Will it rain or will it stay dry? Is this asphalt road just poorly maintained or will it turn into gravel? According to Cervélo, the Caledonia-5 is the perfect bike for all those rides where you’re just not sure what you might encounter. Read on to find out if that’s enough to make it the perfect all-road bike.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test
8.05 kg in size 58 | € 7,299 | Manufacturer’s website
It’s been over a year since we had the Cervélo Caledonia-5 DURA-ACE Di2 Disc in for review (check it out here). However, Cervélo’s promise hasn’t changed: the Caledonia-5 is still said to offer the best of everything in their portfolio, combining aerodynamic optimisation, light weight and off-road capabilities in one bike. Its performance in our last road bike group test only served to confirm Cervélo’s advertising slogan: yes, it’s a bike for those long rides that “invariably have some smooth tarmac, some junk pavement over backroads, a cutty singletrack connector, and maybe even your own local Strade Bianche sector.” But will the new ULTEGRA Di2 groupset also make it the perfect all-road bike?
At least the combination of a 52/36 t crankset and 11–34 t cassette will provide a wide enough gear range for the fast descents and steep climbs you’re bound to encounter on a ride into the unknown. The ULTEGRA brakes and 160 mm rotors at the front and back should also offer plenty of braking power and reliability without feeling too aggressive. Supplied in-house, Cervélo’s proprietary two-piece cockpit ensures good long-distance ergonomics and excellent cable integration, consisting of a 110 mm ST32 alloy stem and 420 mm wide HB13 carbon handlebar. Cervélo rely on a pair of Reserve 40|44 wheels, which promise to be stable yet aerodynamic thanks to the wider and shallower rim up front paired with a narrower and deeper rim at the rear. We’ve seen this same principle at play on the Roval Rapide CLX wheels (review here).
… are among the best in test on Cervélo’s proprietary one-piece cockpit. However, it’s somewhat lacking in vibration damping.
The Reserve 40|44 wheels are 40 mm deep at the front and 44 mm deep at the rear, and they provide an excellent basis for wide tires thanks to their fat 25.5 and 25 mm internal width at the front and rear, respectively.
The chainstay on the Cervélo Caledonia-5 is covered in a generously sized protector, though it blends in seamlessly with the frame, nonetheless.
Cervelo Caledonia-5 Ultegra Di2 2022
€ 7,299
Specifications
Seatpost Cervélo SP24 Carbon D-Shape mm
Brakes Shimano ULTEGRA 160/160 mm
Drivetrain Shimano ULTEGRA Di2
Chainring 52/36T
Stem Cervélo ST32 Alloy 110 mm
Handlebar Cervélo HB13 Carbon 420 mm
Wheelset Reserve 40|44
Tires Vittoria Rubino Pro TLR Graphene 2.0
Cranks Shimano ULTEGRA Di2 172,5 mm
Cassette Shimano ULTEGRA CS-R8100 11–34T
Technical Data
Size 48 51 54 56 58 61
Weight 8.05 kg
Specific Features
full integration
compatible with mudguards
direct-mount derailleur hanger
generous tire clearance
Despite being fitted with 700 x 28C Vittoria Rubino Pro TLR Graphene 2.0 tires, which inflate to 30 mm on the Reserve 40|44 wheels, there’s plenty of tire clearance left. So, there’s nothing to stop you from fitting wider tires for added comfort.
With its integrated mudguard mounts at the front and rear, the Cervélo Caledonia-5 is ready for all kinds of weather.
The cable of the ULTEGRA Di2 derailleur hangs dangerously close to the tire on the Cervélo Caledonia-5, having quite a few of our test riders worried. A little piece of tape will give you a lot more peace of mind.
Don’t waste your time with route planning, rather use it to just ride – the Cervélo Caledonia doesn’t care where you go anyway.
With their huge internal rim width of 25 mm at the rear and 25.5 mm at the front, the Reserve 40|44 wheels also make a good basis for modern, wider tires that are capable of dealing with a wide variety of conditions. However, you have to keep in mind that tires often inflate wider than specified when fitted to wide rims like these. For example, the 700 x 28C Vittoria Rubino Pro TLR Graphene 2.0 tires inflate to a true width of 30 mm on the Caledonia-5. Priced at € 7,299 and weighing in at 8.05 kg in size 58, it’s the heaviest bike of the test field, though it’s far from being too heavy.
| Size | 48 | 51 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 502 mm | 522 mm | 543 mm | 565 mm | 581 mm | 598 mm |
| Head tube | 90 mm | 110 mm | 136 mm | 162 mm | 191 mm | 218 mm |
| Head angle | 70.5° | 71.5° | 72.0° | 72.0° | 72.0° | 72.0° |
| Seat angle | 74.5° | 74.0° | 73.5° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
| Chainstays | 415 mm | 415 mm | 415 mm | 415 mm | 415 mm | 415 mm |
| BB Drop | 77 mm | 77 mm | 74 mm | 74 mm | 72 mm | 72 mm |
| Wheelbase | 982 mm | 985 mm | 995 mm | 1,012 mm | 1,031 mm | 1,048 mm |
| Reach | 360 mm | 369 mm | 378 mm | 387 mm | 396 mm | 405 mm |
| Stack | 505 mm | 530 mm | 555 mm | 580 mm | 605 mm | 630 mm |
Jacket Rapha Pro Team Insulated Gilet | Jersey Rapha Pro Team Long Sleeve Training Jersey
Shorts Rapha Pro Team Bib Shorts II Long | Shoes Rapha Classic Shoe
Socks Rapha Pro Team Socks Extra Long
Riding the Cervélo Caledonia-5 ULTEGRA Di2
The Cervélo Caledonia-5 ULTEGRA Di2 is pretty much on par with the Trek Domane SLR 9 in terms of speed. It’s comparatively slow to get going, which is partly due to its heft, but it rolls along very efficiently and is happy to hold its pace once you’ve got it up to speed. The Caledonia-5 can’t deny its weight on the climbs either and it will never be the ultimate mountain goat. That said, it’s an efficient climber nonetheless and also lets you carry your speed here – as long as the incline isn’t too steep. Despite its excellent efficiency during high-speed rides on poorly maintained roads, the Cervélo falls behind the best bike on test in terms of comfort. The bike offers a high level of comfort as a whole, but the vibration damping isn’t as good as on the BMC, and the Specialized and the Trek are better at absorbing bigger impacts. On a long ride, you’ll start feeling this on the contact points between the bike and rider, encouraging you to shift down a gear.
In terms of handling, the Cervélo Caledonia-5 ULTEGRA Di2 is on the more composed side of the spectrum, clearly prioritising straight line stability over agility. This feeling increases the faster you ride, though the bike can feel a bit top-heavy and floppy at slow speeds and when you stand up to pedal. All this doesn’t mean the Caledonia-5 doesn’t like cornering – on the contrary. It just doesn’t beg you to charge through the corners, requiring a little more input from the rider to get it to lean over. However, once you’ve got it leaning over through a corner, it provides a high level of precision and rides as if it’s on rails, though preferably along a large bend radius. If you want to push the bike’s limits through the corners, we recommend shifting your weight forwards over the tall cockpit to get enough traction on the front wheel.
Tuning tip: take it or leave it! With the Caledoni-5, you’ve got a coherent package, which you’ll either like or not
In general, the Caledonia-5 ULTEGRA Di2 strikes a good balance between performance and endurance, offering an efficient and confidence-inspiring ride on all kinds of terrain. Thanks to the mudguard mounts, it’s an excellent all-season and commuter bike too. As in our road bike group test, it just falls short of the test victory and lands in second place while earning the deserved Best Buy. This isn’t due to any major shortcomings, since it doesn’t have many, but more due to the fact that another bike in the test field was just a little bit better in a lot of scenarios.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Our conclusion on the Cervélo Caledonia-5 ULTEGRA Di2
The Cervélo Caledonia-5 ULTEGRA Di2 is a versatile bike that’s capable enough to perform on a wide range of terrain, making it a great choice for those who like riding fast and are willing to compromise just a little on long-distance comfort and agility. While it didn’t come out on top of this group test, it’s still one of the best bikes of a new generation and an excellent all-road contender. As such, it’s this group test’s well-deserved Best Buy.
Tops
- total integration and a clean look as a whole
- lots of tire clearance and fender compatibility
- great cockpit ergonomics
- very efficient at speed
Flops
- limited long-distance comfort
- requires an active riding style when pushing the limits
You can find out more about at cervelo.com
The testfield
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test
All bikes on review: BMC Roadmachine X ONE (Click for review) | Cervelo Caledonia-5 Ultegra Di2 | Parapera Atmos MASTERPIECE (Click for review) | ROSE REVEAL SIX DISC Red eTap AXS (Click for review) | Sarto Seta Disc (Click for review) | Specialized Aethos Expert (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 9 (Click for review)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: Phil Gale, Benjamin Topf
