Cervélo is a Canadian bike company founded in 1995 by Gerard Vroomen and Phil White. It started when Vroomen researched bike dynamics at the Eindhoven University of Technology. Cervélo bikes were first unveiled to the public at the 1996 Toronto Bike Show and have since then gone strength to strength to be one of the leading bike brands today.
In 2012, Pon Holdings, a Dutch conglomerate, bought Cervélo from Vroomen and White. Pon Holdings also has marketing rights to Raleigh, Santa Cruz, and Focus Bikes.
Today, Cervélo’s head office is located in Southern California.
Cervélo Road Bikes Line Up
Cervélo road bikes are divided into three models; R for lightweight, S for aero, and Soloist for endurance.
| Model | Designed for | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| R5 | Lightweight race bike | $9,000 to $13,000 |
| S5 | Aero race bike | $9,000 to $13,000 |
| Soloist | All-rounder bike | $3,400 to $6,800 |
| Caledonia 5 and Caledonia | Endurance bike | $4,700 to $11,500 |
Cervélo R5
The Cervélo R5 is an all-rounder road race bike. The R5 sits at the top with the best components and is ridden by Jonas Vingegaard to win the 2022 Tour de France.
Both R5 and R-Series share the same carbon fiber material. Cervélo calls the carbon tubing design, the Squoval Max, a reference to the combination of Square and Oval tube shapes to achieve a balance between weight, stiffness, and aerodynamic benefits according to their CFD analysis.
The Cervélo R5 is disc-only with an integrated cockpit. It’s also available in a frameset only.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cervelo R5 | Carbon | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | $13,000 |
| Cervelo R5 | Carbon | SRAM Red eTap AXS | $13,000 |
| Cervelo R5 | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $9,000 |
| Cervelo R5 | Carbon | SRAM Force eTap AXS | $9,000 |
More reading : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) vs SRAM Red eTap AXS Groupsets
Cervélo S5
The Cervélo S5 is all about aerodynamic performance and maximizing speed.
This can be seen throughout the frame’s design. Most road cyclists would concur that the Cervélo S5 is among their top choice for an aero road bike. They come with 25mm tires, but the frame allows up to 30mm.
The S5 has a very aggressive frame geometry, placing the rider much lower on the bike and reducing their frontal area. A size 54 Cervélo S5 has a 13mm lower stack and 6mm longer reach than a size 54 S-Series. The Cervélo S5 has an extended seat tube cutout; a close-fitting curve in the seat tube fully shields the rear wheel’s leading edge.
The Cervélo S5 is available in a complete bike setup or frameset only.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cervelo S5 | Carbon | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | $13,000 |
| Cervelo S5 | Carbon | SRAM Red eTap AXS | $13,000 |
| Cervelo S5 | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $9,000 |
| Cervelo S5 | Carbon | SRAM Force eTap AXS | $9,000 |
More reading : Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) vs SRAM Force eTap AXS Groupsets List of Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) Groupset Bikes
Cervélo Caledonia 5 and Caledonia
The Cervélo Caledonia is an endurance bike for comfort and long-distance riding over tarmac, backroads, and smooth, hardpacked gravels.
Compared to the R5 and S5, the Cervélo Caledonia has a much more relaxed geometry with a higher stack and shorter reach. This puts the rider in a more upright position for comfort rather than aero. Cervélo Caledonia 5 and Caledonia share the same carbon fiber and frame geometry and can take tires up to 34mm wide. The major difference lies in the cockpit.
The Cervélo Caledonia 5 has a cleaner front end with hidden cables for all models, while the Caledonia has external cabling. The beauty of the Cervélo Caledonia 5 lies in Cervélo’s Performance Fit. The stem and two bearing caps allow a choice between a more aggressive 7mm or relaxed 22mm stack without needing any spacers.
On the other hand, Caledonia has integrated mounting points for fenders, lights, and computers.
The Cervélo Caledonia 5 is available in various electronic shifting configurations or framesets only.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cervelo Caledonia 5 | Carbon | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | $11,500 |
| Cervelo Caledonia 5 | Carbon | SRAM Red eTap AXS | $11,500 |
| Cervelo Caledonia 5 | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $8,500 |
| Cervelo Caledonia 5 | Carbon | SRAM Force eTap AXS | $8,500 |
| Cervelo Caledonia 5 | Carbon | SRAM Rival eTap AXS | $6,000 |
| Cervelo Caledonia | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $5,500 |
| Cervelo Caledonia | Carbon | SRAM Rival eTap AXS | $4,700 |
More reading : Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) vs Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) Groupsets
Cervélo Soloist
The Cervélo Soloist is the latest addition to Cervélo’s road bike range. It sits between the S5 (aero) and R5 (lightweight), making it a versatile bike across all terrains.
It was first launched in the early 2000’s and before being refreshed with disc brakes, wider tire clearance (34mm), and extra comfort and compliance. Depending on the frame size, Cervélo claims it’s about 250g heavier than R5, and 250g lighter than S5.
One of the major differences between the Soloist and other Cervélo models is the use of the new BBrighT-47 bottom bracket standard. Cervelo says it maintains the stiffness characteristics of the BBRight but simplifies the installation and replacement.
The Cervélo Soloist is available in electronic shifting only.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cervelo Soloist | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | $6,800 |
| Cervelo Soloist | Carbon | SRAM Force eTap AXS | $6,800 |
| Cervelo Soloist | Carbon | Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) | $5,200 |
| Cervelo Soloist | Carbon | SRAM Rival eTap AXS | $5,200 |
| Cervelo Soloist | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra (11s) | $4,300 |
| Cervelo Soloist | Carbon | Shimano 105 (R7000) | $3,400 |
More reading : Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) vs SRAM Rival eTap AXS Groupsets List of Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) Groupset Bikes
Cervélo Road Bikes in Professional Cycling
Cervélo’s entry into pro cycling began in 2003 with Team CSC. When they started the partnership, Team CSC was ranked 14th in the world. When the partnership ended in 2008, Carlos Sastre has just won the 2008 Tour de France onboard a Cervélo bike.
In 2009, it sponsored its own team, the Cervélo TestTeam, and it evolved to become Garmin-Cervélo from 2011 to 2014. From 2016 to 2018, Team Dimension Data and its various incarnations rode on Cervélo with former world champion Mark Cavendish.
After a brief period away from pro cycling, Cervélo is back with Team Jumbo-Visma from 2021 onwards.
More reading : Which Bike Brand Won the Most Tour de France?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Cervélo’s warranty?
Cervélo road bike frame and fork have a lifetime warranty for the original owner except for paint and decals.
More about Cervélo’s warranty policy.
Does Cervélo have a women-specific model?
Cervélo doesn’t have a women-specific model. Their frame sizing starts at 48, which fits riders from 5′ 3″ (160cm) and above.