In view of a summer like this one, you might not want to admit it, but this year too, the road season comes to an end in mid-October. For many racers - including top road pros - it's then off-road to cross-country racing and thus into the niche into which purebred cyclocross bikes have retreated. The agile racing bikes with comparatively narrow tyres are now almost exclusively found in racing, which is why only a few manufacturers go to the effort of keeping cyclocross bikes in their range. Cervélo, for example, can hardly do otherwise, as the Canadian manufacturer is the supplier of Wout van Aert, one of the world's best and most successful cross professionals of the present day. The Belgian all-rounder's R5-CX is almost identical to our test bike - and a prime example of why a cross bike should not be considered old hat even in 2023.
Cervélo R5-CX Force AXS scores with low weight
From the first turn of the cranks, the Cervélo makes it clear that it wants to be ridden at high speed over gravel and forest tracks. Thanks to its low weight, comparable to the lightest race gravel bikes, the R5-CX accelerates with ease. Bends can be controlled precisely and directly, as long as the surface is not too rough or loose. Then it would probably need the steering skills of a van Aert to compensate for the grip disadvantage of the comparatively narrow cross tyres. On the other hand, the 33-millimetre tyres also make good progress on asphalt. The frame and fork also allow sufficient clearance, which means that up to 40 millimetres should also fit - the current standard dimension on gravel bikes. With slightly thicker tyres, there would also be fewer bumps on the saddle and handlebar/stem combination.
The Cervélo R5-CX gets a slight deduction for the Competition all-rounder R5 for the limited gear range with only one chainring; a double crank could be retrofitted. Anyone looking for attachment points for panniers or mudguards, as on the gravel bike, will search in vain. The Cervélo is a no-frills fun bike. Our model with Force AXS and Reserve wheels is one of two versions and costs € 9699. With Red AXS it goes into five figures. Crossers from Cervélo are likely to remain a rare sight in the forests of Germany.
Equipment & technical data
- Price: 9699 Euro
- Weight frame/fork/steering bearing*: 1,047/419/83 grammes
- Frame sizes**: 51, 54, 56, 58
- Seat/top/head tube: 580/575/158 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR***: 602/389 millimetres/1.55
- Wheelbase/caster: 1,035/67 millimetres
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Force AXS (1x12; 40, 10-33 t.)
- Brakes: SRAM Force (160/160 mm)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)****: Reserve 40/44; Panaracer CG CX TLC 33 mm (f./h.: 1,335/1,754 g)
Measured values & individual grades*****
- Weight of complete wheel: 7.8 kilos 1,7
- Steering head stiffness: 130 Nm/° 1,0
- Lateral stiffness fork: 40 N/mm 3,3
- Bottom bracket stiffness: 64 N/mm 1,0
- Seatpost spring stiffness: 122 N/mm 2,7
- Spring rate fork: 63 N/mm 2,0
Overall grade: 1,8
*Weighed weights. | Manufacturer's specification Test size bold. ***Stack/Reach Projected vertical/horizontal dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (Stack to Reach) 1.36 means a very stretched sitting position, 1.60 means an upright sitting position. | ****Impeller weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/threaded axles and brake discs if necessary. | *****Single noteswhich are weighted differently in the overall grade, are only partially printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated with all decimal places up to the final grade; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are shown with rounded decimal places.
Julian Schultz
Editor
