[Closed] Roadie help - Spesh v Cervelo

I have a Cervelo, but only a lowly R2. I've had an S3 in the past but have noticed that both bikes have a pretty long head tube. Currently running a -17 stem to get it lower but it still doesn't feel low enough. If you like a racey position then I'd say look elsewhere. Cost wise cervelo are much better value than they used to be, just depends on whether you can get on with the fit.

I've upgraded mine with fancy wheels, finishing kit and it now sports etap- it's a nice bike but I certainly don't love it....very much a tool for the job. My Storck on the other hand was amazing...

Hopefully he gets the Cervelo contract then you can have a proper test ride on both. Apart from that compare groupsets/ wheels & warranties & pick your fave.

True. Recent experience has made me very clear on need to test any bike!! Hence ruled our roubaix etc

Tarmac in next two weeks hopefully. Cervelo after that.

Cervelo for bragging rights at the golf club, obvs.

😉

Wheel base have R3's very cheap at the moment my brother's just bought one it's very nice

One reason would be BB standard, last I checked they had the weird BBRIGHT thing going on which you will justify to yourself isn't an issue at purchase but will piss you off when you decide to change cranks/rings/BB etc and are locked in to a weird standard.

R3 here, lovely bike...still smitten with it over 3 years on.

-17 degree stem and it’s plenty low enough

Got an S2, it's lovely. Fast but still feels comfortable. Same frame as S3 and not fussed getting 105 over ultegra.

The R3 is the best road bike I've ever ridden, handling and ride quality are really excellent. Only drawback is that it really is a road bike of the traditional mould, in the sense you'll not get > 25mm tyres in it. I use it mainly for rapid blasts and chaingangs, but it lacks the flexibility of a lot of the newer bikes with better clearances etc. Horses for courses.

If I could only have 1 bike it probably wouldn't be the Cervelo, it would be something with disc brakes and bigger clearances.

I’d wait, the S-Works tarmac is a very nice bike.. however I’ve got an R5ca and it’s awesome.

As CFH says it’s certainly gets you the girls, into golf clubs and onto next years honors list.. it’s also a thing of envy. For some reason a well made bike is a thing of utter jealousy from the Mr Magoo crowd.

So, wait until the Tarmacs in, get a decent build or something similar to an R5 then compare.

However, the R3 models use the R5 mould but with a slightly different layup, so same dimensions as the R5 but a little cheaper and not that much heavier either.

The S3 is awesome, many TdF squads prefer the ride of the S3 to the S5 and it’s easy to see why, bit aero and a bit lighter and slightly softer to ride. The S5 is bullet hard and brutal and for the hard of bottom only IMO, whilst a foil for speed it comprises ridabilty...

As far as lightness you’ll get an s-works Tarmac down to 13lbs and my R5ca drags 14lbs along but I’ve got mine set for “Dutch rolling/Belgian lanes” hacking for the poor surfaced Hampshire tiny lanes.

Don’t discount the S-works Tarmac.. they’re awesome.

Just seen the post above about tyre sizes, I’ve got Clem Strada LGG 25’s on my R5ca and there is plenty of room.. you won’t get anything bigger on it though.

And the R5ca is the same dimensions as the R5 and R3 but a lighter build.

I think the tyre comments refer to older Cervelo frame versions... The new R3 and R5, released this year, have clearance for 28c if I remember correctly and they have changed the geometry from the old versions of theR series.

I have an S3 and its a super ride. Feels lively and agile and FAST with enough comfort to ride 100 miles on it just fine. For comparison my other road bike at the moment is a Trek Domane SLR and I had Trek Boone before to compare to as well. The Cervelo is lighter and feels more urgent than either Trek did. I have an old Bianchi Via Nirone (05 ash era) which has similarly aggressive feeling geometry to the cervelo..

Tyre wise, 25c fits fine in my S3. I don't think the headtube it too long at all and as others have said you can negative degree the stem if needed.

Re Cervelo experience - After 3 years of owning my S3 I bought some Reynold Attack wheels for it which are wider rims that the stock Mavics. This made me notice a slight wonky-ness to the rear triangle in that the wheel sat more to the drive side stays. Confirmed not a wheel dish issue. Cervelos response - a check on some measurements and an alignment tool and a week later, a new frame. Cannot ask for more.

Re the BBRight thing - just get a wheels mfg adaptor if you want to change from it.

... not ridden a Tarmac more than 20k though so I can't comment much re comparison of the 2 bikes.

Thx for the comments

Very helpful

The owners cerveko was a special version based on the California model - important apparently - unbelievably light. The surprise was coming out of the saddle and the bike went crazy in a good way.

Yeah, that’s my R5ca (ca = California)
But.. a standard R5 is as good.. yes the ca is lighter but there’s more to a bike than lightness.
Also the ca costs more, a lot more. Do you have the cash for that difference between it and the R5 or R3? for maybe little gain?
My ca absolutely loves hard digs up hill, it’s a stiff bugger and I’ve yet to find it’s limits. But it’s been all over the world with me, cobbles doing P-R, Flanders, Tour of Lombardia, eastern Doli’s, Vosges, massive central, Pyrenees to name a few yet it’s still as strong and utterly gorgeous as the day I bought it nearly 5 years ago.. but I do look after my kit make no mistake.

But..

Mates love the Tarmac, of all the bikes in the club the s-works Tarmac is the most popular. For good reason. Epic build quality, robust, build specific variable and can be fitted to all sorts of body shapes and sizes.. some have them setup for race, most have them set up (like I have with my ca) for hard daily riding for both pace and comfort.

There’s really little to differentiate between a good spec Tarmac and an R5.

Enjoy choosing, don’t let the Brand get in the way.

Another point.. the ca I’m never selling it. It’s gone way beyond Brand image and is just a fabulous bike.

TeamHurtmore - I think I was in M&B when you were there.. haslemere yes?

So the Cervelo you took a quick spin on was the R5ca which is mega, but I dont think its made anymore as it was limited.

Cervelo really are nice frames. I borrowed last years S5 demo for a few weeks and set PR's consistently on most of my local short segments. Wouldnt want to take an S5 on an all day trip as too stiff, but a proper blast. The new R series look very nice and they do a disc version where as I dont think Spesh are in the s-works tarmac this year, but probably need to check.

Ive had Spesh on and off for years and now on a Swift Carbon and many high end frames now are much of a muchness. However the new Tarmac looks a real step forward so agree its worth demo'ing.

Personally, if I wanted to do a custom build I would go for the Cervelo and really pimp it up. If I wanted a stock bike I would go for the new s-works tarmac. BUT I would certainly think long a hard about discs as they do make a difference in the wet and would future proof the investment.

Good luck on choosing. If possible try and arrange a back to back demo on the same day, loop and conditions. Im sure the boys could arrange a shop ride for you to do that on say a Sunday...I may even come along for the fun, but you are in good hands with Mike and Ben. Both race for good teams, so know their stuff.

If you have not read the RKP review of S3 and R3 head on head here - http://redkiteprayer.com/2014/07/the-cervelo-r3-and-s3/

.. I would suggest you might enjoy it. Again - older R3 model but its a good comparator

I think the tyre comments refer to older Cervelo frame versions... The new R3 and R5, released this year, have clearance for 28c if I remember correctly and they have changed the geometry from the old versions of theR series.

I think you’re right. To confirm, my R3 is the 2016 model. Vittoria Corsa something’s at 25c fit, but a bit tight.

25 in my 2014 R3, on wide rims they come up at 28mm on the calipers...still plenty of clearance

I wonder if its because I'm on relatively narrow rims (oldish Aksium) so they are ballooning out? Rear seat stay lateral clearance isn't great. What tyres?

Hi varifllex. That was me. Did you have a navy top and you were speaking to Matt (i think) by the door when I came back.? We spoke briefly I think. I was relieved not to have crashed it considering what I was wearing!!!

I hope they do well. M and B both very helpful and always liked Tom from his old place We have Work deals with some bike shops which are a generous which might be a slight issues but I am hasoy to pay for this service and help.

We shall see

(Given how I struggled on barhatch today might be a bit embarrassing to go on a shop ride- and I hate the hill coming back from Fernhurst too!!

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I'll just leave this here.....

Did mike ever ride for sigma? He rembered that I was wearing sigma sport bibs from the summer and is amused - in a nice way - that I am still riding a 2003 sigma bike. He does look bloody fit!!

Cervelo = Canadian = Trudeau
Specialized = American = Trump

That's the way I would make my decision.

😀

Actually, I have nothing to add except that I LOVE the look of CFH's Spesh, above, but that I have also seen some Cervelos that look gorgeous.

I'd be rather wary of "test rides" to be honest. Bikes can feel very different with a change of stem, tyres, even shifters. They need to be set to your size and proportions before any valid comparison.

I'm not a huge fan of either brand, but always think S-Works come out looking pretty smart. Cervelos, with the exception of the ca, don't strike me as anything special, geometry wise. They were early to aero, but everyone caught on. Tarmac is a standard race bike. The pros love them.

Low fast race bike? Get a TCR Advanced SL 😉 . Something that wins stages of tours and is the road less travelled. In any event if you want a race bike, get one that's used in races. Low end Cervelos are not that bike.

Specialized have a history of acting like dickheads so I'd go with the Cervelo.

Doesn't the R5 have a lower stack with than the R3 now? They used to be of the same mould but either the new R3 is higher than the old version or the new R5 is lower. I don't remember which.

What tyres?

Pro Ones

TIred - I did pick up a TCR SL in the Giant store the other day.

I. Just didn't know what to do with my other 9 fingers!!

You haven’t mentioned which Cervelo you are looking at. The 2018 models of the R3 and R5 particularly are quite different to the previous few iterations.

I have a sub 6 kilo 2012 R5, which I love, but I’ve spent the last 2 months trialling the 2018 R5. The new one has a lower bottom bracket, shorter headtube and longer wheelbase with more raked forks. It’s heavier than my bike but feels faster and less skittish (and I’m using my wheels in both). It’s still comfy but feels stiffer and more ‘urgent’ than mine. And I love the Etap on it.

When I replace my bike it will be with the new R5; the only question is disc or rim brakes....