09 Cervelo RS Ultegra SL

Product Description

Best Plush Bike” - Bicycling Awards
“True performance for riders with limited flexibility” - Bicycling Australia

Race performance is guaranteed, as it is based on the same platform as the R3, two-time winner of Paris-Roubaix. But its geometry allows for a higher handlebar position, which makes it a better fit for a lot of riders, even some of the pros.

Highlights

Squoval downtube & chainstays - Optimized for the highest possible stiffness-to-weight ratio (STW).

Multi-shape toptube - Squoval at both ends and oval in the middle to counter the complex loads.

Oversized bottom bracket area – Large diameter and smooth, optimized shapes increase bottom bracket stiffness for excellent power transfer from pedal to rear wheel.

Lay-up optimization – Approximately 300 pieces of carbon, each optimized in shape, fiber type and fiber direction.

Leaf spring Seatstays - Unparalleled vertical compliance thanks to their leaf spring design.

Higher handlebar geometry – Same handling philosophy as our other road bikes, but with longer headtube for those who prefer a higher handlebar position, and longer chainstay length to keep the weight distribution balanced.

Special XS size – The new XS size completely eliminates toe-overlap (see geometry section for more information).

Squoval™

The dominant forces on the downtube and chainstays are lateral bending forces. The best way to resist those is with a lot of material far away from the center plane. Square tubes do this best, but can easily buckle. A slightly ovalized square creates the best of both worlds, which explains why Cervélo’s Squoval shaped frames win stiffness and lightweight tests everywhere.

The front and rear of the toptube also use the Squoval shape to counteract lateral bending, but it transitions to oval in the center to counteract the torsional loading in that section.

Smartwall­ for Carbon

Patent-pending technology from our carbon materials and manufacturing group, Smartwall elaborates on the Squoval tubeshape. With the sides far away from the center plane more important, we concentrate more material there to increase the benefit.

Strips of High and Ultra-high modulus carbon stiffen the sides of the main tubes to resist lateral bending. These strips are feathered in to properly transfer the loads from the joints into these tubes.

Finally, we add Kevlar to the headtube/downtube area for industry-leading impact strength.



Geometry

You will notice three geometric changes on the RS.

* Longer headtube, to match the higher handlebar position.
* Longer chainstay length. Because a higher handlebar position rotates the rider’s torso and therefore his center of gravity backwards. Longer chainstays ensure the weight distribution between the two wheels remains balanced for optimal handling characteristics.
* Eliminated toe-overlap by using 650c wheels for the XS size. Toe overlap is not a problem for experienced riders, but can be intimidating for some. Using 650c wheels in the XS size is the only way to solve this problem without compromising the weight distribution and thus handling. Every solution that eliminates toe-overlap but keeps 700c wheels suffers in handling.

Explanation for the 650c wheel solution on the XS size: A smaller frame means the front wheel moves closer to the rider’s feet, causing toe-overlap. While inconvenient at walking pace, this issue disappears at normal riding speeds as the actual steering angles become very small. There are four ways to deal with this:

1) Accept toe overlap, after all it is not a problem if the rider is aware of it at low speeds, and it does not occur at higher speeds.
2) Use 650c wheels, which allow us to move the wheel closer but thanks to its smaller diameter it will never touch the rider’s toes.
3) Leave the front wheel far out front, but then the weight distribution will not be balanced.
4) Mess up the rider position by moving the rider forward instead of the wheel and handlebar rearward. But a changed position will not be comfortable, and the weight distribution will again be compromised.

Compromised weight distribution and therefore handling make options 3 and 4 unacceptable, leaving options 1 & 2. If you are a racer and neutral support is important, or you want commonality of parts with other 700c bikes, then option 1 is the best solution. We offer this on most of our road bikes. Option 2 is a great solution if you are concerned about toe overlap, never need neutral support and carry a spare for yourself (since your riding partners will likely have only 700c spare tubes, although even those work in a pinch, just fold them in – no problem).

73 Degree Seattube Angle
Size Wheel Size Head Tube Angle BB Drop Top Tube Head Tube Length Front Center Rear Center Stand Over Height Stack Reach Rake
XS 650c 72¯ 40 515 175 555 410 732 520 355 40
51 700c 71¯ 68 532 140 588 410 742 531 369 53
54 700c 72¯ 68 546 160 590 410 764 555 376 49
56 700c 73¯ 68 565 180 593 410 787 579 388 43
58 700c 73¯ 68 580 200 608 410 805 599 397 43
61 700c 73¯ 68 592 220 620 410 816 618 403 43
Note 1: The standover height is measured to the toptube directly above the bottom bracket.
Note 2: The above headtube lengths are for integrated headsets. To compare to non-integrated headtubes, deduct 20mm from the above lengths to adjust for the stack height needed for non-integrated headsets.

Components

The RS is available as a frameset or with the following components:
Part Ultegra SL
Fork 3T Funda Pro
Seatpost FSA SLK 27.2mm
Shift/Brake Levers Shimano Ultegra SL STI
Front Derailleur Shimano Ultegra SL
Rear Derailleur Shimano Ultegra SL
Cassette Shimano Ultegra 12-25
Chain Shimano Ultegra
Brake Calipers Shimano Ultegra SL
Crankset Shimano Ultegra SL Compact
Bottom Bracket Shimano Ultegra SL
Headset Cane Creek
Stem 3T ARX PRO
Handlebars 3T Ergonova
Saddle Selle San Marco Ponza
Wheels Shimano RS10
Tires Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick