C50 vs R3/R5 - opinions please

deejay.

Hi all,

I am hoping the current Mrs deejay will let me get a new frame this year - nothing wrong with the C40: I've been riding it for six years and I just fancy a change...

Options on the table include a 2008 (brand new old stock) C50HP in NS03 from RA Cycles in the US (provided the shipping works out). Alternatively I could buy a new Cervelo R3, or a (very) slightly used R5, with Rotor cranks. All of these would come in close to £2,000. I'd love a C59, but I can't stretch to that.
Whatever I buy, it'll need to run the '04 Record Carbon gruppo off my C40.

Could the collective please let me have their opinions on my choices?

Cheers,

deej

---

"He's more machine now, than man: twisted and evil..."

napoleond

Having owned a C50 and an R3...

The C50 was really special, it was a tiny bit too small so it had to go.
The Cervelo is great, it's just a bit, well, magnolia compared to the colnago.

I'd go C50 (as long as it fits!). Mine was NS03 btw

Velonutter

I've got a C40 as one of my bikes, it rides great and I just use it on good dry days or when I fancy a change, my best bike is a LOOK 585, which is superb, but my heart hankers after an EPQ with a Steel Master in Saroni Red as back up.

kfinlay

How about an EPS? I was looking for a good C50 but found a ex-display EPS frameset with seatpost and headset from a shop in Italy (International Ebay) and got it for £1575 (inc postage) - pic in my siggy - took me a while and made the guy a silly offer (it was on offer at 2200euros) but it paid off so worth a try!

napoleond

kfinlay wrote:

How about an EPS? I was looking for a good C50 but found a ex-display EPS frameset with seatpost and headset from a shop in Italy (International Ebay) and got it for £1575 (inc postage) - pic in my siggy - took me a while and made the guy a silly offer (it was on offer at 2200euros) but it paid off so worth a try!

Nice find

In my opinion the C50 is a nicer ride than the R3, so any derivative after the C50 would be even better!

deejay.

Thanks guys. Saw your posts about the C50 ND, which made me think about the change. Though mine won't have Boras on it... Will look out for ebay international bargains, too.

Cheers,

deej

rolf_f

Mass produced monocoque vs handmade lugs? No contest!

deejay.

kfinlay wrote:

How about an EPS? I was looking for a good C50 but found a ex-display EPS frameset with seatpost and headset from a shop in Italy (International Ebay) and got it for £1575 (inc postage) - pic in my siggy - took me a while and made the guy a silly offer (it was on offer at 2200euros) but it paid off so worth a try!

That is a storming price - good for you!

greasedscotsman

To quote someone else from a different thread...

FransJacques wrote:

I have a C50 and a R3SL and if both bikes were at the top of the Tourmalet and it was a race to the bottom I'd choose the C50. In a crit or a race where I have to accelerate a lot it would be the R3SL every time.

Different horses for different riding types...

deejay.

greasedscotsman wrote:

To quote someone else from a different thread...

FransJacques wrote:

I have a C50 and a R3SL and if both bikes were at the top of the Tourmalet and it was a race to the bottom I'd choose the C50. In a crit or a race where I have to accelerate a lot it would be the R3SL every time.

Different horses for different riding types...

Yeah, I think I saw that one too..