Cervelo Caledonia Ultegra R8170 Di2 Bicycle 2022

Cervelo's drive to create the race infused "modern road" Caledonia-series was inspired and informed by several factors. One was to develop a Paris-Roubaix capable bike for the Spring Classics, with their blend of pavement, hardpack dirt, old roads, and of course, cobblestones. Another was the realization that many cyclists deal with forced and optional transitional surfaces such as beat-up urban roads, country lanes, and hopefully some smooth, fast pavement. The now common road disc brake bikes can feature higher volume tires that can handle that versatility, and we all now know that larger tires can be an asset in almost every situation, features lower rolling resistance, offer comfort stability and control. This great riding bike delivers versatility, speed and pure enjoyment.

To create road race-level performance in a frameset design that can accommodate 700x34 tires, a new geometry was required, and while pure road race designs for pavement can have fast handling, that affects stability when multi-surface versatility is required. The Caledonia-series meets these requirements, while also delivering necessary compliance, excellent power transfer, and a handling balance that still allows for fast, tight corners and curving descents, while delivering safer control when needed. This is truly a modern road design, built for serious enthusiasts, racers, and any road cyclist who loves to string together rides that aren't limited to smooth pavement.

The geometry is executed so the top-level Caledonia 5 and the standard Caledonia are the same, and both offer fit ranges within Cervelo's size ranges for most cyclists without compromising feel or handling. The Stack and Reach measurements, seat tube angles, and headtube lengths either match or are super close to the R-Series. The front-center, headtube angle and fork rake are different to accommodate the tire volume and steering, while bottom bracket height is reasonably low. All ensure proper handling and stability. It is important to note that standover height is taller than same-size R-Series due to the tire size capability and necessary clearance. The frame is still sloping, yet sits taller off the ground.

There are differences between the Caledonia frameset and it's 5-level sibling. Some cyclists considering a Caledonia model might strongly appreciate that this frame has a standard round tapered steerer tube and wire/housing routing instead of the 5-level's fully integrated, proprietary system. Any normal bar, stem, or round 27.2mm seatpost can be used. You aren't sacrificing tire clearance, fender/accessory mounts, or ride quality. There are some carbon and construction changes as a result, and the standard Caledonia frame is 95 grams heavier and less aero up front, but the cost, simplicity and features are yours choice to make. The evolved geometry is here for a more stable, sure-handling ride over long hours of multi-surface riding. The proper carbon lay-up for deflection, control, and compliance is just as well balanced. Cervelo measures the stiffness ratings of both framesets as the same at 222 Nm/mm BB / 105 Nm/deg.

The Caledonia has internal routing through the downtube and access plates for wires, cables, housing and hydraulic hose, and can be built as a 1x or 2x mechanical or electronic drivetrain. The front derailleur tab can be removed for a clean look with a 1x set-up. The full carbon tapered Caledonia specific fork features internal routing, Flat Mount set-up for disc calipers, and a 12/100mm thru-axle interface. Integrated fender mounts make for a clean install and you can run up to a 700x31mm tire with fenders- front and rear. The frameset comes with an IS-2 headset, and uses a 27.2mm round seatpost. The rear dropout is for a 12/142mm thru-axle. Cervelo supplies their lever action, Indexed Thru-Axles front and rear.