FIRST RIDE: CERVELO RS

What?s this? A sportive bike from Cervélo? Is the freshly released RS a cynical marketing-driven machine or a genuine and worthwhile expansion of the range?

For those unfamiliar with Cervélo, it offers the R range of lightweight race machines, the Soloist bikes, also for road racing but with aerodynamics taking precedence over weight, and the P series for time trialling. The RS joins the R range and, in simple terms, is the R3 with a longer (20mm) head tube.

Also available as a frameset only, our RS came with the new Ultegra, compact cranks, Dura-Ace 7850-SL wheels, and Pro components. Perhaps most interestingly, it also has the new 3T Funda Pro forks, which Cervélo says offer greater stiffness and better aerodynamics.

Cervélo promotes the RS as a bike for less supple but no less powerful riders ie, those who need a higher bar without compromising performance. Based on the R3, the RS has a small amount of vertical compliance built into the stays but is otherwise a race-oriented machine.

The characteristic oversize BB and deep, box-section chainstays give a very positive race feel. Up front, torsional stiffness seems every bit as good as on a regular race frame, and with the 3T forks, handling was better than on any other Cervélo I?ve tried.

For several years, sportive bikes have been heading toward more race (dis)comfort levels,

and the RS certainly offers race performance. I look forward to riding it back-to-back with similar sportive bikes in a long distance event to see if it?s a good compromise or a step too far.

CERVELO RS

DistributorMadison www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk

Price£1,600 frameset

FrameCervélo Smartwall

Fork3T Funda Pro

Size range51-61 plus XS

Weight7.7kg

GroupsetShimano Ultegra SL

Deviationsnone

Alterationsnone

Gear ratios50/34 with 11-23

WheelsShimano Dura-Ace 7850 SL

TyresHutchinson Fusion 2

BarsPro PLT

StemPro Vibe 7S

Seatpost Pro PLT

Saddle Specialized Toupe

Size tested58cm

OUR FIRST IMPRESSION