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Cervélo Caledonia 5 Ultegra Di2 review
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Cervélo Caledonia 5 Ultegra Di2 overview
Cervélo is a model that’s completely centered on racing and with it has a dedication to aerodynamics. Its S-Collection bikes outlined aerodynamic race bikes and impressed the likes of Trek’s Madone and Cannondale’s SystemSix.
Even its R-Collection bikes, constructed for Grand Tour racing, mix light-weight and aero shapes, as does the Aspero gravel machine for a totally gravel-race-focused bike.
The Caledonia is a giant departure then, with its major design purpose being to enchantment to a wider using viewers and be a real endurance bike to compete with the likes of Giant’s Defy, Cannondale’s Synapse, Trek’s Domane and Specialized’s Roubaix.
Nonetheless, this being Cervélo, with competitors at its core, it nonetheless needed to be a motorcycle that serves the professionals and racing on the robust roads of the classics.
Cervélo Caledonia 5 Ultegra Di2 design and geometry
For the Caledonia, Cervélo regarded to its again catalogue for inspiration and the team-issue R3 Mud designed for Paris-Roubaix – on which Johan Van Summeren received the 2011 version of the race.
The R3 Mud expanded tyre clearance to an enormous, for 2011, 30mm tubular tyre when most riders had been nonetheless utilizing 23s and 25s for rougher days. The Mud version additionally launched extra compliance than the usual R3, to enhance consolation on the cobbles.
It’s an concept that carried ahead onto final yr’s Aspero gravel machine. The truth is, the brand new Caledonia has the identical stiffness character because the Aspero by way of the underside bracket and head tube, additionally matching the R-Collection bikes.
The place it differs, nevertheless, is Cervélo has constructed extra compliance into the seatstays and seat tube to make the Caledonia a smoother experience.
The geometry additionally differs from present Cervélos. The Caledonia is extra about offering secure and easy dealing with than the sharp reactions discovered on the R-Collection.
That has meant stress-free the pinnacle angle barely to 72 levels with a 50mm fork offset (the R-Collection has a 73-degree head and 45mm offset), for a path of 57mm on a 25mm tyre, rising to 60mm on a 30mm tyre.
What’s path?
Path is a mixture of head tube angle and the fork offset. This measure signifies the tyres’ contact level ‘trailing’ behind the steering axis.
A small path measurement makes for a quick dealing with bike, whereas an extended path slows down steering response.
In context, a 57mm path is similar as very race-orientated bikes similar to Cannondale’s SuperSix EVO, whereas 60mm is extra akin to an endurance bike, and even gravel machine.
The seat angle stays an everyday 73 levels, whereas the chainstays run out to an extended 415mm (the R5 has 410mm chainstays).
My check bike comes with a 52/36 chainset mixed with a large 11-34 cassette, Cervélo AB09 carbon bar, ProLogo Dimension saddle, D-shaped Cervélo carbon publish and the brand new Reserve 35 carbon wheelset (from the lately launched Reserve model, itself a collaboration between Cervélo and mountain bike supremos Santa Cruz) that’s shod with 30mm Vittoria Rubino Professional TLR tyres
Weight smart, the Caledonia 5 is a claimed 936g for the body and 370g for the fork – completed, painted, {hardware} fitted in a dimension 56cm – my 58cm full check bike weighs in at 8.62kg.
Cervélo Caledonia 5 Ultegra Di2 experience impressions
The Caledonia is undoubtedly a fantastic trying bike, the combination of the cables by way of the AB09 bar and Cervélo stem retains the entrance finish as clear trying as an aero bike, as does the easily interlocking body and fork.
On the street, the Caledonia seems like a Cervélo; the inflexible really feel of the body below load makes it as responsive as an S-Collection bike. The truth is, the entire expertise feels very near the S3 I examined as a part of our 2020 Bike of the Year test.
That’s not that stunning while you check out the geometry size-for-size in a 58cm; the S3 and Caledonia share the identical stack and attain numbers – 605mm stack and 396mm of attain
Stack and attain
Stack is the vertical distance from the highest of the pinnacle tube to the centre of the underside bracket – taller stack means a extra upright experience place, decrease stack means a decrease (racier) place.
Attain is the horizontal distance from the centre of the underside bracket to the centre of the pinnacle tube – longer attain lowers your experience place, shorter attain means you sit extra upright.
These numbers are on the efficiency finish of what chances are you’ll discover on an endurance bike, or conversely are extra relaxed than the vast majority of out-and-out race bikes.
It does have important benefits over the S3 for many (non-racing) riders. First, the the large quantity tyres, together with a reasonably compliant body on the rear finish and a high quality carbon bar that helps nullify street vibrations up entrance, add as much as a wonderfully easy experience even on the poorest surfaces.
Second is the inclusion of detachable mudguard mounts. Right here, Cervélo has thought of the top consumer of the Caledonia, particularly those who share an analogous local weather to its Toronto HQ in Toronto – in truth, the Caledonia is known as after a Toronto street notorious for its poor situation and difficult floor.
These neat additions to the thru-axle caps combine threaded bosses for full-length ‘guards and a detachable bridge for the seatstays – the aero fork is drilled for a ‘guard mount on the crown.
Together with a rear gentle mount that replaces the underside part of the saddle rail clamp, these additions are very effectively thought out and provides the Caledonia year-round experience enchantment with out compromise.
Because of this, the Caledonia 5 handles like a race bike but feels as snug as class-leading endurance bikes on the market, together with Large’s Defy and Cannondale’s Synapse, and with out resorting to suspension tech as discovered on Trek’s Domane and Specialised’s Roubaix – nevertheless, the Caledonia can’t match both of those when the street will get actually tough.
Cervélo doesn’t nevertheless appear to have the ability to totally decide to the pure endurance area, because the Ultegra Di2 pairing of a pro-compact 52/36 chainset with an endurance-friendly huge 11-34 cassette attests.
It does imply that you’ve got a quick chain-gang-ready set of gears on the taller finish and low sufficient gears for solo ascents on steep slopes, although, so I approve of this barely blended strategy.
Additionally, the bike’s dealing with, working on the 30c tyres and the longer wheelbase of 1,030.7mm on a 58cm makes for a motorcycle that’s fantastically composed particularly when descending.
Though the pinnacle angle is saved regulation race, it doesn’t make the Caledonia really feel boring when using arduous. It’s a advantageous achievement to place collectively a motorcycle that’s this snug with out shedding the racing edge that so defines Cervélo.
Cervélo Caledonia 5 Ultegra Di2 package efficiency
I’ve no points with this £5,799 / $6,500 mannequin’s specification. Ultegra Di2 is what I’d count on at this worth and its efficiency, shifting accuracy and reliability is good.
Cervélo hasn’t skimped or undercut any component of it both, so that you get Ultegra Icetech rotors, a Shimano chain and an Ultegra grade cassette – all areas the place manufacturers typically look to economize.
The Reserve 35mm wheels have a claimed weight of 1,449g and huge 21mm inside measure, excellent for the Vittoria 30mm tyres, and each come pre-taped and tubeless prepared.
Sadly, the bike didn’t come arrange tubeless, which would definitely drop a number of grams in weight, and that did pose an issue once I flatted the entrance tyre on a check experience.
A good becoming tyre, exacerbated by a thick inside tube, meant it was nearly unimaginable to take away the tyre. So, I transformed the wheel to full tubeless as quickly as I bought dwelling and have had no points since.
Elsewhere, the neat Cervélo ST25 stem and AB09 bar combine cables neatly and the out-front laptop mount retains the front-end clear. It’s wrapped with high quality textured all-weather bar tape too.
On the again, the D-shaped carbon publish comes straight from the model’s R5 bike and is topped with ProLogo’s effectively formed brief Dimension saddle, which makes for very effectively sorted contact factors that every one add to the Caledonia 5’s appreciable charms.
Cervélo Caledonia 5 Ultegra Di2 total
If, like so many bikes on the market, it got here arrange tubeless moderately than tubeless prepared, I’d have little or no to fault.
I’ve to confess to being considerably enamoured by simply how achieved the Caledonia 5 feels. It’s not essentially the bike that Cervélo followers want however I feel it’s most likely the Cervélo they need to be using. And, in case you’re not a Cervélo fan, the Caledonia 5 may effectively be the bike that adjustments your thoughts.
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