Recently bought an S5 Team (size 54) and in the process of finalizing the build details. I have a P2 (also size 54) that I’m very happy with but would love to have a single bike I can travel with to a race and then train on before or after (and prefer the flexibility of a road bike).
My current plan is to set up the S5 for its predominant use as a road bike but maintain enough flexibility so I can convert it to a reasonable TT bike by moving the saddle forward, changing the stem and throwing clip-ons onto the drop bars. I’ve never spent a lot of time looking at stack and reach but was surprised when I did that it looked like I can get my position pretty close on the S5 to what I have on the P2.
Stack:
Difference in stack between the S5 and P2 is 555-512=43mm. Plan to decrease this by using a lower profile 9mm headset cap (6mm savings) and a -17 degree stem (16mm savings), reducing the difference to 21mm. No change in stem length (90mm). I’m looking at interesting bars like the 3T Zefiro bars (with full TT extensions) or another set of road drops with TT clip-ons with a lower elbow pad profile than the Zipp Vukas (currently on my P2) in order to reduce the stack difference further.
Reach:
Difference in reach is 418-378=40mm. Current saddle on my P2 is a Cobb V-Flow Max with the nose roughly even with the BB. Doesn’t look like I’ll have any trouble getting my saddle to 30-40mm behind the BB on the S5, which will easily equate the saddle to handlebar distances based on my understanding.
A few questions for the ST crowd before I finalize things:
I was surprised how close I could get to my P2 position without any radical equipment changes. Am i missing anything?
The 3T Zefiro bars look especially attractive given the aero top bar and integrated pads into the top bar. A bit pricy and the padding looks pretty minimal (could always supplement with a little additional “custom” padding if needed) but would basically eliminate the remaining stack difference between the 2 bikes. Anyone using these bars for this type of application and have any thoughts?
According to Cervelo, the S5 and P4 are pretty much equivalent aerodynamically as bikes alone. Assuming a roughly equivalent position (based on the calcs above), how do people think the S5 with 3T Zefiro bars (full extensions and road shifters) would compare to my current P2 with Zipp Vukas? I’m having trouble imagining that the S5 will be much slower…
From what you say at bthe least you will be further back by 3 cm on the S5 and maybe a bit higher. If you have to be further back then you should be higher to preserve hip angle, but If your TT position was right for you this is a bit of a compromise.
The clip ons will be worse than a good dedicated AB also. Its not going to make you go from FOP to BOP but it will be a difference. maybe 30s over 40km, but thats a WAG.
I’ll be 3-4cm back relative to the BB, BUT then the reach (from BB to head tube) is 4cm shorter on the S5 vs the P2. My impression was that this would put me in around the same position horizontally. Have I got this wrong?
And then maybe slightly higher veryically in the front…hopefully <1cm.
I was hoping the S5 frame improvements over the P2 aerodynamically might make up for the loss from aero bars to drops. Pipe dream?
A) Position on the bike. With the s5 you’re farther back behind the BB. You are compensating with ashorter stem. thats OK and depending on what you were starting at it may be a non issue, but fore/aft postion can effect comfort and handling.
B) Higher stack. Usually bad, but not always. Typically higher hurts CdA.
C) Aero cockpit vs Drop with clip ons. For the exact same position this will always be a negative.
D) More aero frame vs less. This will always be a positive.
Add it all up and you could be worse, or better than before. I doubt that you’ve made a substantial change one way or the other, but if you do a lot of traveling for different races, its cetainly more convenient to bring 1 bike vs 2.
I’ve done a similar build but with a Soloist.
For the position, I wasn’t too concerned with matching my TT bike point for point.
It came close but had to use a reverse post and a 110 stem.
But it was more comfortable.
What I would like to comment more on are the Zefiros.
The minimal pads did not work for me.
They are okay for a few seconds or minutes, but a bump in the road will be painfull to the forearms.
I could not get comfortable with the pi wing clip on hand positions even fully extended.
But the good thing about the 3T system is all other 3T parts can be integrated.
I used parts from my Brezza and it worked perfect.
Mounted them above the Zefiros base and eventually lowered the spacers.
The next theoretic step would be to Di2 the sti’s and add the Di2 bar ends.
Not sure what Di2 parts would be needed to patch the two shifters.
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Thanks for the info, and pictures…very helpful. I’m also less interested in the Pi wing and more in the standard extensions. I’m hoping to mount them under the top bar w/ S-bends and use the existing pads +/- supplemental padding to minimize additional stack. I was concerned about the bars looking a bit odd but they actually look pretty good in your pics.
One other question, how do you find the zefiro for just standard road riding (no extensions, like in your left pictures)? The negatives I’ve read were re: losing the top hand position and the shifters being a little further out on the drops. In retrospect, would you buy them again?
Get the Hed Clip-Lites and just cut the extensions short. Best aerobar out there for shortie aerobar set up and the rests flip up which is nice on a drop bar.
The flat tops of the Zefiro are fine for seated climbing.
The thumbs go on top beside the pointer finger, unless you have huge hands that can grab the entire flat section.
Your plan to put the aero extensions below are okay.
But the recommended setting of the pads on the top are too wide for me.
I guess you will have to mount your supplemental pads closer to the stem.
If you do this set-up, please share the pics.
