After visiting a local bike shop and reading the (rave) reviews, the Cervelo R3 should get me up the local mountains in a hurry and is comfortable as well. Any tips on where to get the best deal on one? I live in southern OC california, but maybe out of state purchase is worth it?

Also, what is the best wheelset to get that isn't insanely ($1500) expensive?

I'm getting very close to buying my own Cervelo Soloist. I've had a great experience with Competitive Cyclist (http://www.competitivecyclist.com) and their demo program. Worth every penny of the $200 (earns $100 credit towards purchase) to demo the bike for a week.

That generous demo period can help ensure you make the best frame choice, particularly if like me, you find your ideal fit is somewhere in between two sizes.

I'm getting very close to buying my own Cervelo Soloist. I've had a great experience with Competitive Cyclist (http://www.competitivecyclist.com) and their demo program. Worth every penny of the $200 (earns $100 credit towards purchase) to demo the bike for a week.

That generous demo period can help ensure you make the best frame choice, particularly if like me, you find your ideal fit is somewhere in between two sizes.

Thanks, that looks like a great site.

Why not your LBS? The prices on Cervelo are uniform throughout the US (unless someone knows of a super-secret store) and you can demo the bike through your bike store (if not, that's goofy).

The Competitive Cyclist demo program is nice for people who don't have bike stores around that carry those nice kind of bikes that are harder to find (Ridley, Pinarello, etc). But you have a Cervelo dealer near you judging by your post. You'll pay $200 to Competitive Cyclist and only get $100 of that applied to your purchase. Doesn't make much sense to me in this instance.

Not everyone gives the R3 rave reviews. I owned a 51cm and thought it sucked. Rode it four times and sold it. The geometry in the 48and 51cm sizes is goofy. No other company makes a bike so short with so little steering trail in this size. It also rode rough with a 135 pounder like me on it. I ride the Colorado mountains and much prefer my LOOK 585.

The quality of construction is also not up to the same standards of other frames in this price range.

http://www.all3sports.com/product_info.php?pName=cervelo-r3-2007

It sure seems like there have been too many recalls with cervelo products over the last 5 years.... It make you wonder how long these R3's will last, I sure see alot of Scotts beging to fail....

You'll pay $200 to Competitive Cyclist and only get $100 of that applied to your purchase. Doesn't make much sense to me in this instance.

Dear CaseLaw,

I agree there is no substitute for a good relationship with a local bike store. Ideally that should be everyone's first choice for a hands-on experience but I'm not sure most LBS can give (or rent) you a $7000 bike for a one week demo test. Yes there is the $200 cost and you're right only $100 is credited towards an eventual purchase, if you make one.

In my case I wanted plenty of time with the bike (good days and bad days) to really get a feel for its handling and comfort. More experienced riders may have an easier time making decisions based on a two-hour afternoon ride or a spin around the LBS neighborhood. I couldn't. To be truthful I've actually invested $1000 (for a $500 potential credit) in five demos. I rode the Cervelo Carbon Soloist in two frame sizes, the BMC Pro Machine in two frame sizes and a Pinarello Paris Carbon. (I also rode the 08 Madone when their demo caravan came to my LBS for one hour). I came away from those extended tests, confident that the 54cm Cervelo was the best bike for me. The "wasted" $500 dollars in shipping costs were worth it in my opinion and along the way my confidence in Competitive Cyclist increased. The demo bikes were perfectly tuned, clean and securely shipped. It was actually a lot of fun getting a new bike every couple of weeks; and it had the other riders in my office enjoying the experience too.

c-40's post in this thead is illustrative of the problem. He rode the bike four times and sold it. A longer demo might have saved him the eventual disappointment I think.

It's nice to know that we have options and at least one on-line retailer has made a concerted effort to offer a service that many LBS can't match. If your LBS can, I'd agree with you that melmark2 should go that route.

Dear CaseLaw, .......


That's cool. My local Cervelo dealer allowed me to keep it for an extended time (three days), twice. Yours may not do that. So Competitive Cyclist may be a good option for you. I myself shop there a lot too - I like them.

It sure seems like there have been too many recalls with cervelo products over the last 5 years.... It make you wonder how long these R3's will last, I sure see alot of Scotts beging to fail....
Well the last two posts do raise some concerns, but most seem sold on the R3. I've also come across a used Felt F2 at substantial savings. If my main goal is hill climbing, would the Felt suffice? (I'm 200 lbs, long torso/arms).

Maybe that trail program mentioned above would be helpful after all.

So you only pay 200 their is no hidden fees? Do they hold any amount on your charge card? Seems strange they ship u a expensive bike and you only give them 200

No hidden charges, or holds on my charge card, and I've demo'd five bikes. They do have your charge card number, and I'm sure would pursue (hunt down) anyone not returning a bike, but they assume that most of their customers, and potential customers are honest cyclists.

It's a great program. Contact their demo manager ryan (mailto:ryan@competitivecyclist.com) if you have more questions

i dont know about shops in your area, but competitive cyclist are good online place to order from. Check out my signature for wheels

Did you end up getting an R3 if so where did you end up getting it? Did you do the demo program?

I am in the same boat and considering the R3 as my LBS does not have any R3s in stock to test ride

As I mentioned earlier in the thread I demo'd several bike brands and models from Competitive Cyclist, including two frame sizes of the Carbon Soloist.

I just placed an order for a Carbon Soloist - SL from Competitive and expect the bike within a week. Couldn't be happier with that process and the service. Contact Ryan (mailto:ryan@competitivecyclist.com), Competitive Cyclist's demo manager if you have questions.

I am considering CC but I must admit I am somewhat annoyed with them. I am considering ordering the frame from them so i asked and they had it in stock, I asked if I could put a deposit it on it for a couple days and they said NO. I mean I can understand somewhat where they are coming from but I am not talking about a 100$ deposit I was willing to give over 1k and pay the rest in a couple days. I thought that was kind of odd

I think given the volume of bikes they appear to sell (count the bikes in the gallery) you're probably safe waiting till you have the entire amount for the purchase. I know we'd all like more flexibility in the way programs and retailers work, especially when you feel you're asking for something very reasonable given the size of the purchase... unfortunately there's always some rule or restriction that gets in the way. The demo cost is still a very prudent expense IMO.

After visiting a local bike shop and reading the (rave) reviews, the Cervelo R3 should get me up the local mountains in a hurry and is comfortable as well.

If you think the R3 is going to get you up the mountain faster than your existing bike, assuming it's not a MTB, you are going to be disappointed. Fitness makes you faster, not the bike. If you are a world class pro with the lowest possible body fat perhaps you may gain a second or two over your rivals with heavier gear but otherwise forget it. There are plenty of reasons for getting a new bike but making you faster up hills is not one of them IMO.

Tim McTeague

Did you end up getting an R3 if so where did you end up getting it? Did you do the demo program?

I am in the same boat and considering the R3 as my LBS does not have any R3s in stock to test ride

Since you seem to have fitting issues, why don't you get a bike that you CAN test ride? Not that there is anything wrong with an R3- I have one and like it. But its not like it is all that much better than any other good frame. A bike that fits you right and rides the way you like is more important than getting a frame with the best numbers.

why don't you get a bike that you CAN test ride?

Test ride?? I don't think the OP is looking for a test ride to take on a 20, 40, or 80 mile ride. I think he is looking for a bike to have for 7 days, put 500 miles on it, and run it ragged. Most bike shops even in my metropolitan area will let you take a bike for a couple of hours, but not for seven days.

Also, there are NO strings attached, if he doesn't like the feel of the bike, he doesn't have to face the LBS manager and say "Sorry, I am going with my second choice bike- which by the way you don't carry. Thanks for the ride, and have fun selling (as a new bike) the scratched cassette, and carbon chainring that look like they have 500 miles on them now."

I am about to build an R3. Any thoughts on price and components?
$4857.30
R3 with the lighter fork Wolf SL
campy chorus carbon groupset
Wheels: Campy neutrons ULTRA wheels (lighter)
Stem: FSA OS-99
K-force compact carbon handle bars
Arione wing flex Fizik

I am about to build an R3. Any thoughts on price and components?
$4857.30
R3 with the lighter fork Wolf SL
campy chorus carbon groupset
Wheels: Campy neutrons ULTRA wheels (lighter)
Stem: FSA OS-99
K-force compact carbon handle bars
Arione wing flex Fizik

Reyejames,

I built up a very simular R3 2 months ago. I ordered it from Competive Cyclist - cost just under $4K without wheels ( I already had a set of Neutrons). CC build was very good - my only change was to swap out the Chorus brakeset for Record... The silver Chorus brakes stood out as the only silver parts on the bike - to me the Black Record brakes look a lot better... Something I didn't catch until after I got the R3. CC let me swap out the brakes and applied full credit for the Chorus breaks towards the Record set. FWIW....

really under 4K... so you think i am paying too much?

i will try the CC build price calculator..

I just pieced mine together I am going with shimano and mavic elites but i got a great deal on the grouppo at probikekit and universalcycles for the wheels using a 15% discount

CC -$4200 for an R3 fram no wheels, stock bars,stem,seat and campy chours. i just did the CC calcuator

how did you get it below $4000 ????

Resejames -

CC had a 10% off special going last summer- I'd been looking at the R3 and for several months and never saw any discounts, so I pulled the trigger..... ( Thanks for the tip from the RBR forum !! )

No regrets, I enjoy the R3 everytime I get on it.

The quality of construction is also not up to the same standards of other frames in this price range.]

I'm curious about that statement - can you be more specific?