Cervelo RS/Spesh Roubaix

J_Anderson

Is it worth paying more and getting a Cervelo RS with a 105 groupset and cheaper components or paying less and getting a Spesh Roubaix with full ultegra and a slightly better spec?

Any other options round about £2K?

Cheers.

gkerr4

where can you get a cervelo RS with 105 for "about 2k"??

thats a £1600 frame!

Funnily enough the rs and the S-Works roubaix are compared in cycling weekly this week - although there is no real conclusion to the article ("all good...etc")

I have an S-Works Roubaix which I paid £950 for the frame - if i'd been looking at full retail on that frame I might have stretched to the RS - it's a lovely frame.

That said, i'm happy with the S-Works - just over a kilo for the frame and 400g for the forks - its pretty light, very stiff and extremely comfortable - but if you are seriously comparing full bikes and the RS is an option over a (non s-works - probably an 'expert' is it?) i'd have the RS every day!

the groupset can always be upgraded as you go - but that RS frame is something else and very mush worth getting imo

gkerr4

incidently I build my S-Works up for around £1800 with Campag Carbon Centaur groupset, campag Eurus wheels and ITM finishing kit. all new parts and the only bit I already had was the Specialized Toupe Saddle.

That said, the only reason this was do-able is cos I bought an 07 frame for £950 (although I ended up with an 08 frame... it's a long story)

J_Anderson

where can you get a cervelo RS with 105 for "about 2k"??

Stonehenge Cycles I believe. Looks like I'll be getting Cycling Weekly this week then. Cheers!

gkerr4

oh yes:
http://www.stonehengecycles.com/product ... rter_build

no question - get the RS - don't even bother buying the mag.

I thought it must have really crappy wheels - but it actually has Fulcrum 5's on it too - go order it now!

(personally I'd pay the extra £150 and get it with centaur but thats just cos I am a campag person)

redddraggon

gkerr4 wrote:

personally I'd pay the extra £150 and get it with centaur

Without a doubt

J_Anderson

I must confess to knowing absolutely nothnig about Campagnolo- is Centaur much better than ultegra?

shazzz

J_Anderson wrote:

I must confess to knowing absolutely nothnig about Campagnolo- is Centaur much better than ultegra?

No. Ultegra is better.

gkerr4

centaur is on a par (groupset wise) as ultegra - so better than 105.

centaur vs ultegra is a bit of a personal preference - cue many shimano v campag arguments.

personally I wanted to try campag this year having had a few shimano bikes - I prefer the feel of the grips and campag and now that I have spent some time with it I prefer it overal. It is clunkier than shimano but more positive in it's change, the brakes are awesome and it is very smart looking and well finished kit.

fearby

Cervelo every time. Different class to Specialized. 8)

andy_wrx

Ah the power of advertising and brand-image !

Spesh is seen as a brand like Ford or Vauxhall, everybody's got one.

Cervelo, because of CSC, is seen as some sort exotic - rather like Alfa Romeo perhaps (although they of course are just rebodied Fiats...)

gkerr4

I know what you both mean!

Both the Cervelo and my S-Works are both 'tour proven' brands - technically my s-works roubaix is probably as good as the RS - but even though my bike is just a few months old - I can't help lusting after that cervelo!

it's a different perceived class perhaps..

Gussio

andy_wrx wrote:

Cervelo, because of CSC, is seen as some sort exotic - rather like Alfa Romeo perhaps (although they of course are just rebodied Fiats...)

While Cervélo sound Italian, don't they originate from Canada? Or maybe it is Switzerland. Pretty sure that it isn't Italy though. Couldn't give you a Canadian or Swiss car manufacturer to continue the analogy though

giant_man

You'll enjoy the Cervelo R3 (the white one) or the RS as I test rode the R3 a month ago and thought it a cracking ride, quite get up and go, definitely a racer's bike but still very good with rough surfaces and the like. Very nice.

Compton77

While Cervélo sound Italian, don't they originate from Canada? Or maybe it is Switzerland. Pretty sure that it isn't Italy though.

It's a Canadian brand, founded by Gerard Vroomen and Matt? White, hence Vroomen White Design down the chain stay..

cannonfodder

Strangely Cervelo have a very strong brand image in spite of the quality issues they have had.

Specialized will be better quality.

gavintc

not heard about qual problems before

cannonfodder

gavintc wrote:

not heard about qual problems before

http://www.cervelo.com/R25recall

There were other issues before that one too. But they've probably switched manufacturer by now

JWSurrey

Interesting. Out of all the current brands on the market that are not silly money, I was homing in on Cervelo - It's that or something outlandishly expensive.
Have they had any other quality issues?

The marketing blurb talks about a lot of testing/wind tunnel and crash testing, and upping the weight of their frames slightly, to make them more crashworthy.

I did discover on their website, that their frames are almost exclusively made in China.
They used to make some frames in Taiwan.
Must require good q/c - hopefully outside of the country in which they are made for impartiality reasons.

giant_man

There were some other stories about frame faliure and the like, I wouldn't know if they have changed manufacturers, but one ride on an R3 convinced me why they have a good name, i can see why they are popular.

And I do think the Cervelo is a more exclusive choice, Specialized are so common, as for better quality, who knows?

cannonfodder

of course the fit of the bike should be the primary concern. If I was after a Specialized I'd be tempted to go along to one of their concept stores to do one of their new fitting sessions which promise to be excellent.