Assuming it is real, would be interesting to know how much of the difference in perceived comfort derives from the seatpost. The 27.2 mm diameter seatpost of the R3 could well provide a fair bit more cantilevered flex than the aero post of the S3.
I'm not expert, but this is something I have noticed as well - my regular ride is an R3, but i've spent a decent amount of time on the S5(older version), and on little post-wrenching spins on my wife's S2 and now new S3, testing out the bike to make sure it's good to go before road races for her.
When I'm riding my R3 and I am looking down at the seat post, I can see it flexing minimally both from my own weight moments on the bike, and also when going over rough pavement.
That same movement on all Cervelo S-series bikes with their aero seat-posts, is zero!
All other things being kept the same (wheels, tires, psi, saddles etc . .), this does seem to be a key difference between the R and S series bikes in the Cervelo line. That, "shock dampening" that the round carbon seat-post offers could be the secret sauce to the R bikes being described as, "more comfortable".
Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog
I'm not expert, but this is something I have noticed as well - my regular ride is an R3, but i've spent a decent amount of time on the S5(older version), and on little post-wrenching spins on my wife's S2 and now new S3, testing out the bike to make sure it's good to go before road races for her.
When I'm riding my R3 and I am looking down at the seat post, I can see it flexing minimally both from my own weight moments on the bike, and also when going over rough pavement.
That same movement on all Cervelo S-series bikes with their aero seat-posts, is zero!
All other things being kept the same (wheels, tires, psi, saddles etc . .), this does seem to be a key difference between the R and S series bikes in the Cervelo line. That, "shock dampening" that the round carbon seat-post offers could be the secret sauce to the R bikes being described as, "more comfortable".
Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog