The Cervélo S5's front end is unlike that of a conventional road bike. Its integrated cockpit, proprietary fork and steering stop are all part of the bike’s aerodynamic design, but they also can present challenges when packing your bike for a flight.
The Buxumbox Aubisque fits the Cervélo S5 while allowing the handlebars to remain attached and pointing straight ahead. For owners who would rather not dismantle a highly integrated cockpit every time they fly, that makes travelling with the S5 considerably simpler.
Why the Cervélo S5 needs a different bike box
The S5 is Cervélo’s dedicated aero road bike. Its distinctive front end combines a proprietary fork and headset arrangement with an integrated one-piece handlebar and stem.
The fork and headset also incorporate a steering stop that limits how far the handlebars can rotate. This prevents the S5’s cockpit from turning through the 101 degrees required to load a bike into a Buxumbox Ventoux with its bars attached.
That leaves two options when packing the bike: remove the integrated cockpit, or use a box that allows the bike to be loaded with the handlebars pointing straight ahead. Removing the cockpit means disturbing its mounting hardware and internally routed hydraulic hoses. It also creates unnecessary work when the bike has to be rebuilt and checked at the other end of the journey.
The Buxumbox Aubisque avoids this completely.
Why the Aubisque fits the Cervélo S5
The Aubisque was designed specifically for bikes such as the Cervélo S5, where a steering stop prevents the handlebars from rotating into the position required by a conventional bike box.
The S5 loads into the Aubisque with its one-piece cockpit still fitted and pointing straight ahead. Remove the wheels and seat post, secure the frame using the internal axle mounts, and place the wheels inside their protective bags. The anti-crush bar slides through specially made gaps in the wheelbags, providing rigidity to the side walls of the box.
The cockpit remains in the position in which it is ridden. There is no need to loosen the one-piece bar and stem, interfere with the internal hoses or mark the component’s position before removal.
Keeping the S5’s setup intact
Leaving the cockpit assembled saves time, but the larger benefit is consistency. A rider’s bar width, stem length, lever position and headset arrangement are all important parts of the S5’s fit. Once these have been set correctly, there is little sense in disturbing them simply to make the bike fit inside a conventional travel case.
Keeping the front end intact also removes several opportunities for problems. Bolts cannot be misplaced, the bars cannot be refitted at the wrong angle, and there is less chance of putting unnecessary strain on the hydraulic hoses while packing or rebuilding the bike.
Once you arrive, the work required to prepare the S5 is similarly limited. Refit the wheels and seat post, carry out the usual safety checks, and the bike is ready to ride.
Choosing the correct Aubisque
The Aubisque is available in four heights and two widths, allowing the correct box to be selected for the dimensions of the bike and cockpit.
Every version is made in the UK from 6061-T6 aluminium and secures the bike through its front and rear axles. The box also includes protective wheel bags and an anti-crush bar, while castering wheels make it easier to control through airports and railway stations.
For anyone flying with a Cervélo S5, the Aubisque provides a straightforward solution to the bike’s front-end design. The S5 fits with its one-piece cockpit left attached and pointing forwards, avoiding needless disassembly of one of the bike’s most important components.
Cervélo S5 images courtesy of Rhino's Workshop on Instagram.