Anyone have insight on why Garmin rode Cervelo S3s in the mountains and not S5s?
The S3 is a better bike unless it’s a straight drag race. Lighter, stiffer, handles better.
the better question would be why they didn’t ride r5’s…
Best of both worlds? The New S3 is a fantastic bike. Light enough and Aero.
Its not as light as R5 but with 6.8kg UCI limit, it is light enough. Nearly as aero as an S5 (but Jack Bauer might be wishing he had chosen an S5 the other day) and more aero than most of the other bikes in the race.
I like the ride of the S3 better then a S5 (it may only be in my head) and found it comparable to ride quality to the R3-SL (2008 vintage) I replaced.
For me, it was the bike I was hoping Cervelo would make for these reasons. And it handles 25mm Continental GP4000s tires just fine- iffy or a no go on the S5.
Local bike shop manager that deals Cervelo says everyone he knows that has ridden both prefers the S3 any day of the week.
I like the ride of the S3 better then a S5 (it may only be in my head)
Anyone have insight on why Garmin rode Cervelo S3s in the mountains and not S5s?
This question comes up every year but in general the riders are free to choose from any of the bikes they wish to ride. It’s just that they are lucky enough to have a whole stable of TDF worthy bikes to choose from. S5, S3, R5, RCa, R3 Mud
LBS here in NC says that they would not be looking forward to a century ride on an S5. Given the stage lengths of the TdF, I’m assuming that the S3’s are more “distance friendly” and are a better choice for the riders?
Seems to me as though the S5 is better for your crit/tri racing and not anything of significant length. But I still want one!
** Edited to include “not” in the first sentence **
So far this TdF they have used the S3, R5 (Talansky) and R3 Mud.
Meant to say “not” in that first sentence…reads differently now!
I’ve been searching for the URL but there was an article out there that basically said that riders have their choice of bike and that they tend to ride the same bike for the majority of the season. Flipping through FB photos you can see the R3, R5, S3 and at some point I’d assume we’ll see the P5 
While we’re at it, anyone know why Tony Martin used a Tarmac instead of a Venge for his stage 9 solo TT win?
While we’re at it, anyone know why Tony Martin used a Tarmac instead of a Venge for his stage 9 solo TT win?
#WEW1N > #aeroiseverything
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I did a century on an S5, including 15 miles of dirt roads. I have a minimalist saddle too. Felt fine.
LBS here in NC says that they would not be looking forward to a century ride on an S5. Given the stage lengths of the TdF, I’m assuming that the S3’s are more “distance friendly” and are a better choice for the riders?
Seems to me as though the S5 is better for your crit/tri racing and not anything of significant length. But I still want one!
** Edited to include “not” in the first sentence **
I did a century on an S5, including 15 miles of dirt roads. I have a minimalist saddle too.** Felt fine. **
LBS here in NC says that they would not be looking forward to a century ride on an S5. Given the stage lengths of the TdF, I’m assuming that the S3’s are more “distance friendly” and are a better choice for the riders?
Seems to me as though the S5 is better for your crit/tri racing and not anything of significant length. But I still want one!
** Edited to include “not” in the first sentence **
but on a S3 you may have felt even " more fine" ( that is such bad English
I doubt it. I’ve tried an R3 back to back vs an S5 with the same wheels/tires. Feels exactly the same to me.
I’m pretty immune to feeling frame differences unless it is something remarkably different about the frame. So are most people if you do a blind test!
I did a century on an S5, including 15 miles of dirt roads. I have a minimalist saddle too.** Felt fine. **
LBS here in NC says that they would not be looking forward to a century ride on an S5. Given the stage lengths of the TdF, I’m assuming that the S3’s are more “distance friendly” and are a better choice for the riders?
Seems to me as though the S5 is better for your crit/tri racing and not anything of significant length. But I still want one!
** Edited to include “not” in the first sentence **
but on a S3 you may have felt even " more fine" ( that is such bad English
Local bike shop manager that deals Cervelo says everyone he knows that has ridden both prefers the S3 any day of the week.
I like the ride of the S3 better then a S5 (it may only be in my head)
The power of “looks” :-/
I doubt it. I’ve tried an R3 back to back vs an S5 with the same wheels/tires. Feels exactly the same to me.
I’m pretty immune to feeling frame differences unless it is something remarkably different about the frame. So are most people if you do a blind test!
Seeing as how Damon has told us there’s only a 1% difference in rear end vertical compliance (dominated by the tire) between an S5 and an R5ca…
Anyone have insight on why Garmin rode Cervelo S3s in the mountains and not S5s?
This question comes up every year but in general the riders are free to choose from any of the bikes they wish to ride. It’s just that they are lucky enough to have a whole stable of TDF worthy bikes to choose from. S5, S3, R5, RCa, R3 MudThat must be a relatively new thing then. My cousin was on the Garmin team for two seasons and essentially had no say in terms of what bike to ride. He could ride with an R3 (i think?) for the classics but was forced to ride with an S5 in all other races even if he preferred the R3 much better. Also no choice in TT bikes - some got P5’s, others got P4’s. Riders had nothing to choose.
I think everyone can agree that being “forced” to ride any of those bikes is a problem worth having.
Found the link! http://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering/ask-the-engineers/pro-bike-choice-by-robby-ketchell.html
“It is important to point out that Cervélo is unique in that we don’t tell our pro riders which bike they have to ride. We let them choose.”