2012 Cervélo R5 VWD LTD — "Argyle & Mangos"

[davecheng]

After a few months of working at a Cervélo dealer, I finally caved and had to get one for myself. The result was a build that wasn't so much WW as it was vanity. I'm a Chris King MTB fanboy, so I jumped at the chance to lace up some bling for my road bike.

Cue the all-night build session and photo shoot:



Frame: Cervélo R5 VWD LTD Blue Argyle 54cm
Drivetrain & Brakes: Campagnolo Super Record
Wheels: ENVE SES 3.4 carbon clinchers laced to Chris King R45 hubs w/ Sapim CX-Ray spokes (front 20H radial, rear 24H radial NDS/2X DS)
Tires: Michelin Pro4 Service Course
Cockpit: ENVE offset post, 100mm stem, compact road bar
Saddle: fi'zi:k Arione CX Braided saddle
Pedals: Look Keo Blade
Weight: 14.0 lbs / 6.3 kg











I am still in awe over this frame's stiffness and vertical compliance. Words cannot describe just how awesome this bike feels!



Mmm. I love me some mango.

[fa63]

Now that is a great looking bike. Well done, sir, well done.

[xjbaylor]

Best bike photos I have seen on this site, or any other for that matter. Your work beats most of what I have seen in bicycle mags, well done. Oh yeah, the bike is beautiful too!

[coppercook62]

nice photos and awesome bike

[koebes]

great bike but the lever position looks a bit strange

[Juggler]

Awesome photos... lot of work in Photoshop, or?

The bike is by the way also awesome... clean and no BS

[mrfish]

Very nice - I'd look at moving the levers up a little so that the top of the bar runs flat into the lever, then perhaps rotate the bar down a touch so that the forward extension is horizontal when you look from the side. But at the end of the day, it's your bike not mine, so do what feels good for you.

[fio]

I had the same issue when I mounted my levers. Looked fine when I initially set them up, but then when the tape came around that little bump got created. Just need to position them higher and tilt the bars downward like other have said.

As for the rest of the bike (what we're really talking about here), it's absolutely brilliant. I love every bit of it and I wouldn't change a thing. Well done!

[davecheng]

Awesome photos... lot of work in Photoshop, or?

Thanks! I did some quick Photoshop to remove the stands from the wider shots—but the rest was all in the lighting setup.

Looked fine when I initially set them up, but then when the tape came around that little bump got created.

Ugh, the bump! I've been messing around with the levers for a while and still can't get it perfect after taping. I find that if I tilt the levers up too much, it's quite a stretch to the brakes when in the drops. I'll try your suggestions.

I had a ton of fun putting this bike together. I put everything together in one non-stop, marathon build—including lacing up the wheels. I can't say that I've ever had to do that much to a bike all at once, but I can quickly see how this can become an obsession...

[Imaking20]

Wow


Incredible bike and photos

[plpete]

Beautiful build and photos

[ScuderiaDouroux]

Love the bike and LOVE the photos!

For some reason the ENVE stem looks out of place to me. Something like a 3T would set it off.

[TOflat]

Gorgeous looking bike! And insane photos. Arguably the shiniest frame I've seen to date.

[KH1]

Never really taken much notice of Cervelo as far as beauty is concerned. But that is a very very nice piece of work.
Well done

[irongatsby]

WoW....