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2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:40 pm
by hlegs
I've finally outgrown my first road bike, an aluminum Cannondale Synapse, and this spring I plan on getting a Cervelo -- I've always dreamed of owning one. However I'm torn between the new R3 and S3 (mech ultegra). I live in Toronto which is pretty flat, but has it's share of rolling terrain in surrounding areas; climbs exceeding 100m vertical are rare. So, not flat like Florida, but certainly not mountainous. I do a bit of racing too -- Ontario masters plus some gran fondo type rides.

I've never ridden either the R3 or the S3, which I would certainly do before buying, but I'm curious what people think about the S3's aero vs the R3's weight/stiffness. The S-series seems way better on paper, and Cervelo seems to imply the same with their myriad of white-papers, etc., but the pros (Garmin) always seem to go for the R-series, even for flat stages.

Any thoughts?

2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:40 pm
by Weenie

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Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 4:08 pm
by GT56
i have owned S's and R's

the S's do wear one out sooner because of their somewhat harsher ride, which I guess is the main reason why professionals (most of them featherweights) prefer the R

i am far from being featherweight but the S's harshness have made me switch back to R within a couple of months twice

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 5:32 pm
by legs 11
Why not think about something else? Cervelo??! Really, you could get far better value and performance in the longer term if you look elswhere.
It's only a Chinese made mass produced frame....nothing special.
My advice is, to try and see past the glossy advertising and look for some good alternatives instead.

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 5:37 pm
by asdf123
What other brand are you referring to?

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 5:45 pm
by Posix1b
I too would like to know, what could be better than a $2k for a 2014 R3?

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:00 pm
by JBV
The R3 will be lighter and have a better ride, I think you will enjoy riding it much more than an S3. You can get similar aero benefits to the S3 with a skinsuit (or "aero" shorts/jersey) and/or an aero road helmet for the races you do. But I think you will enjoy riding the R3 every day more than the S3.

Aero road frames are, in general, suited to two groups of people:

1. Extremely accomplished racers (rouleurs and sprinters mainly) who have already maximized other potential advantages (aero, weight, pack skills, position, tactics, etc), and are willing to sacrifice a few grams and some clearance for a marginally faster frame.

2. People who like the aero look of these frames, and either don't ride a lot, or don't ride on dirt roads (many of them have limited clearance for 25-27mm tires), or are just willing to accept the compromises that come with an aero frame.

I own an aero frame, btw. But if I didn't race I'd definitely choose an R3 over an S3.

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:59 pm
by prebsy
that new r3 frame is killer, BUY IT!

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:12 pm
by efeballi
I believe the reason why pros use the R-series is that they have more aggressive geometries, compared to S'es. Look at those gigantic head tubes and the angle of the top tubes of S'es.
Yes, the S looks more bling with the cutout and all, but the performance gains are minimal.
Definitely try both, but I vote for R.


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Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:15 pm
by btompkins0112
R

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:37 pm
by JBV
efeballi wrote:I believe the reason why pros use the R-series is that they have more aggressive geometries, compared to S'es. Look at those gigantic head tubes and the angle of the top tubes of S'es.


Stack, reach and head tube length are identical between R3, R5, S2 and S3.
http://www.cervelo.com/media/docs/S2-an ... a355-0.pdf
http://www.cervelo.com/media/docs/R3-f4 ... f024-0.pdf

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:12 pm
by ScuderiaDouroux
legs 11 wrote:Why not think about something else? Cervelo??! Really, you could get far better value and performance in the longer term if you look elswhere.
It's only a Chinese made mass produced frame....nothing special.
My advice is, to try and see past the glossy advertising and look for some good alternatives instead.


OH SNAP!

This post is surely going to get WW's resident Cervelo fanboy (let's call him "kustpeepjedaling") out in full force.

OP: buy whichever frame you think looks and rides the best. The rest is pretty insignificant.

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:16 pm
by efeballi
JBV wrote:
efeballi wrote:I believe the reason why pros use the R-series is that they have more aggressive geometries, compared to S'es. Look at those gigantic head tubes and the angle of the top tubes of S'es.


Stack, reach and head tube length are identical between R3, R5, S2 and S3.
http://www.cervelo.com/media/docs/S2-an ... a355-0.pdf
http://www.cervelo.com/media/docs/R3-f4 ... f024-0.pdf


Ach, my bad. Geometries exactly the same.
Disregard that part of my comment.


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Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 11:02 pm
by hlegs
Great points, thanks. I keep forgetting about other aero savings -- especially helmet.

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 11:59 pm
by Getter
Has anyone actually tried the new S3? The seatstays look almost as thin as the R3...it also has the same taper in the headtube. The S2/S3 have the BBright bottom bracket now.

The features of the R3 are now on the S3. I would give the new S3 a shot before writing it off.

Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 11:59 pm
by Weenie

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Re: 2014 Cervélo R3 or S3

Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:10 am
by NGMN
Yeah, I think people should hold off on all the usual aero blather(harsh, not stiff, etc) until the new s series is in the wild. Its got way different tube shapes than the old one.