This one of Cervélo It's not the first cyclocross-specific bike, because already in 2007 the company produced two R3 Cross modelsSince then, much has changed: technologies, trends, and the athletes themselves with their demands. The R5-CX was born from the collaboration with Team Jumbo-Visma athletes, Wout Van Aert and Marianne VosThere is a common thread with the version R5 road used by WVA, but the CX platform has its own development conceptsBut let's look at the main details together.
Cervélo R5-CX, now only for the team
The officialization of this version of the Cervelo R5, previews WVA's debut in cyclocross and will currently only be used by a few riders from the Dutch team. We like to think of it as a sort of final test for the cross-country platform, ahead of its full availability, expected at the end of August 2022.
A compact bike
Let's start from the assumption that the Cervélo R5-CX has a full carbon monocoque framekit. TheIts development is based on the R5 road model (disc brakes), but with some very important differencesConceptually it is not “just” a very light carbon bike, but a “racing tool” that finds its maximum expression in the R5 segmentThe front end has a fork with straight legs, rounded at the front and with a wide arch in the upper section and plenty of clearance for the wheel. There's also a sort of protuberance here that fits into the down tube. Aerodynamic research is present, even if it does not play a primary role. Still on the subject of the fork, it has a 51mm rake for sizes 51-54 and 56, which reduces to 48 for the largest size, i.e. 58: figures that match a 71,5° steering angle (72° for size 58). All this translates into a very short compartment, easy to handle and extremely ready for changes of direction.
The head tube fits the FSA ACR headset and this allows the integration of wires and sheaths, eliminating any possible bottleneck problems. The Cervélo R5-CX is only compatible with electronic drivetrains. Reduced numbers also for the head tube, but still in line with the most modern developments: 97, 118, 139 and 157 millimetres, respectively for sizes 51, 54, 56 and 58.
Muscular and lean, Cervélo DNA
The horizontal profile is bulkier at the front, to flatten towards the rearIts connection to the seat stays is clearly visible, so much so that it gives the impression of embracing the seat tube. You can see an extension towards the top, and the seat post has a D-shape, with a truncated rear profile. Towards the bottom, you can see the changes in shape of the horizontal tubes of the rear triangle, tapered near the thru-axle, becoming more massive towards the bottom bracket shell. For those who love numbers: the rear end is short, only 42,5 centimetres (figure common to all sizes).
The geometry of the R5-CX The dimensions of the geometries
The geometry of the R5-CX The dimensions of the geometries
Another very interesting feature
The bottom bracket shell is not BBright as per Cervélo tradition, but has T47 threaded cups, at the same time comes the asymmetry of the sector was maintainedIt's a matter of practicality related to cyclocross. Such a vehicle is dismantled, washed, and is subject to far greater maintenance than a road bike. Compared to its road sibling, the R5-CX sits 11 millimetres higher off the ground.
