Words: Aobh O'Brien-Moody
In association with:
Cervélo is a proponent of what it terms ‘Big, Stupid Rides’ – that is, ultra-distance, ultra-fast and lightly loaded rides – from traditional Brevets like Paris-Brest-Paris, to one of the new breed of ultras like the Transcontinental. Rides that see athletes pushing their bodies and equipment to the limit.
In order to facilitate these rides, the US bike brand introduced a light and fast endurance bike called the Caledonia in 2020. The bike, which is built to handle long-distance, high-speed racing, was an instant hit with modern road riders, beloved for its performance, comfort, and speed. Now, it’s been given an upgrade.
Introducing the Caledonia-5, a new and improved take on the classic Caledonia that prioritises comfort, without sacrificing that signature Cervélo race bike feeling. In creating the Caledonia-5, Cervélo focused on meaningful updates that would improve each and every ride, the most significant being the addition of in-frame storage, first seen on Cervélo’s triathlon-ready P-Series. The compact container is a real ride-saver, designed to house a small multi-tool, tube and CO2 canister. “Out of sight, out of mind, until your tire makes the bad noise” went Cervélo’s thinking. The hatch is easily removable even with gloves on. Simply flip the lock and pull.
The Caledonia’s essence remains unchanged with this new iteration, while little tweaks, including split bearing caps to allow for fit changes without bleeding the brakes, lend themselves to an all-round smoother ride.
Like Cervélo’s off-road Áspero, the Caledonia-5 features dropped seat stays, for a more acute and vertically flexible rear triangle. Downtube stiffness has been slightly increased to maintain the Caledonia’s signature pro-level responsiveness, and 42|49 wheels offer all-day capability with aerodynamic sensibilities.
It’s not like the Caledonia needed improving, but we’re certainly not annoyed by this reimagined version. The Caledonia-5 is a sleek and sporty all-road bike that’s guaranteed to take every one of your Big, Stupid Rides to the next level.
For more Cervélo content, peek inside the brand's inaugural Pitti morning ride...
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