Cervelo R5ca Dream Build
Even as they espouse the benefits of aero frames, Cervelo still knows how to appeal to the gram-obsessed climbers among us. The only bike in the company’s catalog manufactured in North America (built in a California research facility, hence the -ca suffix and known as Project California), the R5ca is the result of pouring all of Cervelo’s accumulated carbon-manufacturing knowledge and experience in into one bike.
The R5ca is 100 grams lighter than the nearest competitor, and 30% stiffer (Tour magazine, Nov. 2011), this bike sets a new benchmark in weight and stiffness. It showcases Cervelo's Project California development process and the outcome of their reality-based test results. Lab tests are meaningless if they don’t reflect real riding conditions: Cervélo’s strain-gauge bike measures load and flex under real conditions, leading to new, more realistic testing. This test data led Project California to develop new layup design for the R5ca, as they knew exactly where Cervelo could reduce weight by taking away material where it’s not needed, and reinforce the areas that give you the most stiffness and comfort.
Although frame looks similar to a production R5, the differences are immediately apparent when it’s time to ride. Most Cervelos are known for a somewhat damped ride that insulates you from the road, even as they maintain a stout, efficient drivetrain. The R5ca departs from that tradition, delivering instead a stiffer ride that gives you more feedback from the road and a responsive ride. We’ve come to associate bigger frame tubes with a stiffer ride, and while the “squoval” downtube and BBright bottom bracket are suitably large to make the drivetrain more rigid, the seat stays are incredibly thin. Despite their minimal diameter, the stays give you a sense of the pavement passing beneath your tires, and just enough damping to let you ride comfortably over long miles. While sometimes uncomfortable to newer riders, many professional cyclists prefer this type of ride feel, so it was no surprise to see an R5ca under Garmin-Cervelo star Tom Danielson at the Tour de France.
Features
Race Proven Lightweight Frame
The Cervelo R5ca is the ultimate lightweight fram from Cervelo. Weighing in at a mere 689 grams (size 54cm) the R5ca has the race proven heritage t meet the demands of today's peloton.
Freshbikes Custom Dream Build
In order to complement the lightweight frame of the R5ca, Freshbikes staff chose the lightest, most race-worthy equipment for this dream build, resulting in an all out bike that weighs a mere 12 pounds.
Pricing & Availability
| Model | Color | Price | Size | |
Cervelo R5
| Size | Seat Tube | Top Tube | Effective Tob Tube | Stack | Reach | Head Tube | Head Tube Angle | Seat Tube Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 48 | 51.6 | 51.6 | 50.5 | 36.0 | 10.8 | 70.5 | 73.0 |
| 51 | 51 | 53.1 | 53.1 | 53.0 | 36.9 | 12.8 | 72.2 | 73.0 |
| 54 | 54 | 54.8 | 54.8 | 55.5 | 37.8 | 14.8 | 73.1 | 73.0 |
| 56 | 56 | 56.4 | 56.4 | 58.0 | 38.7 | 17.3 | 73.5 | 73.0 |
| 58 | 58 | 58.1 | 58.1 | 60.5 | 39.6 | 19.9 | 73.5 | 73.0 |
| 61 | 61 | 59.7 | 59.7 | 63.0 | 40.5 | 22.5 | 73.5 | 73.0 |
Specifications
| Fram | Cervelo R5ca |