Cervelo RS Advice

MaxwellBygraves

After a trip to the shop, the Cervelo RS is now on my list of potential purchases.
I'm basically after a racing bike with a bit of comfort, as I want a bike that can perform in a race, but is also comfortable for those long club runs. Does such a bike exist?
Does the RS fit the bill?
If you own one, do you rate the bike?
Thanks

jibberjim

It's extremely comfortable on a club run. I'm too slow with the aerodynamics of it to really do that well in a race, that said I've raced on it plenty and actually scored more points on it than on my R3 which I would rather ride.

It's a very good bike. The only difference between it and anything else will be down to aerodynamics which only matter if you're spending a lot of time in the wind.

Rodrego Hernandez

Any bike that fits should offer that. Do you think that a pro rider is going to ride a bike that is not comfortable? Course not and they all ride standard racing bikes.

The RS has a taller head tube to give a more upright 'cyclefit' riding position.

Get sized for a bike by a professional and then choose a bike that fits you. The RS is a nice bike, as is the R3 or any other Cerveo for that matter. Just be careful of being sucked into the 'race' v 'sportive' bike trap. The reality is that a race bike will be comfortable, sportive bikes such as the roubaix might have angles to make it a little more comfortable but the ride might be a little less responsive and that may not be what you want.

cookiemonster

The RS is certainly good enough to race on and I find mine comfy enough for 8 hours in the saddle (the marmotte), multi-day events like the tour of Wessex, or just doing a bunch of climbs in the pyrennes or alps over a week - i did a trip in September where we did 20 cols and stage endings in 7 days, tired legs but no other discomfort. The head tube is only 20mm longer than the R3's so a reasonable drop between saddle and bars is easy enough to achieve with no spacers and a negative rise stem.

I can't fault mine really - if I was racing crits on a regular basis id probably look at the S1, more from the crashability aspect than performance - otherwise it's spot on, especially at the prices at which you can pick up previous years frames. The extra give at the backend is useful given the roads that i have to contend with around London, and Ive had other bikes, like the Focus Cayo, that i found uncomfortable in comparison.

The only downside is that my frame - the black 2008 one with red graphics - looks a little bland these days compared to some of the funkier stuff coming out of Look or Time

genki

Rodrego Hernandez wrote:

The RS has a taller head tube to give a more upright 'cyclefit' riding position.

Get sized for a bike by a professional and then choose a bike that fits you. The RS is a nice bike, as is the R3 or any other Cerveo for that matter. Just be careful of being sucked into the 'race' v 'sportive' bike trap. The reality is that a race bike will be comfortable, sportive bikes such as the roubaix might have angles to make it a little more comfortable but the ride might be a little less responsive and that may not be what you want.

2011 model geometry is different. The R3 now has a longer headtube. Before 2011 the 56cm frame headtube lengths were 160cm for R3 and 180cm for RS. Now its 173cm for R3 and still 180cm for RS.

Rodrego Hernandez

Thanks for that, I rode an RS when they first came out and haven't paid much attention to the genmetrys for a while.

Dadmo

My RS is by a mile the best bike I've ever ridden - both comfortable and quick. I can do 100 miles on it at a pace that was pretty well my maximum for 50 miles on my old bike. But I've been without it for more than a month now, because of a frame failure. LBS and Cervelo were great about it - new frame, no questions asked. And I wouldn't have been riding it much in the last couple of weeks anyway. A pain, though, to be without it for so long. Replacement is due in mid-Jan.

MaxwellBygraves

Thanks to all for the replies.
I'm very tempted to buy one in Jan as soon as the LBS have the '11 models in.
Had a look at the '10 model in shop, very light! A good three or four kilos lighter than my current bike I reckon.
A lot of firsts for me, never spent over 2K on a bike, never ridden a carbon fibre bicycle (test ride is in order) and have only ever ridden cheap OEM wheels. I am both nervous and excited!

ajb72

Your post got me looking at the 2011 RS (I own a 2009 model). Is it just my imagination or has the model dropped £300 on the RRP? I could have sworn they used to be £1799 and now appear on several sites at £1499, with no sign of this being a discounted price?

If correct, it makes a massive saving over the R3. Buy it Maxwell, you won't regret it for a minute.

genki

There are a few french websites selling 2011 for even less. €1550 or €1380 for the 2010 version. UK's cheapest I've seen is 5339.co.uk but not all sizes are in stock. My 2011 R3 is in the post... :P

MaxwellBygraves

ajb72, yes your right it has dropped in price. How peculiar. My LBS said nothing has changed really for 2011 and all the other models appear to have remained the same or gone up. Anyone got any explanation for this?

giant_man

The only way you know you're going to like any frame is to get a test ride MaxwellBygraves, and you have mentioned this. Everything else is immaterial, you should be able to get a test ride on any Cervelo I would have thought.

Had a ride on an R3 a couple of years ago no probs. Nice frame even then. Been thinking about an RS myself, my fave LBS has just become a dealer, but as someone has pointed out the headtubes on the R3s have increased, even lighter frame with more comfort, money nonewithstanding.

a_avery007

going to drop the RS in 2012
the longer stays and head tube make the R3 and RS redundant except for the little details of 40.5 vs 41cm chainstays and that little thing called front center and head tube angles which are 73.1 and 72 degrees for 54cm bike.
so, when your frame cracks you will get an R3 that handles quite a bit quicker than your RS

that is why they are blowing them out for complete bikes at $2600 versus $4k last year.

imlo

ajb72

How does that make the R3 and RS redundant?

on-yer-bike

I had an RS and it was fine until I had the opportunity of buying a new R3-SL for £1600.00. I disliked the long head tube from a visual point of view because it made the frame look too big, but this is obviously a minor point. I now use 25mm of spacers under the stem which I prefer. The RS probably was the more comfortable bike.

If you are buying 2011 I would get an R3. I switched from a Wilier Izoard to the Cervelo after riding the RS for a weekend.

MaxwellBygraves

Interesting, I hadn't heard they were getting rid of the RS in 2012. Anyone else heard this, or know why they want to do this?
I have to admit I don't understand why the RS and R3 are 'redundant'.

a_avery007

sarcasm mates....

cookiemonster

Wouldnt be a surprise if they drop the RS and/or the R3 in the near future. Both models are a few years old, the R5 is a replacement for the R3/R3sl and the geometry changes mean, as someone mentioned earlier, that there's not as great a deal of difference between the geometries of the new bikes and the RS.

jon

giant_man

a_avery007 wrote:

going to drop the RS in 2012
the longer stays and head tube make the R3 and RS redundant except for the little details of 40.5 vs 41cm chainstays and that little thing called front center and head tube angles which are 73.1 and 72 degrees for 54cm bike.
so, when your frame cracks you will get an R3 that handles quite a bit quicker than your RS

that is why they are blowing them out for complete bikes at $2600 versus $4k last year.

imlo

Where's your proof that Cervelo are going to drop the RS next year?

gavintc

I bought the RS in spring of 2009 and have loved the bike. I could not justify spending the extra for the R3 and was initially a little bit concerned that the bike would not be a 'sporty' bike. However, it is a stunning performer and for the last 2 summers, it has lived up to expectation. I note the drop in price and consider the 2011 price is an excellent one for the quality of the frame. Whether they drop the RS is a moot point, as you are getting a top end frame for a reasonable price.

on-yer-bike

They would only drop the price if a) they aren't making them to the same quality which wasn't fantastic anyway or b) they have a lot to shift before being axed.

cookiemonster

Well thats two *possible* reasons, but hardly the only reasons.

Whats up with the quality? Or do you mean Cervelos in general? (Its only really the R3 thats suffered from the bb cracking afaik)

jon

MaxwellBygraves

cookiemonster wrote:

Well thats two *possible* reasons, but hardly the only reasons.

Whats up with the quality? Or do you mean Cervelos in general? (Its only really the R3 thats suffered from the bb cracking afaik)

jon

+1

AndyD2574

Got my RS last January and rode 10 or 11 sportives of 100 mile plus and ride twice a week and I CANNOT fault it. You see all these bikes with a stack of spacers and the RS allows you to ride with none as the head tube is that wee bit taller so steers really well and precise Loads of people will go on about it being a comfort bike and an old mans bike coz of the geometry yet they are the ones riding 'race' bikes with sh1t loads of spacers :?:

Got mine built to exactly the spec I wanted and its is fast, stiff, soooooo light and yes its comfy!

I cant look past Cervelo as the frame is proper quality and finished really well.

Go for it...........you will get a bargain too as the retail has dropped by £300!!

Let us know what you go for mate

giant_man

09 R3SL with a grand off here

http://www.primera-sports.com/products/ ... m=carousel

on-yer-bike

The finish on Cervelos can be lumpy and inside the headtube on my 2008 RS was a mess. I think they may have improved things now. They are still great frames and I like my R3SL and would love an S2 I have seen in the sale. They have a lifetime warranty so you don't have to worry. Call it a handmade look.

MaxwellBygraves

AndyD2574 wrote:

Got my RS last January and rode 10 or 11 sportives of 100 mile plus and ride twice a week and I CANNOT fault it. You see all these bikes with a stack of spacers and the RS allows you to ride with none as the head tube is that wee bit taller so steers really well and precise Loads of people will go on about it being a comfort bike and an old mans bike coz of the geometry yet they are the ones riding 'race' bikes with sh1t loads of spacers :?:

Got mine built to exactly the spec I wanted and its is fast, stiff, soooooo light and yes its comfy!

I cant look past Cervelo as the frame is proper quality and finished really well.

Go for it...........you will get a bargain too as the retail has dropped by £300!!

Let us know what you go for mate

Very informative post, thank you. I will indeed report back! Would/have you raced on this bike, or would you consider it suitable for low level amateur racing?

AndyD2574

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

AndyD2574 wrote:

Got my RS last January and rode 10 or 11 sportives of 100 mile plus and ride twice a week and I CANNOT fault it. You see all these bikes with a stack of spacers and the RS allows you to ride with none as the head tube is that wee bit taller so steers really well and precise Loads of people will go on about it being a comfort bike and an old mans bike coz of the geometry yet they are the ones riding 'race' bikes with sh1t loads of spacers :?:

Got mine built to exactly the spec I wanted and its is fast, stiff, soooooo light and yes its comfy!

I cant look past Cervelo as the frame is proper quality and finished really well.

Go for it...........you will get a bargain too as the retail has dropped by £300!!

Let us know what you go for mate

Very informative post, thank you. I will indeed report back! Would/have you raced on this bike, or would you consider it suitable for low level amateur racing?

You could EASILY race this frame....remember its a light full carbon frame from one of the best bike companies in the world. I havent raced yet but ridden sprotives like a race and its such a responsive frame but with that wee bit of give so your not crippled when you come off the bike! Thinnk really hard about your build as you can go for anything.......mines full campag with everything else carbon which makes it even lighter.

MaxwellBygraves

Thats what I wanted to hear, thanks your advice Andy, very helpful I am looking forward to Jan/Feb when they get the 2011 models in.

malstonbury

Just wanted to add that I have had the same issues with cracking round the BB with my RS twice. Bought an 2009 frame in July last year which lasted 11 months before warranty replacement with a 2010 which lasted exactly 4 months and is currently back with Cervelo being 'evaluated'. Maybe they can't decide whether to give me an R3 or R3-SL

That said, I can't fault the ride, it's fantastic.

MaxwellBygraves

malstonbury wrote:

Just wanted to add that I have had the same issues with cracking round the BB with my RS twice. Bought an 2009 frame in July last year which lasted 11 months before warranty replacement with a 2010 which lasted exactly 4 months and is currently back with Cervelo being 'evaluated'. Maybe they can't decide whether to give me an R3 or R3-SL

That said, I can't fault the ride, it's fantastic.

Something to bear in mind, thanks. How did Cervelo handle your first claim?
Please report back after its been 'evaluated' !