When Bike Radar took the Turbo Creo out for a spin they loved it, saying, “Specialized says that riding the Creo is ‘like you, only faster’, and that’s pretty close to the truth. This is one of the only times I’ve ridden a road e-bike and thought that the bike has helped get me to somewhere I wouldn’t have gone on a standard bike.”
Commuting by bike is undeniably the way forward. Cycling infrastructure is finally being taken seriously by councils and has never been safer. Beat the traffic and reduce the strain and risk on public transport by cycling to work. Who knows, you might find a new passion for life.
With all this in mind, we’ve rounded up some reasons why we believe the Creo SL E5 electric road bike makes a perfect commuting companion.
The Motor
Perhaps the most vital part of an e-bike is the motor, as this will be what powers you up the climbs or kicks in on the flats when you need it. Our SL 1.1 motor has been specially designed and built for the Creo SL frames, meaning the E5 has the same technology as the more expensive models in its family. It’s so streamlined and light you can barely feel its presence when it’s not assisting.
It can put out up to 100% assistance (up to a safe limit of 240 watts), which means that for every one watt of power you put through the pedals, the motor is capable of matching it. With that sort of backup, you’ll rarely run out of oomph, no matter the terrain.
The motor also has an in-built power meter which you can connect to your ANT+ head unit, or if you don’t have an additional head unit, the Turbo Connect Unit (TCU) on the top tube provides the rider with the necessary details. This motor is the ideal accompaniment to your commute to make sure you don’t arrive sweaty before the day has even begun.
The Battery
There’s no point having a fantastic motor if it’s only going to last 10 miles and need recharging before your ride home, so that’s why we developed our SL1-320 battery. It is fully integrated in the down tube of the bike where it doesn’t stand out in the frame design. In addition it has an impressive range of 80 miles, with an additional 40 if you include our optional range extender (a kind of bonus, additional battery pack). That means even if you commuted 12 miles each way, you’d only have to charge it once a week! Additionally, you can connect the bike to our free ‘Mission Control’ app, which allows you to record your rides and handle the battery management – giving you control over how the long the battery lasts.
The Suspension
Having suspension on a road bike may seem alien to some, but riding in Britain is enough to make anyone yearn for a little bit of vibration dampening. The Future Shock 1.5 system delivers 20mm of travel hidden in the head-tube offering the perfect balance between smoothing out potholes and other bumps in the road and maintaining your hard-earned speed. It’s also adjustable with a dial in place of a stem cap where you can also lock it out if you want to get rid of the suspension completely. And for the image-conscious cyclists, we’ve developed the new Smooth Boot, which offers a cleaner aesthetic from the head tube to the stem.
The Frame
We’ve developed the Creo SL e-bike to be the lightest in its class, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less durable. The E5 is constructed from hard-wearing aluminium, perfect for British roads with unpredictable road surfaces. We recognise that there can be more sizing variation between two male cyclists than between male and female riders. So rather than just shortening the stack height and putting a shorter stem on and calling it a women’s-specific frame, we’ve designed a frame for the individual rather than one that’s gender-specific. The geometry is less aggressive than a racing bike, making it one of the most comfortable e-bikes in the market. However, this doesn’t stop you from going fast, as the lightweight frame means the battery lasts for much, much longer.
The Components
We’ve designed the E5 to be the perfect commuting companion and that’s why we’ve paired it with the Shimano GRX groupset. We believe this 11-speed system offers the perfect gear ratios needed to tackle any terrain in the UK from 25% inclines to downhill sprints. The hydraulic disc brakes offer incredible stopping power no matter the weather, and you won’t have to worry about taking the bike through rougher surfaces on towpaths or bridleways with our 28mm Turbo Pro tyres offering comfort and puncture protection. We’ve also included our fantastic Body Geometry Power Sport saddle, which moulds to your shape offering extra comfort for those longer rides.
Five quick things about the Creo SL E5….
1. SL 1.1 240w motor with 100% assistance up to 240w
2. 80 mile battery range as standard
3. Future Shock 1.5 suspension with 20mm travel
4. Lightweight unisex aluminium frame suitable for all riders
5. Shimano GRX components
