And the R5-CX outruns the Canyon in straight-line situations and on descents and chutes.ĭuring testing, I swapped the R5-CX’s single chainring for a double and front derailleur. Though Canyon’s Inflite SLX turns better than the R5-CX on slow-speed hairpins, the Cervélo inspires confidence at higher speeds. Paired with a compact reach, the R5-CX feels more like you are riding “on” the bike than “in” it, as with Cannondale’s or Specialized’s gravel-twinged cyclocross models. Buyers can also opt for the $13,000 Red eTap AXS model.Ĭompared to other cyclocross bikes I have ridden the past two seasons, the Cervélo feels noticeably taller at the bottom bracket and shorter in head-tube length. Built with SRAM Force AXS 1x, stock Cervélo carbon cockpit kit, and Reserve 40/44 tubeless wheels, the bike weighed a respectable 18 pounds. I assembled my test bike similarly to how Cervélo offers the $9,000 R5-CX Force eTap AXS model, only differing with tires and saddle. The Moon Drop is also stunning, but the Five Black looks quite plain. While the 1,083-gram frame weight wasn’t that surprising, the color-shifting is hard to summarize in words or fully capture in photos. Pulling the R5-CX frame from its protective packaging, you notice two things: its relatively feathery weight and the pearlescence of its white paint. The frameset includes a frame, a fork, a stem, a handlebar, a post, two clamps, a headset, and other assembly bits. Priced at $5,500, the R5-CX frame is offered in three colors: Five Black, Frost (white), and Moon Drop Camo (purple and black). And while similar in appearance, the best cyclocross bikes are distinct from gravel-specific bikes. Gravel as a bike category is a new phenomenon. If you ask a curmudgeonly old bike racer about gravel bikes, you might be on the receiving end of a “back in the day” rant about how they used cyclocross bikes for gravel riding. And many of them were never raced but rather ridden enthusiastically by riders who probably had no clue about the discipline or their bike’s original intent. Until gravel bikes rose in popularity, aluminum cyclocross bicycles were often the go-to for riders seeking lightweight, multipurpose bikes. The by-product of that extra tire clearance on cyclocross bikes means the frames have clearance for wider tires or fenders-ideal for dirt roads and rainy commutes, respectively. Myerson notes the high BB as “critical for being able to pedal through turns, in ruts, or over uneven terrain without striking a pedal.” In cyclocross, the ideal bikes have a low weight and “the ability to get your arm through the triangle and carry it on your shoulder easily,” he adds. A high bottom-bracket height is better for racing ’cross than it is for gravel.
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“There are a few things you want in a pure cyclocross bike that are different from what might work for gravel or even road,” explains Adam Myerson, a former professional racer who now coaches several top cyclocross pros.įrames and forks need clearance for knobby tires and riding in thick mud. The best ’cross bikes are those designed and engineered for peak performance in races. It thoroughly excels at that task the bike’s results at the elite level speak for themselves. It’s a purpose-built bike designed for the exacting demands of top riders.
The R5-CX is Cervélo’s love letter to cyclocross.
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