly taller headtube than a World Tour design. You can still get plenty low. Cervelo supplies the proprietary stem and proper handlebar in sizes that are general matches to the frame size. Please contact us if you require other sizes to meet your bike fit.

By no everyone knows that Ultegra R8020/R8000 is one of the best mechanical shifting groupsets ever offered, and it adds powerful disc braking with the feel required for road use. You get the R8020 shift/brake levers, R8000 front and rear derailleurs, R8070 flat mount hydraulic disc calipers, RT800 160mm CL IceTech road disc rotors. For the rest of the drivetrain Cervelo opted for a wide-ranging, but speedy 11-speed set-up with the Ultegra 52-36 R8000 crankset, 11-30 cassette and Ultegra CN701 chain.

The wheelset is the DT Swiss P1800 32 Spline TLR Disc and these are equipped with Vittoria Corsa TLR G 700x25mm clincher tires. Cervelo supplies the Aero SP20 Carbon seatpost and updated A029 Alloy Stem. The Cervelo Carbon AB09 Aero bar is a clean and stout unit and it's finished with their bar tape. A Prologo Dimension STN saddle fits many and is a nice pedaling platform. The build carries a 1¼" x 1⅜" FSA IS-2 headset for the full carbon S-Series Fork. Cervelo is also using the user friendly DT-style levered, threaded thru-axle system for the fork and frame for secure and confident use.