A Purists Caledonia-5: Beautiful Bicycle

You have no doubt heard the saying, K.I.S.S. Keep it simple, stupid. While a crude phrase, it does hold some weight to it in any field or situation. This gorgeous Cervelo Caledonia-5 is the epitome of this conversation, bringing everything 90% of riders need to the table, to be a workhorse of a bike, for any occasion.

Built on a 2024 Caledonia frame, this bike has a very bright personality. While orange isn't for everyone, this frame certainly pulls it off. You may not have seen it before, as it is called Desert Sunset, this bright metallic orange was a limited edition color from Cervelo kept to ~300 frames. It was mainly only available in the Euro and AUS markets, and only a handful ever made it to the US.

Despite being a fun, limited color, this frame is the same cost as the normal Caledonia-5. Within the United States, so far we here at Contender Bicycles are the only shop to have received any so far. (And we have a couple left if you want one for yourself ;) ).

This frame was an excellent choice for this purist build. More riders should consider endurance bikes in general. While race bikes can be fun to ride, most cyclists don’t need that level of performance. A build like the Caledonia-5 offers greater frame comfort, a higher stack, and increased tire clearance. Simple.

Rolling around on Reserve’s newest 'All-Around' wheelset, this is the first frame-up build we've done on these wheels since their release. The TA (Turbulent Aero) 49|42 wheelset is laced to DT 350 hubs—truly a great setup. Now, this may sound a little preachy, but we genuinely believe this is one of the best wheelsets on the market. Thoroughly aero-tested for stability in crosswinds, they have the ideal rim depth for everyday aero performance.

The wide 25.4mm front and 24.8mm rear rims not only provide comfort and lower rolling resistance but also improve aerodynamics over wider tires. Perhaps our favorite feature of these rims is that they are semi-hooked.

Wheel manufacturers often preach the benefits of hookless rims, but we know why they do it—it's easier to manufacture. Reserve goes the semi-hooked route, which offers the best of both worlds: better pinch-flat resistance and superior tire profiles compared to fully hooked rims, while remaining more aerodynamic without the downsides. Top all this off with a lifetime no-fault crash replacement warranty and a middle-of-the-road price tag, and you get a shop-loved favorite.

This theme continues with the Shimano Ultegra drivetrain. Ultegra Di2 offers the best bang-for-your-buck performance in Shimano's lineup, delivering nearly the same performance as Dura-Ace with just a slight weight penalty. The build does sacrifice a bit of weight by opting for a 105 12-speed cassette instead of Ultegra, but this allows for a lower climbing gear—a 36t option in 105.

This build combines all these elements to create a simple, do-it-all endurance bike that emphasizes performance where it matters, without overcomplicating things.

Have any questions about Cervelo bikes, or want to find a Cervelo for yourself? Contact us during business hours or any time at info@contenderbicycles.com.