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2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM)
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With the upcoming IM 70.3 Silverman coming up, I am torn between purchasing a 2015 Cervelo S3 or the 2015 Cervelo S5 - both with Ultegra 6800. I would like to be able to take this bike further to more half-distance IM events and eventually to a full distance IM. Any and all suggestions would be sincerely appreciated!
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [ln408] [ In reply to ]
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Just out of curiosity, if you're doing to be doing long distances and are shelling out good money for a new bike, why aren't you getting a bona fide tri bike? Sure you can stick aerobars on a road bike, but the geometry still won't be the same.

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10327392
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [jenniferpelota] [ In reply to ]
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jenniferpelota wrote:
Just out of curiosity, if you're doing to be doing long distances and are shelling out good money for a new bike, why aren't you getting a bona fide tri bike? Sure you can stick aerobars on a road bike, but the geometry still won't be the same.

+1.

For the price of an S5, why not just get a P2 and get a used road bike? Then you have 2 different types of bikes to ride for different types of races.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [baldiesrt] [ In reply to ]
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Brand new S2 + P2 105 for very similar money to a single Ultegra S5... N+1 will always win

I learned a long time ago that the only pertinent information you offer is found within the last sentence.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [baldiesrt] [ In reply to ]
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baldiesrt wrote:
jenniferpelota wrote:
Just out of curiosity, if you're doing to be doing long distances and are shelling out good money for a new bike, why aren't you getting a bona fide tri bike? Sure you can stick aerobars on a road bike, but the geometry still won't be the same.


+1.

For the price of an S5, why not just get a P2 and get a used road bike? Then you have 2 different types of bikes to ride for different types of races.

Hell, you can get a new s2+p2 for the same price.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [JSully] [ In reply to ]
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JSully wrote:
Hell, you can get a new s2+p2 for the same price.

He obviously wants high end bike.. not two mediocre comp's.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [ln408] [ In reply to ]
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most def s2 and any tt bike that fits
Last edited by: eggplantOG: Aug 29, 15 1:21
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [125mph] [ In reply to ]
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If I rode an S2 or (and?) a P2 and somebody called my bike mediocre, I would kick them in the dick.

/kj

http://kjmcawesome.tumblr.com/
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [ln408] [ In reply to ]
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ln408 wrote:
With the upcoming IM 70.3 Silverman coming up, I am torn between purchasing a 2015 Cervelo S3 or the 2015 Cervelo S5 - both with Ultegra 6800. I would like to be able to take this bike further to more half-distance IM events and eventually to a full distance IM. Any and all suggestions would be sincerely appreciated!


Couple of thoughts:
The posters above have given you the Devils Advocate approach - worth considering 2 x bikes which are more specialised in purpose. A pure TT bike will be more aero in itself, even if you can replicate your position on a roadie and if you go on to do more 140.6 distance racing then a TT bike is a good tool for the job.

However, given the Cervelo 2-position seat-post, I reckon you can get very close to a pure TT position on either the S3 or S5 if you want to and work with a good bikefitter. Especially so on the S5. You won't have the convenience of the wired-in aero bar set up - unless.....one thing you could also do is run Di2 and then you can even have shifters on your clip-ons that plug into your roadie setup. Don't ask me how to do this but several of my LBS have offered it as a versatile approach.

If you really do just want one bike, either will work but the S5 will be stiffer and perhaps a little less comfortable (beefy seat stays) as an all-rounder - but in a race, you probably wouldn't notice this.

Sticking with the one-bike philosophy, a third choice might be an S2 (effectively an S3 with a simpler fork) with a very nice & racey 2nd wheelset. I think there's more bang for your buck in wheels than upgrading from 105 (S2) to Ultegra (S3). You won't get the S3 fork though. This would be my one-bike choice and I've done 70.3's on a P3, an S5 and a Pinarello roadie.
Last edited by: PT: Aug 29, 15 1:13
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [125mph] [ In reply to ]
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125mph wrote:
JSully wrote:
Hell, you can get a new s2+p2 for the same price.

He obviously wants high end bike.. not two mediocre comp's.

god i hate rich dumb fucks
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [125mph] [ In reply to ]
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125mph wrote:
JSully wrote:

Hell, you can get a new s2+p2 for the same price.


He obviously wants high end bike.. not two mediocre comp's.

The S2 frame is the same as the S3. With the fork they are the same weight and are the same in the windtunnel.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [chaparral] [ In reply to ]
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chaparral wrote:
125mph wrote:
JSully wrote:

Hell, you can get a new s2+p2 for the same price.


He obviously wants high end bike.. not two mediocre comp's.


The S2 frame is the same as the S3. With the fork they are the same weight and are the same in the windtunnel.

Obviously there's more to a bike than the frame that makes it high end or mediocre... The wheels, the bars, the components (105 vs ultegra vs duraace or RED) ... even the cranks, chain and saddle! and last but not least, the DECALS matter too!
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [125mph] [ In reply to ]
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Yeah don't forget about the decals. The right decals and color scheme is good for 10w. Wind tunnel tested and confirmed.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [GreenPlease] [ In reply to ]
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GreenPlease wrote:
Yeah don't forget about the decals. The right decals and color scheme is good for 10w. Wind tunnel tested and confirmed.

Exactly! If your ride looks sick, it gets you the confidence to crush it hard and have a great race!!!

If your ride says "P2" on it, you might just get depressed and be content MOP.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [125mph] [ In reply to ]
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I've got a 2015 S2 with Rotor 3D+ crank, power meter, 105 brakes and Zipp 404's. It lacks absolutely nothing compared to an S3 with similar upgrades. I've ridden 11sp 105 and Ultegra back-to-back several times and cannot tell a difference.

I would definitely consider getting a S2 and P2 rather than just an S3 or S5. The fact is that a dedicated tri bike, with a good position, is going to save you something like 20w over an S3/S5 with clip-on aerobars. Ultegra and marginally better wheels aren't going to save you any time.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [GreenPlease] [ In reply to ]
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GreenPlease wrote:
Yeah don't forget about the decals. The right decals and color scheme is good for 10w. Wind tunnel tested and confirmed.

this is true i gained 10+mph from my p6 with campy dura red di2 and flame decals, now i 40k tt in sub 30min but unfortunately i need a 78t chainring and a lawn mower to shave my chest hairs lmao
Last edited by: eggplantOG: Aug 29, 15 14:30
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [ln408] [ In reply to ]
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I'm new to this game and I took the path as one of the above mentioned. I picked up a used 2008 Cannondale Six 13 ultegra for my road bike at a great price. ($500). Once I was bit by the TRI bug many guys with years of experience in TRIs suggested that the 2015 P2 was good to go. I researched and shopped around and decided to go for it. It's been great. Now I'm going to throw on some Flos and I can't really think why at this point I'd need much more. This combination works well for me and get the job done. I'm an age grouper and doing Olympics and soon hope to move up to HIMs.

Having the used road bike and the P2 TRI combo has allowed me to focus on just getting out there training and racing and I didn't have to spend a ton of cash.
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [ln408] [ In reply to ]
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Thank you so much for all the constructive feedback. Let me actually provide a bit more on my background. This is only my second year of riding in my tri venture, so my new bike research is limited. I had received an older Trek road bike last year when I started in the Oly and HIM events. I just found out a couple weeks ago from a bike fitter that the bike is too big for me. It is a 52cm and my proper fit is a 48cm. Money does not grow on trees for me, hence the reason why I ask for suggestions on which bike to purchase. I sincerely appreciate the suggestions. It has opened me up to more viable options. I will look into the used road bike and tri bike idea. Thanks again!
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [ln408] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks again for everyone's input. I ended up purchasing a Cervelo P3 over the past weekend.
So I have a technical question in regards to the fork installation if anyone has gone through a similar experience - The bike shop that I had purchased the bike from had installed a 1 1/8" FSA Carbon Steerer Compressor instead of the stock alloy sleeve insert that came with the bike. However, according to Cervelo's fork installation manual, it states:



"Cervélo recommends the use of the supplied alloy insert sleeve

and pre-installed star nut to preload the headset. The use of a

compression plug (not provided) in place of the insert sleeve

is permitted, but this substitution will not provide the same

resistance to clamping damage due to over-tightening of the stem."

Therefore, any suggestions on whether or not I should leave the current set-up alone or should I resort back to the stock installation as suggested from the manual? Has anyone completed the same fork installation as this bike shop?



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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [ln408] [ In reply to ]
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It's fine. Just don't overtorque the plug in the steerer
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Re: 2015 Cervelo S3 vs S5 (for Half & Full IM) [ln408] [ In reply to ]
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I'm not a fan of the cervelo glue in insert. I prefer something like the Specialized Compression Plug.

Suffer Well.
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