Why choose the Cervelo C5 over the C3? Premium carbon, light weight, and better torsional and lateral stiffness. With the same geometry, these are the only differences, but for those seeking just a little more performance and response, the C5 is the right choice. As with many carbon bikes that seem the same, but have a jump in price, you pay for higher grade carbon to get the premium experience. The frame and fork are engineered with this carbon, dropping the overall frameset by about 6% with real increases in power transfer and overall frameset torsional resistance that translates to greater stability and control while being more efficient. All that, yet no drop in vertical compliance, which is a crucial consideration with this very capable endurance frameset. So what is the endurance category all about?

There exists, between road race and gravel/allroad, a bike category that truly captures the attention of many road cyclists who will never race in their life, but love to put in long weekend hours and miles, and might take on the occasional gran fondo or long distance benefit event. This is the endurance genre, or road bikes for long days, perhaps some mixed surfaces, and the need for a starting fit position that eschews racing for a little more comfort. In the current iteration, the Cervelo C5 frame design is nearly perfectly executed for cyclists who are considering an endurance bike but want lighter weight, top grade lateral stiffness and overall responsiveness. Capable of handling tires up to 700x32, with fender use, the C5 utilizes flat mount disc brakes and 12mm threaded thru-axles to offer stable, sturdy all-weather platform with many of the performance capabilities of the incredibly popular road Cervelo series, with even more vertical compliance for long days and rough roads.

Unlike how Cervelo handles the R-series bikes, the geometry of the C5 matches that of the C3 and is somewhat typical of the endurance category. You'll find a taller headtube, for a higher cockpit position and less stress on the body. The stack height increase necessitates a slacker headttube angle and a fork length and rake that allows the bike to retain front end stability and balance. Other advantages are greater tire clearance and a more frame slope, so standover height is increased. That set-up allowed Cervelo's engineers to lower the bottom bracket, which improves handling and stability, as does lengthening the rear center to 420mm. The one-piece rear triangle gets curved thin seatstays which attenuate more vibration and give a little bit under impact, ensuring more overall comfort. With the asymmetric 79mm wide BBright bottom bracket shell and beefy chainstays, lateral stiffness and power transfer is excellent. Cervelo is using their square-oval tubeset, or Squoval, which increases overall tube strength, mildly improves aerodynamics over round or many flatter tube shapes. The headtube and bottom bracket junctions are stronger, defeating lateral torsion. This process is aided by the overall integrated frame design, plus the new 1⅛ x 1 ½" tapered steerer Cervelo carbon flat mount disc fork and the use of the 12mm thru-axles front and rear, which deliver a tangible effect riders coming off the quick release dropout/axle type will notice.... Read More