Bike: Cervelo R5 SRAM Force eTap AXS.
Why bought?
When I started riding back in June 2020, I was happy with an entry level endurance bike so that I could determine whether I would enjoy cycling or not. It didn’t take long for me to get the bike bug and incorporate bike rides as part of my weekly routine. At the time, a Focus Paralane carbon with manual Shimano 105 shifting was a reasonable choice and to be fair that bike was quite nice to ride.
A year and half after joining our club and reading quite a bit about different models and groupset options as well as speaking to other members who were loving electronic shifting, I decided to upgrade to the next level with a lighter and stiffer frame, carbon wheels and electronic shifting for under the $10K price tag. After spending days researching on BikeExchange and other websites, the Cervelo R5 stood out as my best option with local availability.
What’s it like riding?
It feels great overall and with SRAM eTap AXS shifting I don’t even need to think about the front derailleur any more as the system automatically shifts as you go easier or harder gear at the back.
The bike is roughly 2 kg lighter than my old one and I can feel the weight difference during climbs. The frame is stiff and can be a bit harder on rougher roads than endurance frames however it is more responsive during descents and sprints. To add some extra grip, I have opted for 28mm tyres and disc brakes.
Surprisingly after a few rides my brake pads were very noisy, so I decided to replace the original metallic pads with organic (resin) pads which are the quiet option. Other nice features include wireless front and rear derailleurs and a Quarq Power meter which can all be very easily configured over the SRAM app.
I feel very motivated to keep riding regularly and to keep improving my performance.