Cervelo R3

[mso]

Looking at the R3. Anyone have experience with this frame?

[Grant McLean]

It's a bike.

If it fits you, then there are worse choices out there.
The wheelbase is kinda short in the smaller sizes,
it looks like the new RS '08 model has more "conventional"
geometry.

-g

[dvs cycles]

My friend has the R3-SL and likes it a lot. I rode it briefly around the parking lot and even though it is way to small for me was very responsive.
Too bad it's made in Taiwan. :no:

[Big Dan]

Keep the receipt.

:cool:

[mike p]

Never seen one last more than a season of racing.

Mike

[asgelle]

Too bad it's made in Taiwan. :no:

It's not.

[jmewkill]

I had one since 04/06. It is light and rigid and stuff. But frankly I grab the Legend or the Kirk before the R3.

I feel I have to work a little to ride the R3. Mind you I only ridden it with Neutron tubs and Veloflex's. Maybe if I put the time in with a larger cross section tire my opinion may change a little.

[DfCas]

Does anybody know for sure where they are made?

[DarrenCT]

not in canada if thats what u r thinking :)

[rnhood]

Maybe it comes from Chile like the vegetables that you eat.

Why does it make any difference where it is made? Buy it for what it is, not where it's made.

[Grant McLean]

Does anybody know for sure where they are made?

Carbon bikes are made in China.
Both the box and the frames have made in china labels.


(and they're made by Ten-tech Composites, who also make Scott, Ibis, and others)

-g

[labratmatt]

I would go with this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Team-CSC-Cervelo-R3-Carbon-Road-Bike-SRM-Zipp-404_W0QQitemZ270176823774QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item2 70176823774

[DarrenCT]

Grant is "da man".

Thanks for all your help on my future bike. You'll defiantly be credited.

[Steve Hampsten]

if it were me - and it ain't - i'd shop for chinese carbon by price

and i'd take a hard look at ibis silk

and jamis and fuji and maybe raleigh

but that's just me

[cs124]

if it were me - and it ain't - i'd shop for chinese carbon by price

and i'd take a hard look at ibis silk

and jamis and fuji and maybe raleigh

but that's just me

Gotta agree with Senor Hampsten here. I can't see the sense in paying the asking price for one of these R3s.

From the accounts I've heard the Ibis is pretty good, for what it is. Jamis has always been great value and the Fuji in the LBS down the street is indistinguishable from the more expensive Scott in the LBS across town.

For a light stiff race bike I'd spend my money on a custom scandimonium Teschner and a second set of wheels.

[Steve Hampsten]

For a light stiff race bike I'd spend my money on a custom scandimonium Teschner and a second set of wheels.

word.

or the amurican equivalent.

[cs124]

word.

or the amurican equivalent.

why? did we sign a free trade agreement with you guys, or something? ;)

[Dave]

If you ride a 51cm or smaller, I would not recommend one. The geometry is too short (chainstays, TT and F-C) and too quick for most riders. The ride is pretty rough too. I rode one for 200 miles and sold it. Quality of construction is questionable. They now have imposed a torque limit on the BB that's lower than the normal 50Nm for BB cups. Some frames have been broken just tightening the BB. Using loctite is not a solution either, since the torque limit will be exceeded upon removal.

The new RS has longer chainstays, but the total geometry picture is in question, since the geometry chart still has obvious errors. You can't keep the same TT length, change the HTA from 73 to 71 and still have the same ridiculously short F-C, (with the same fork rake).

[Archibald]

if it were me - and it ain't - i'd shop for chinese carbon by price

and i'd take a hard look at ibis silk

and jamis and fuji and maybe raleigh

but that's just me
Handmade in China?

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/500/china_WELDING.jpg

[dvs cycles]

It's not.
Yes, it IS. :fight:

[Steve Hampsten]

Handmade in China?

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/500/china_WELDING.jpg

Hey, that's how I do it too!

I'm not saying buying Chinese bikes is a good thing or a bad thing - but it is something we each need to decide for ourselves.

Pretty soon we'll be a nation of baristas - with nothing left to outsource - making coffee for each other. That'll be nice.

[chrisroph]

I got one this summer from senor jerk for a good deal. Its a 56. Its light, torsionally rigid, comfortable, fits me well, and handles great. It was also pretty cheap in this day and age. I like it a lot and feel that its a fantastic racing bike.

When I installed the campy bb, I undertorqued it by about 20 lbs and its holding fine. There have been some problems with the bb sleeves. It comes with a cheap fsa seatpost with a serrated clamp that is a strange size--32.6--but the angle works with my saddle type so I haven't yet found a replacement but i probably will before next year's season gets rolling. Oval makes a post that fits it.

I consider it to be racing iron, good for a couple seasons and then probably superceded by something blingier. I kind of felt the same way about the look 281 I bought 4 or 5 seasons ago. That bike is still going strong as a summer fixie. Time will tell how the R3 will fare in my stable.