Which bike?

a11chiang

Hi all. New member here looking for some advice. Was planning on buying a new bike. Was leaning heavily towards a Cervelo S3. Fits me well and I wanted an aero bike. Making a big change from my current Synapse.

LBS suggested the Tarmac SL7 expert as another option though. Slightly higher price point, especially after replacing bars, but Di2 and lighter. I know it’s the brand new thing on the market and there’s lot of hype around it, but does is it stand out enough to justify the approx 500USD (+ new bars) price difference?

FYI not a racer and I live in an area with rolling hills as opposed to mountains. Looks are about the same for me for both, maybe slightly more towards Cervelo. Oh and my bike fitter did say the 75.5 degree seat tube angle on the Tarmac might be an issue (S3 is 73 degrees).

Thanks

fenix

You'd need to ride them both. It's up to you.

joe_totale-2

If you're not a racer then why don't you just stick with your Synapse?

a11chiang

fenix said:

You'd need to ride them both. It's up to you.

Right it’s ultimately up to me in the end. Just wondering what other ppl would do in my situation. Can’t ride either of them unfortunately.

a11chiang

joe_totale-2 said:

If you're not a racer then why don't you just stick with your Synapse?

Just want to try something different. Go faster than my friends. Etc.

gethinceri

If you’re unable to ride them to compare go to a different shop.

MTB_Roadtripper

*generic useless reply with no user advice on either bike*

I am a big fan of Ultegra Di2 over standard Ultegra. I know its a lot of sales patter around the Tarmac being the "one bike to rule them all" but if you can afford an SL7 go for it. Whats the equivalent price point Cervelo? The S5? Maybe thats the one for you.

back-cyclin-again!

Don’t buy anything without first test riding it
And Di2 over mechanical wins!

a11chiang

MTB_Roadtripper said:

*generic useless reply with no user advice on either bike*

I am a big fan of Ultegra Di2 over standard Ultegra. I know its a lot of sales patter around the Tarmac being the "one bike to rule them all" but if you can afford an SL7 go for it. Whats the equivalent price point Cervelo? The S5? Maybe thats the one for you.

Thx. Appreciate getting an actual response! Di2 is definitely appealing.

Equivalent price point would be the S3 Ultegra. It’s approximately 6300CAD for the S3 and 7000CAD for the SL7. The S3 Ultegra Di2 would be a big jump to 8400CAD.

a11chiang

back-cyclin-again! said:

Don’t buy anything without first test riding it
And Di2 over mechanical wins!

Another vote for Di2

pippi_langsamer-2

Don't quite get the "Don’t buy anything without first test riding it".

I've no idea how many bikes I've bought, built, ridden, raced and sold over the 35 years I've been riding bikes properly. What I do know is I've NEVER test-ridden a bike.

If you know your physical stats etc, and know the type of bike you are looking for, and have half-a brain......there's no need to test ride. Besides, too many variables come into how a bike will "feel", pottering about on a car park or test track. Tyres, pressures, saddle, width of bars etc etc etc.

Anyway.....purely personal, but I wouldn't touch Cervelo with a bargepole, and the S3 looks hideous IMO. The only Tarmacs with a 75.5deg seat tube are the size 44/49's so guessing that must be your size then? They have graduated seat-tube angles with each size or two.

gethinceri

Interesting, I've never bought a bike without test riding it with the exception of bikes I've built or bought for my daughter.

First.Aspect

Which one looks nicer?

MTB_Roadtripper

a11chiang said:

MTB_Roadtripper said:

*generic useless reply with no user advice on either bike*

I am a big fan of Ultegra Di2 over standard Ultegra. I know its a lot of sales patter around the Tarmac being the "one bike to rule them all" but if you can afford an SL7 go for it. Whats the equivalent price point Cervelo? The S5? Maybe thats the one for you.

Thx. Appreciate getting an actual response! Di2 is definitely appealing.

Equivalent price point would be the S3 Ultegra. It’s approximately 6300CAD for the S3 and 7000CAD for the SL7. The S3 Ultegra Di2 would be a big jump to 8400CAD.

For me then its the SL7. ( You cant really go wrong here, go with your gut)

a11chiang

pippi_langsamer-2 said:

Don't quite get the "Don’t buy anything without first test riding it".

I've no idea how many bikes I've bought, built, ridden, raced and sold over the 35 years I've been riding bikes properly. What I do know is I've NEVER test-ridden a bike.

If you know your physical stats etc, and know the type of bike you are looking for, and have half-a brain......there's no need to test ride. Besides, too many variables come into how a bike will "feel", pottering about on a car park or test track. Tyres, pressures, saddle, width of bars etc etc etc.

Anyway.....purely personal, but I wouldn't touch Cervelo with a bargepole, and the S3 looks hideous IMO. The only Tarmacs with a 75.5deg seat tube are the size 44/49's so guessing that must be your size then? They have graduated seat-tube angles with each size or two.

Right I’m a size 49. Not sure how much that steep angle should dissuade me. Thx for your opinion.

a11chiang

First.Aspect said:

Which one looks nicer?

For me, it’s the Cervelo. But that Di2 makes me think.

First.Aspect

a11chiang said:

First.Aspect said:

Which one looks nicer?

For me, it’s the Cervelo. But that Di2 makes me think.

I agree, and that's the thing. You can get di2 any time, but the Cervelo will always be better looking.

It is probably a better frame, certainly less common, hence the lower overall spec.

mpatts

Personal choice:

No Di2, and the prettiest

shirley_basso

Whichever one won't give you buyers remorse - nothing else really matters

DeVlaeminck

Just buy the Cervelo if you want aero and it fits you. Personal opinion I'd rather have mechanical over Di2 anyway.

As for a test ride - only ever test ridden one bike and that was second hand. I don't see that you'll learn much from a short ride on a bike where the fit isn't dialled in and stuff like bars and saddle aren't your choice.

clubsport

If you are not a racer, how about the Cervelo R3?

Perfect for rolling hill riding!

def_defyr

Agree on the test ride, unless you can do a "real" once. I participated on a local group with at a Specialized store in Gothenburg last year, as part of a program where you join the ride for free or a nominal fee, then if you buy the bike you get 50 euros off, I think. We hammered for about 70 km and I really got a feel for the bike. I wasn't really in the market but it was brilliant.

As for the OP, I would get the bike with higher spec if you think the price/value ratio is the same and other variables being more or less equal. If I buy a bike with, say, mid-level components, I don't replace with high-end stuff. My own reasoning is that you don't gain much by swapping out, say, a Record rear derailleur for a Super Record one, if the rest of the groupset is Record, if that makes any sense...

elbowloh

Just go with your instinct on what one you like the most.

They're probably both great bikes that you'll enjoy riding and if you never actually ride the one you don't buy, you won't know if it would have been better.

brundonbianchi

Buy the one on which you can hoist the sickest mingers.

darkhairedlord

Buy whatever didn't come 2nd in tdf.