Cervelo

S-Series Disc Ultegra Road Bike

Bypassing entry-level all together, Cervelo's initial build for the S-Series comes with Shimano's trusted and race-ready Ultegra group. Combining such an accomplished groupset with the criterium-eager S-Series frame speaks towards Cervelo's intention for their aerodynamic race-bike. As Cervelo puts it, you'll "go faster."

Cutting through air resistance hour by hour is no small task, and Cervelo honed the S-Series' aerodynamics after spending countless hours in the wind tunnel testing and refining designs. Cervelo uses wind-cheating carbon tubes, front to back, but the most noticeable feature is the partial wheel cut-out that shields the rear wheel and helps smooth airflow for a faster straight-line experience. This particular disc model also features full internal cable routing thanks to a bar and stem that hides the brake and shift housing from the wind for improved aerodynamics.

However, Cervelo knows aero isn't everything and strives to balance straight-line speed, stiffness, and compliance for excellence in real-world racing situations like a criterium and a hilly road race. Increased stiffness at the bottom bracket shell ensures efficient power transfer and that every watt goes straight to the rear wheel. Like other Cervelo frames, the S-Series uses a BBright shell that takes advantage of oversized frame tubes that are stiffer and lighter. With the BBright system, larger sized tubes are used at the seat tube, down tube, and non-drive chainstay. The benefit is an increase in stiffness and pedaling efficiency while achieving a lighter weight frame that's compatible with all major bottom bracket standards. Stiffness doesn't just end there. Cervelo beefed up the head tube junction that conspires with its geometry for more confidence and inspiring handling with impressive stability and precision when cornering and descending at speed.

Cervelo's mastery of carbon layups and construction techniques also reduces the frame's weight while making it stiffer. It uses advanced engineering software like Finite Element Analysis (FEA) that allows it to understand better exactly how each layer of carbon fiber is working and if it's being used properly. Its carbon expertise prescribes a specific frame layup by placing hundreds of individually cut plies of carbon in a mold in a specific order and orientation. By precisely cutting these plies, the frame can be made lighter while still achieving the desired strength and reliability. And because different areas of the frame experience different loads while climbing, sprinting, and descending, to better cope with these forces, Cervelo creates different layups by placing the fibers at different angles in specific areas for the desired metrics. In addition to reducing weight, maximizing strength, and stiffness, it's also instrumental in how comfortable the bike is to ride, and it's backed up with extensive in-house testing and real-world experience.

A fast ride is a smooth one, and it's essential to keep vibrations at bay if you plan on going fast for long periods. Excessive road noise transmitted to the rider has proven responsible for premature fatigue. Cervelo uses specific frame layups and tube shapes that help soak up road vibrations, it helps reduce fatigue on those long days in the saddle.