New Cervelo R3... old components

[Powerful Pete]

Ok guys. I have yet to touch it or see it in the flesh (long story, will not bore you here), but here is my new ride. The position will be dialed in over time, this is the way it was put together in the shop for me (while I was out of the country).

New Mantra seat too...
My new R3.

Disclaimer: I really, really wanted a C-50 (some of you might remember the thread I opened on this a while ago), but the price difference (and expenses with a wife and two kids) simply made it impossible to justify. Especially given the fact that I am really a weekend warrior, with work, business travel and family time. Ergo, I am trying to justify myself, but here goes...





Obviously, the wheels are mismatched (the other Fulcrum is getting trued). The components are straight off my old ride, and will be refined - I intend to order Campa Record ergos and black brakes to go better with the color scheme, and probably a Campa Record cf seatpost.

So a hodgepodge of Chorus 2003, Record and Chorus 2008 for now. Works fine, and is a relatively no-nonsense bike (IMHO). This is not really a weightweenie yet, but just felt the urge to share, although I am clearly not worthy of a lot of the other rigs on this board.

[coloclimber]

Nice bike. A great settlement instead of the Colnago. This way you keep your wife happy and get to ride more!

Enjoy!

[Powerful Pete]

Nice bike. A great settlement instead of the Colnago. This way you keep your wife happy and get to ride more!

Enjoy!

Thanks. Indeed... Now I need to think about a nice wheelset. I know you are not a clincher man, but probably I would like to go with clinchers (maybe with the tubeless option?). Any thought that would not break the bank (something along the lines of Neutrons, Fulcrum 3s or 1s, etc)...

[coloclimber]

Neutrons are awesome wheels. You can pick up some lightly used ones for a big savings if you keep your eyes out. Smoothest hubs in the biz, steel spokes (larger offset valve stem= genius), asymmetrical rear rims, great acceleration and braking properties. I would stay away from the alloy spoked shamal/fulcrum zero type wheels. Although the zonda's have the nice hubs and steel spokes and are prettynice.

[weenie #2533]

How do you like 'melting' saddle ?

[Powerful Pete]

How do you like 'melting' saddle ?

LOL. I take it you like the looks of the Mantra a lot too...

It is an experiment. I have yet to ride the bike. Give me a week or so and I will provide my feedback for other weenies...

[weenie #2533]

OK

[micky]

Thats a nice starting point!

If you come over to Vicenza lemme know.

[blybo]

R3's have a really unusual seatpost diameter which I can't remember right now. Do campy make 1? I thought it down to FSA or 3T

I've had mine for close to a year now and absolutely love it. The missus has a RS

[Powerful Pete]

R3's have a really unusual seatpost diameter which I can't remember right now. Do campy make 1? I thought it down to FSA or 3T

I've had mine for close to a year now and absolutely love it. The missus has a RS

Off hand I don't remember the diameter, but I am almost sure that Campa makes it... I recall seeing a R3 pic somewhere with a Record post... I think...

Thats a nice starting point!

If you come over to Vicenza lemme know.

Grazie Miky! Non mancherò... anche se qualche kg lo devo perdere prima di avventurarmi con voi scatenati...

[Powerful Pete]

Posted a few better pictures of the bike (with matching wheels now!), along with micro-impressions following the initial ride on my blog.

http://pastatrails.blogspot.com/

[addicted]

Very nice.
If you truly want a C50, keep an eye on ebay, they often go for not much more than R3 framesets, then you could resell the R3.
But that R3 is really nice! And the R3 frameset is probably a good half pound lighter than a C50.

[Powerful Pete]

Thanks addicted. I will keep an eye out, but I have to say that I am really impressed by the R3 - could be that I have no metric for comparison - I have never owned a full CF frameset. Wow.

For now I think I will keep this one!

[modcon86]

nice ride. think i prefer the looks of the handbuilt front over the fulcrum...

not sure bout the 'melting' saddle nor the cages (heresy i know...)

[Powerful Pete]

nice ride. think i prefer the looks of the handbuilt front over the fulcrum...

not sure bout the 'melting' saddle nor the cages (heresy i know...)

Thanks modcon86. The problem with the handbuilt is that it is a Campagnolo Record 8 speed hub, so I cannot mount the back wheel on this bike. I still may go for handbuilts... decisions, decisions.

On the Italian forum I participate in there is a concerted effort being made to get me away from handbuilts and on to either Shamals (most people) and a few who support my Neutron idea.

Just to give you an idea, here is what the R3 looks like in white with Shamals (I have Campagnolo, this guy has red - he posted to show me the bike with the wheels). Decisions, decisions.



So far the melting saddle makes my rear end happy, so I will put up with jokes if it makes it possible for me to ride and not have the family jewels go numb. And yes, the water bottle cages will go at some point when I find something bling enough...