Any opinions? Getting a new road bike and have narrowed the choice to a Cervelo R2.5 or Scott Team Issue CR1 frame and fork (Team Issue has a slightly lighter Scott carbon fiber). Both built with D/A 10 and they come to the approximately the same price. Also, have decided to use Colorado Cyclist or Excel Sports build kit if I get the Scott frame. Complete D/A build kit with Ksyrium is $1979 or $1700 with Easton Circuit. Goal to keep around $4k. Any experience with using build kits from these guys over having LBS ordering the kit? Price seems good for all you get.
Probably have to order the R2.5 off of web and not 100% certain on size. I’m 6/1" with a 35 cm inseam and tend to like a shorter top tube. All the online web sites suggest I need a 59cm CC seat tube and my reach is 68.5 cm. This means I would need a 9 or 10 cm stem if I went with the 58 cm cervelo. My current bike has a 56 cm CC top tube , relatively long head tube, and a 59cm CC seat tube. Any thought on the correct size Cervelo? I want to avoid a lot of drop between seat and handlebar, currently about 5 cm - don’t want anymore drop.
Having gone through 3 derailler hangers on my previous road bike–in 1 year! there’s NO WAY I’d buy a fancy carbon road frame without a replaceable hanger. For that reason alone, I’d think twice about the Scott–which otherwise seems like an awesome frame.
Man spending that much money on a bike which you are not sure of which size you should get seems like a bad way to go… I would personally spend the money/time with a fitter and figuer out hich size you need then buy or just buy from a LBS… The extra money would be worth the peace of mind/confidence that I was buying the right bike.
To add to your decision though… I have heard from others that they find the scott to have twitchy handling and not as stable as the cervelo… (no personal experience though)
Not being a fan of unique parts not common elsewhere, I’d have concerns over Scott’s longer than standard fork, and Cervelo’s 28.6mm seatpost.
Not to mention those forks are just plain ugly. And for some reason, from up close the Scott’s look cheap to me. I don’t know what it is, they just do. I’m sure most will disagree…
I have both, so I’m in a unique position. Problem is, I’m going to be selling Scott’s in my shop, so that sort of disqualifies me. Of course, I wouldn’t let that stop me, so here you go.
For anyone to say anything derogotory about either of these frames or forks is silly (with the exception of looks - that’s personal preference stuff). Both are great (the R2.5 has the shakier history in regards to breakage, but that’s all been taken care of - dont’ let anyone scare you off with that), and really the question you should answer is which fits you, and you’re needs, best. Buying off the web is dangerous business.
Given your size, the only thing I’d mention is that the Scott is stiffer at both the BB and the head tube. At the 58 cm size (mine is 58 cm), the head tube on the R2.5 is a little wimpy, but less so than other frames like a Colnago C40, or Trek 5900. Neither is as stiff in the head tube as a Kuota Kredo (nor is any other frame) - so take that info with a grain of salt. I have all these frames, so I speak from experience - not from hearsay. Also, you might want a little give in these areas, everybody’s different. Neither is going to cost you a race due to the small differences I’ve mentioned.
I really enjoy riding both bikes - as long as the one you choose fits you, you’ll be happy with either.
I ended up with the Scott Team Issue CR1 frame. I rode the Scott in a 56 and 58 cm and I went with the smaller 56 after being fit at the LBS and keeping it similar to the bike I’m riding now. Probably could of fit on either size but I didn’t want the short stem on the 58 bike. The 56 Cervelo was too short in the headtube and with too much drop. I was afraid the 58 Cervelo would then be too long in the top tube. Never rode the Cervelo but the Scott rode very well, stiff, and accelerated nicely. Overall, why I went with the Scott CR1.
I new the guy at the LBS and he took the time to measure and fit me on the correct Scott frame. Thus, avoiding the internet with the Cervelo but probably could of got measured on a Cervelo in CO.
While I’m not crazy with the decals, I feel the overall quality and build of the Team Issue frame is better than Cervelo. Supposedly, the they spend 19 hand hours building the Team Issue Frame. I know Cervelo had some trouble and stand by their product and appear to have corrected their past problems, but that turned me off some.
I got the Team Issue Frame for $2,000, which is slightly below a Cervelo frame but the Cervelo comes with a seatpost. Both have headsets.
I like the beefier seatpost (31.6) on the Scott
Now I’ll go to the internet for the build kit. Colorado Cyclist has a D/A 10 speed with Kysriums for $1975. I guessing the bike will be 15 to 16 lbs when done. I know this is the tri bike forum but maybe I post some road bike porn. I’m going to have the LBS build the bike. They couldn’t come close on price when you factor the wheels.
I always think bigger dia. means less chance to slip, maybe stronger?, maybe a better bond at the top of the seatpost if you are getting carbon bonded to alu. - I agree 31.6 probably means crap.
I always liked the Vitus 25mm posts…I think that this “bigger must be better” thing is just marketing…again, the cycling world fixing the problem that we dont have.
I’d get the R3. Stiffest frame in torsion in history, and lighter than any of the others you are mentioning.
Haven’t seen the R3. What is the price? They claim the weight of the CR1 Team Issue frame is 869g (1.94 lbs) and the fork is 354g. At these levels, I’m not so concerned about weight but durability and reliability. 1 - 2 lbs of weight is relatively immaterial when you look at the numbers on analytical cycling.
Hey, I couldn’t care less about the weight either, but some people do. With regards to durability and reliability, the R3 passes all generally available fatigue tests and our internal tests (which are quite a bit higher) as well as 4x JIS for frontal impact (which I regard as even more important than fatigue). Frameset is USD 2500, Ultegra bike is USD 3700, DuraAce bike is USD 4300.