Anyone out there riding the Cervelo S3 in tris? Seems like with the reversible head seat post, it would be pretty terrific, especially in hillier tris.
Also, are the 2009 models compatible with Hed C2 (“wide”) rims? Cervelo has removed the compatibility info from the web site (I believe 2010 S3’s don’t have the same clearance issues).
I currently ride a first gen Scott Plasma. For the most part, it’s a great bike. But the rear end is definitely a bit flexy.
Thanks in advance.
-twain
I just bought an used s2 off here, and asked the guy who owns the bike store that sponsors me what he thought of the S3. He said its the best road bike he has ever ridden. Which pretty much sealed the deal on me getting an S2. So from a comfort standpoint i think you would be in great shape.
As far as riding a road bike in tris it depends A LOT on how you have it set up. I ride an aggressive position. transferring that position to a roadbike can cause some twitchy handling issues. Thats my experience at least. If you have to only get one bike then i would say get a road bike and use it for tris but make sure you test out your tri position on there to get it dialed it right because the shorter top tube on a road bike can make handling a little sketchier. Thats my personal opinion at least.
I just got my 2010 S3 and its easily the nicest bike i’ve ever owned. I haven’t taken it outside yet unfortunately due to the cold winters we get in Saskatchewan but am taking it to the indoor track to ride this weekend. I have the dual position seat post with a tri seat on it and it gets me to about 77 degrees, i’ll be trying it out in a duathlon and olympic race in next couple months. There is definitely no issues with wheels as they corrected that from the 2009 models, they also fixed the internal cabling issue from 2009 as well. I can’t wait to get it on the road!
Cheers
I recently bought a 2009 frame on closeout and fitted it with SRAM Red and aero wheels. In sum, I am in love. This bike is stiff so the power transfer is amazing. After my fitting, I was riding it in the parking lot while the fitter looked on and the different feel was immediate. I was riding around saying, “I can feel it! I can feel it!” The fitter laughed and described it as my “Eureka!” moment. Anyway, if you’re looking for a long-term bike and have the money, I would strongly recommend the S3. Here’s a pic of mine:
My eyes! Beautiful aero roadie with that abomination of a seat and bag. Ouch! Very nice though 
My eyes! Beautiful aero roadie with that abomination of a seat and bag. Ouch! Very nice though
That’s the Cobb V-Flow Max saddle tilted at 6 degrees, like Cobb recommends. I’m trying it out on this bike and have found it to be very comfortable so far, although I haven’t ridden over 50 miles in one sitting yet. The bag is an Arundel Dual so the profile you see is the wide side. From the front/back, it’s as streamlined/aero as I’ve been able to find. It’s big enough to hold two tubes and an inflator so I keep my phone/ID & money/food in my jersey pockets. But if you know of some better way, I’m all ears. I’m going to be riding this bike for a loooong time so I’m willing to tinker with it.
Just giving you a hard time. I’ll assume you don’t ride with a mirror either? Ride more with the hard core roadies and you will get ribbed enough to figure things out … Nice bike BTW - like the Edge 500, Red and PT.
KO-are you planning on riding this in tris as well?
whats the advantage on hills?
Anyone out there riding the Cervelo S3 in tris? Seems like with the reversible head seat post, it would be pretty terrific, especially in hillier tris.
Also, are the 2009 models compatible with Hed C2 (“wide”) rims? Cervelo has removed the compatibility info from the web site (I believe 2010 S3’s don’t have the same clearance issues).
I currently ride a first gen Scott Plasma. For the most part, it’s a great bike. But the rear end is definitely a bit flexy.
Thanks in advance.
-twain
Hill advantage=climbs better.
My road bike is a Cervelo R3. Significantly better climbing bike. But it’s as aero as a brick.
Conceptually, the S3 is the best of both worlds (aeroness of the plasma being the other world)
I would love to see some power meter controlled hillclimb tests comparing a couple road bikes vs tt bikes.
Hill advantage=climbs better.
My road bike is a Cervelo R3. Significantly better climbing bike. But it’s as aero as a brick.
Conceptually, the S3 is the best of both worlds (aeroness of the plasma being the other world)
Whats the mystery? With equal watts they will be about the same speed. The more aero one will be a bit faster on moderate hills, the lighter one will be a bit faster on steeper hills.
Styrrell
yeah but the R3 climbs so fast!
or does it?
plenty of slowtwitch regulars still agonize over whether a road bike will be faster on a hilly tri course.
I say that is madness, but I could be wrong =)
Whats the mystery? With equal watts they will be about the same speed. The more aero one will be a bit faster on moderate hills, the lighter one will be a bit faster on steeper hills.
Styrrell
Watts wont make a difference, but the positioning may. I ride very far forward on my tri bike. When I do long climbs on a road bike I vary positions from standing to seated forward to seated rearward. It seems to help to use different muscle groups. On my tri bike I really only have a forward and standing choice. More importantly is what goes up must come down and on twisty descents I’m more confident on my road bike.
That said I ridden some pretty hilly curvy tris and always use the tri bike.
Styrrell
My wife and I both have 2009 S3s. Very nice bikes- our first carbon road bikes. We came from/have Ti road bikes. No problem with C2 wheels- such as Jet 4s. I do all my own wrenching- internal cable system is a royal pain. Ti bikes- 10 out of 10- in terms of easy to build- 10 being easy. My P3C- 7-10 in terms of easy to build. S3- easily 3 out of 10. And it all comes down to the ft/rear shifter cables/housing/cable port- everything else is 10 out of 10 easy. Supposedly 2010 has improved cable system. Shifting is fine with DA 7900. A fun bike to ride, tracks like it is on rails, wonderful at high speeds. My wife’s bike with clinchers is a little under 15 lbs.
Mark-thanks for the reply and feedback.
Have you tried a tri with the S3? Anything noticably better about the P3 for triathlons?
It is a bummer that the '09 model is such a PIA but kudos to you for doing your own wrenching.
I just picked up my 2010 S3 last week and its a an amazing bike! Super light yet nice and stiff! Fully equiped with Sram Red it shifts easily and smoothly. I have a dual position seat post that I plan on using for a duathlon in May and most likely will try it out in an olympic distance race. I currently ride a 2009 Felt B2R for tris and am wondering if the S3 would be any faster on the shorter distances. Anyways I’m super excited to try it out when the weather warms up:)
Cheers
Mark-thanks for the reply and feedback.
Have you tried a tri with the S3? Anything noticably better about the P3 for triathlons?
It is a bummer that the '09 model is such a PIA but kudos to you for doing your own wrenching.
I haven’t done any tris with the S3- but I have done some long fast rides with my HED clip on bars. And the bike handles really well and feels very fast with the set up. I think if you just wanted one bike- for road and tris- this could easily fit the bill. I think if you set up the S3 in a more forward position, had clip ons and/or full aerobars- it would easily be a Tri/TT worthy setup.
Any more folks riding S3’s in tris?
Any more folks riding S3’s in tris?
Not an S3, but I just bought an S1 and will be using it in tris next year. Love it so far. SRAM Rival, just ordered a set of Handspun’s Hed Belgium series.