53x12 wrote:Felt AR and the Cervelo S5 are basically a wash. Both are very fast and probably are the two leading companies in aero still.
Absolutely agree. Felt and Cervelo both do some of the best testing companies have publicly released, which speaks volumes about their aero expertise. If their bikes fit you and you like their looks/handling/etc., they are very likely the fastest aerodynamically.
Between the two, it seems like Cervelo tends to emphasize low-crosswind performance more than Felt, so you can tailor that choice to where you personally value aerodynamics most (i.e., desire for faster sprint speed might favor the Cervelo, whereas saving energy during more typical non-sprint riding speeds, especially in a windier area, might favor the Felt). Though to be fair at that point the wheel/equipment choices you can afford after choosing a frame could very easily make more of a difference than exists between those frames.