I noticed that Cervelo has introduced another version of the R3 - the RS. Here's a link for more info.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=PRODUCT&PRODUCT.ID=4529

Looks like Cervelo is trying to expand the customer base for the popular R3 frame. The RS appears to be targeted at the taller, less flexable, rider that is a little more concerned with comfort than ultimate frame weight, at a less expensive price. This frame maybe a better choice for the general public, or it may be a dumbed down R3.... what are your thoughts ?

theirs nothing dumbed down about it, some CSC riders will be racing on the RS. A longer head tube does not mean a slower bike, that little Australian sprinter seems to do ok on Ridleys which are considered a relaxed geometry much like the Cervelo RS

I was going to purchase an R3 but decided to wait it out for the RS for a longer head tube

Too bad it didn't come out in 2007 when I bought my R3. The RS sounds like a good deal for us 40 somethings.

I'd be seriously interested in owning. Sounds like a cool frame. I'll be very interested in seeing the feedback on this one. Very good concept if you ask me.

TV

I rode a soloist for a week - quite liked it, although the geometry was a little aggressive for me. If I were thinking about spending $3.5k on a bike, I know an RS would definitely be one of my considerations.

My thoughts?- Its a frame marketed to grandpa's who pretend to do cyclosportif events and have the flexibility of a week old road kill raccoon.
Having said that, fit is the most important thing :)

I like the idea personally... if it came in white I would have gotten it over the R3 I think, but I'm fat and as flexible as a "week old road kill raccoon".

Horrible paint scheme...The Cervelo on the downtube seems way outdated and I don't care for the bowing seatstay. I guess if I was in the need of a taller head tube and longer chainstay then I might consider it...but I'm not so I don't think about the frame until someone mentions it's name. I like my R3 just fine...

My thoughts?- Its a frame marketed to grandpa's who pretend to do cyclosportif events and have the flexibility of a week old road kill raccoon.
Having said that, fit is the most important thing :)

You must be talking about Cadel Evans, because his Ridley has a similar head tube length! Or maybe the discovery squad, they raced the "fit" Madone last year. :)

+1 on paint scheme.. i do like the fact that its cheaper.. but the paint scheme isnt the hottest....

maybe with that extra saved money i can send it to hottubes and get it painted the color of my choice.

Its also a good idea if you have a shorter upper body (longer legs) than average - Look have done something similar in their new 585 optimum range with a shorter TT and a longer Head tube - anyway most bike pics you see here on RBR have too much stack on headset or the stem is flipped or the bars are angled incorrectly to get the bike more comfortable so why not use a frame that is suitable. As for me - I am very flexible but my lower back does suffer when I am on long rides with the bars 10 cm below seat so great idea for me.

So when is this frame actually going to see the light of day?

I'm interested in the RS as a race bike, mainly circuits and crits and a few longer road races. I currently have caad9 but I ride with 2cm spacers and stem facing up (long legs compared to torso). Looking for a bike that fits my geometry but also need it to be aggressive enough for sprints and flying through tight corners...

I would think that with the lengthened chain stays, it would not be the quickest cornering/handling bike. Good for road races. Maybe not so much for crits.

My thoughts?- Its a frame marketed to grandpa's who pretend to do cyclosportif events and have the flexibility of a week old road kill raccoon.
Having said that, fit is the most important thing :)

Have pity on us...we also need some love! :smilewinkgrin:

It's quick. The lengthened chain stays are just to retain the correct rear wheel placement with reference to the top of the head tube and seat because of the 2cm taller head tube. It makes sure that the seat is sufficiently in front of the rear wheel.

In other words, it allows the taller head tube geometry to retain the same handling characteristics of the R3 by "slightly" increasing the wheelbase. Bottom line - it's quick.

I love mine. I run a 51 with no spacers and a 110 stem. It also looks better than running a bike with 3 cm of spacers.

It's still a race bike, and here in aus you save $1k on a R3 so you can put that into better wheels.

This frameset/bike is very high on my list. I'm thinking of going back to CF, and I also have backpain from longer rides. I don't race, and think the idea is brilliant. I'm also considering the Felt Z, new Madone, Synapse and a Roubaix. My guess is if I had a custom frame made, the taller HT would be spot on for me.

:prrr: My thoughts?- Its a frame marketed to grandpa's who pretend to do cyclosportif events and have the flexibility of a week old road kill raccoon.
Having said that, fit is the most important thing :)

...and it's these grandpa's who have a bit more money to spend, which helps keep the LBSs afloat for young whipper-snappers who think they will be forever young...:prrr: :wink5:

I bought mine two weeks ago, and have about 150 mi on it. It's fantastic. Bicycling Mag gives it the "plush" thumbs up, but I'd say that might be pigeonholing it in the wrong place. It is definitely a performance frame first and plush second.

The LBS I purchased from carries Cannondale, Cervelo, Colnago, Merckx, Pinarello, Ridley, Scott, Specialized, and Trek, so there were lots of choices in the price range. The LBS owner is a very experienced cyclist, racer, RAAM rider and team leader and coach. (His 2004 RAAM 4-man team holds the current MPH record), and fitter. I trust his judgment. While admitting the RS is a more "forgiving" frame, he equates the performance more to Cannondale's Super Six than the Synapse. We spent a lot of time over the past few months discussing my riding style, and what I wanted out of a bike, and touching and feeling. Ultimately the short list came down to the RS, Madone 5.2 (standard - not the pro with the shorter head tube), and the C'dale Super Six. The Super Six may seem like the odd duck, but it provided a great performance base line. One thing about the RS (full bike) is that it comes with low end wheels. I upgraded the wheels to Bontrager Race X Lites on the LBS owner's recommendation. We used those wheels on the test rides, so that I was comparing frames only and not frame and wheel combinations.

While the Super Six was a bit quicker handling, the RS did definitely ride and feel more like the C'dale than the Madone. The road feel of the Super Six and RS was nearly identical, and much better than the Madone, IMO. The Madone might have seemed a bit smoother, but on the dull side, in comparison. The RS seemed to handle and held a line better than both the Super Six and Madone. Note that the Trek is a shorter and more upright frame even though the head tube length is comparable to the RS. Bottom line - for me, once set up to fit the same, and with the upgrade wheels on both bikes, the RS was a head above the Madone.

As for ride impressions - Any buyer's remorse, I may have had, evaporated midway through its maiden ride on a familiar 50 mile route, which I did non-stop, 1/2 mph faster, and arrived home fresher than I had ever done before with my previous bike (CAAD3). In fact, every ride I've done so far has resulted in much better MPH and after-ride freshness. I'm sure some of this is frame and some is the upgraded wheels. The bike and wheel combo spins up quickly and holds speed very well. The thing I noticed immediately is that I'm able to hold speed easily on rougher chip & seal sections of road I frequent, where I have always had difficulty doing that on the CAAD3. But what this bike really likes to do is mash. It has huge BB and chain stays, which seem to transmit every effort directly into the pavement with no flex. The feel and sound of it is that the rear tire is somehow pressed into the pavement when you push a higher gear or when you push hard uphill. Not sure how that is accomplished, but that is the feel. My riding buddy even commented on this when we rode side by side up a hill we've done hundreds of times together - said he couldn't believe how easy it looked compared to the old bike. Even the downhill stuff is faster, and the bike is very stable.

I'm not sure how the bike would perform with the low end OEM wheels it comes with. I suspect not nearly as well. It's important to do your comparisons with the wheels you intend to use.

By the way, FWIW, I'll be 55 this year.

Enough said...

My LBS will be getting some in soon. Great concept, taking a page from Specialized with the Roubaix. Can't wait to try one.

My LBS will be getting some in soon. Great concept, taking a page from Specialized with the Roubaix. Can't wait to try one.

Roubaix and Cervelo RS comparable...LOL :) Seriously though, I was 99% on my way to buying a Roubaix when I test rode an RS...the Roubaix was considerably stiffer and didn't eat up near as much of the road, and was slower feeling. The RS blows the Roubaix away (not sure if it is twice as good as I could have 2.25 Roubaix's for what my RS finally end up costing me...hehehehe...but it was worth every penny).

Roubaix and Cervelo RS comparable...LOL :) Seriously though, I was 99% on my way to buying a Roubaix when I test rode an RS...the Roubaix was considerably stiffer and didn't eat up near as much of the road, and was slower feeling. The RS blows the Roubaix away (not sure if it is twice as good as I could have 2.25 Roubaix's for what my RS finally end up costing me...hehehehe...but it was worth every penny).

I'm definitely not a bike expert, but with so much seat tube showing, are you sure you have the best size? I would think a larger size, maybe with shorter stem, would fit better no? Nonetheless, a beautiful bike. I would love to compare the RS with the Look 585 optimum...

The bike fits like a glove....it's a 61cm. I have long legs and a short torso hence the reason for the long post showing. It's the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden. All the discomfort I used to experience on other bikes has disappeared allowing for longer harder rides. Check out the Cervelo forum....there are a lot of Cervelo's with a lot more seat tube showing that mine.

How tall are you mcf? I'm looking at the same frame and I'm 6'4 with long legs (37" inseam). You've managed to build the bike of my dreams from the entire group down to the wheels...wow!

I am 6'4" with about a 37.5" measured inseam. I just got back from a 60 mile ride and I loved it! I started to have some knee issues the last couple weeks so before this mornings ride we (the lbs) check it out and dropped the saddle about 1.25cm and slide it forwards a little. Problem seems to be solved. It's a nice ride. The bars are just cheapy EA50 bars, but fit my hands well. My only suggestion is to work a deal with the shop for some better wheels. The RS10 that came with the bike felt like noodles. The circuits are a little better I believe.

I'm interested in the RS as a race bike, mainly circuits and crits and a few longer road races. I currently have caad9 but I ride with 2cm spacers and stem facing up (long legs compared to torso). Looking for a bike that fits my geometry but also need it to be aggressive enough for sprints and flying through tight corners...

Right, a $2000 frame will really hold you back in amateur bike racing.

-ilan

Roubaix and Cervelo RS comparable...LOL :) Seriously though, I was 99% on my way to buying a Roubaix when I test rode an RS...the Roubaix was considerably stiffer and didn't eat up near as much of the road, and was slower feeling. The RS blows the Roubaix away (not sure if it is twice as good as I could have 2.25 Roubaix's for what my RS finally end up costing me...hehehehe...but it was worth every penny).

Odd, I had the exact opposite opinion while comparing a new Roubaix with a RS, so I bought the Roubaix. Isn't stiffness something you want anyway????

Odd, I had the exact opposite opinion while comparing a new Roubaix with a RS, so I bought the Roubaix. Isn't stiffness something you want anyway????

I would say both bikes are as stiff as the other....my impression was that the Roubaix just was much more 'rigid' (i.e. did not get rid of a lot of road vibration). I hope you enjoy your Roubaix as much as I enjoy my RS!!!

Roubaix, in most sizes, has 0.5 degree steeper STA than uniform RS STA = 73.0, this to me seems to be the biggest geometry difference.In my case RS would fit me better, due to slacker STA. If you need slightly steeper STA then Roubaix may fit better. Both are quality bicycles. I used to have Roubaix in 2005, alas it was stolen from my house. I know a few folks on R3 and RS, I hear no complaints either.

All this talk about "stiffness" etc is not applicable unless you are a Cat-1 or Pro-level road racer. It is just talk and all in your head for 95% of riders. Buy what fits you best and you will be faster and more comfortable.

All this talk about "stiffness" etc is not applicable unless you are a Cat-1 or Pro-level road racer. It is just talk and all in your head for 95% of riders. Buy what fits you best and you will be faster and more comfortable.

Try riding a bike with a flexing frame up a mountain, then compare with a stiff frame. You don't have to be a professional to appreciate the difference and the amount of work it takes to get to the top! Sure, I don't get paid to ride - but I still like to go fast. :)

Try riding a bike with a flexing frame up a mountain, then compare with a stiff frame. You don't have to be a professional to appreciate the difference and the amount of work it takes to get to the top! Sure, I don't get paid to ride - but I still like to go fast. :)

Let me clarify. Any *modern* road bicycle from a *well known brand* that you may buy today (or over last 3-4 years at least) will be stiff enough for you not to be able to get any noticable performance gain over their respective top end models. In other words if you buy a Trek 2000 or Madone 6.9 - both will be stiff enough. Or Look 555 over Look 595 or Time Edge versus Ulteam VXRS or Giant OCR versus TCR Advanced. Sure you may be able to find some cheap rubbish road bike that is a noodle but those are exceptions. First generation of carbon bikes from Look were noodles but that was 10+ years ago. Too many times people spend bucket loads of cash to buy the "team issue" road bikes when in fact they will be just as fast on the same brands low-mid models as keep a few grand in change!