Swissman Bike Set Up: Cervélo S5 + ENVE SES 3.4s

When preparing for the Swissman Xtreme Triathlon, a race that climbs over 3,700 meters across the Swiss Alps, your gear choice isn’t just about speed. It’s about so much more. Comfort, stability, responsiveness, and confidence on the descents all play a massive role in how your day goes.

That's why for this race, I made the decision to race on my Cervélo S5, my road bike, and it was 100% the right call.

The Bike: Why I Chose a Road Bike Over a TT

I chose to ride my road bike and after 3 mountain passes and nearly 9 hours in the saddle, I can confidently say: zero regrets. It felt fast when I needed it and safe when I really needed it.

Swissman’s bike course is not your average Ironman route. You’re not sitting in aero on long flats, but rather you’re climbing up ancient cobbled mountain passes (hi Gotthard), dodging cars (and busses!) on Furka, and trying not to freeze to death descending Grimsel in the rain (okay this year it really wasn't that bad but I put a long sleeve on)

Sure, there were a few TT bikes out there - I believe the fastest men were all on tri bikes. 
As well as road bikes with clip-ons - this is what I had originally planned to do but I couldn't get comfortable in that position, especially not knowing I had to run after.

There was probably 80kms or so where I would have felt comfortable being in an aero position, but that wasn't enough for me to chose a TT over my roadie. For me, comfort, control, and confidence on the descents mattered more than aero gains.

My roadbike gave me exactly that - aggressive enough to feel fast, but stable and forgiving when I needed it.

The Wheels:  ENVE SES 3.4

In the lead-up to the race, I was incredibly lucky to get my hands on a set of ENVE SES 3.4 wheels, paired with ENVE SES tires that I could bring with me to Switzerland. I've been riding these wheels at Jebel Jais on several training rides leading up to Swissman and knew these where the wheels I wanted to go with for the race. So a massive thank you to Ventum House for organizing. 

And let me tell you - I was so happy with them: 

• Lightweight 
• Responsive 
• Stable
  

Whether it was navigating the cobblestone switchbacks of Gotthard or flying down Furka, the ENVE 3.4s felt stable and gave me a lot of confidence. Honestly, I had more fun descending than I thought was possible, and that’s saying something.

I’ve had the chance to ride nearly the full range of ENVE wheels by now and honestly, I feel incredibly lucky to have done so. Each set has its own personality, my favourites are the ENVE SES 3.4 but the ENVE SES 4.5s, also known as the Pogačar wheel have become a bit of a fan favorite in the UAE cycling scene.

That said, they’re not always easy to get your hands on (Psst… new stock is landing at Ventum House soon, so if you’re thinking about upgrading, don’t walk, run!)

Would I Use This Setup Again?

Absolutely. For any race or ride involving significant climbing and descending - whether its a visit to Jebel Jais, racing Swissman, or even a hilly Ironman this setup was solid. As mentioned, I've gone through the whole range of wheels and decided the ENVE SES 3.4 were the most suitable for my Swissman race needs, and still feel good about that decision. 

Curious to try before you buy? You can rent any of the ENVE wheelsets directly from  Ventum House which is such a game-changer if you're unsure what suits your style or race needs.