It seems to me after buying these two bikes for a couple of young athletes.
There are more expensive bikes but I really think that from this point on, the cost-benefit relationship does not get any better. I am sure some other S2 owners agree.
For a Junior ITU female triathlete
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**For a Junior male road cyclist **(still some work to do on the cables after the final fitting)
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Bikes set up by Austin Tri Cyclist.
Sergio
Agreed! Even the S1 is an incredible racing bike. I bought an S1 frame to race crits on and I’m very impressed.
Agreed! Even the S1 is an incredible racing bike. I bought an S1 frame to race crits on and I’m very impressed.
Yes the S1 is a great bike but it is not as stiff as the S2. Some riders can feel this difference and some don’t. Those that don’t feel the difference should keep riding their S1 but those that do should ride the S2.
Sergio
For sure. I have an S3 as well, but don’t want to risk riding it in certain races because of the high cost of replacement!
Agreed! Even the S1 is an incredible racing bike. I bought an S1 frame to race crits on and I’m very impressed.
Yes the S1 is a great bike but it is not as stiff as the S2. Some riders can feel this difference and some don’t. Those that don’t feel the difference should keep riding their S1 but those that do should ride the S2.
Sergio
True. I noticed the difference between an SLC-SL (except for cable entry, basically the same as the S2) and my aluminum Soloist…then again, the aluminum Soloist doesn’t seem to transmit as much road shock into the seat as the SLC-SL did…
That said, I do appreciate the lower “replacement cost” of the aluminum Soloist.
Cervelo is the best “bang for the buck” bike in the market???
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
For sure. I have an S3 as well, but don’t want to risk riding it in certain races because of the high cost of replacement!
I am familiar with that. That is why the owner of the bottom bike has lately been racing on his S1. Wrecking two R3 frames in criteriums in a very short time is a big ouch for him but also for his main sponsor!
Using an S3 in criteriums looks good only when the rider is a Cervélo Test Team rider. But then I would not say anything if I see you riding your S3 on a local crit 
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Sergio
I think something got lost in translation.
I’ve never ridden the S2 but $4000 is a poop ton of money for a bike, too much for me to believe it is the pinnacle of return on the dollar. You’re talking about a carbon frame, with 3t components and Sram Force.
If aero is a must I feel like the Felt AR1 at $3000 is a better “bang for the buck” or even the S1.
The Caad9-5 is probably more the best “bang for the buck”, pro tour pedigree frame, 10 speed shimano components, racing geometry and all for $1300ish.
Thats not to say i don’t believe in chasing down performance on a diminishing return, but I don’t believe for a second that the S2 offers that much advantage over a Cannondale Caad9.
I actually think the P2 is a far better value than the S2 if you’re doing triathlons.
P2 - $2800 with ultegra (DA if you get a deal)
S2 - $4000 for a similar build
Both great bikes, and if you need a roadie, of course, the S2 is the roadie, but if you’re ok on a TT only, the P2 is cheaper and has pretty much the same aero technology and materials.
I actually think the P2 is a far better value than the S2 if you’re doing triathlons.
P2 - $2800 with ultegra (DA if you get a deal)
S2 - $4000 for a similar build
Both great bikes, and if you need a roadie, of course, the S2 is the roadie, but if you’re ok on a TT only, the P2 is cheaper and has pretty much the same aero technology and materials.
I forgot to mention that the girl races only ITU triathlons. I agree that the P2 is the best value for non-drafting triathlons.
Something else is that I was referring to Pro Tour level bikes. Paying $4,000 for a bike to ride in Cat 4-5 is hardly justifiable.
Sergio
I think it’s a tossup between between the S2 and the AR frameset with lower end components (AR4) and you probably ought to add the Blue AC1. The big appeal, of course, is that you are talking about an aero road frame. And all three of those frames are apparently quite competitive from an aero standpoint. But that’s really only true IF YOU REQUIRE AN AERO ROAD FRAME.
The new Litespeed carbon is pretty sweet. I have a C1 and love evrything about it (except the price). I would be surprised if there was any significant drag difference between the S2 and C3 series, especially with water bottles on the frame. My LBS sells the C3 for 2800$ (ultegra) and C2 (Durace) for 3800$.
The Caad9-5 is probably more the best “bang for the buck”, pro tour pedigree frame, 10 speed shimano components, racing geometry and all for $1300ish.
Agree. If you’re looking for ‘bang for the buck’ and performance is more important than anything else, there’s not much that beats the caad9. There are also some smaller manufacturers like Spooky who are making low-cost, extremely stiff race frames.
$4k for a race bike? I dunno, if you’re a young athlete, I don’t see how this makes much sense unless mommy and daddy have deep pockets. There are much better options out there.
That said the S2 is a VERY nice bike.
I think it’s a tossup between between the S2 and the AR frameset with lower end components (AR4) and you probably ought to add the Blue AC1. The big appeal, of course, is that you are talking about an aero road frame. And all three of those frames are apparently quite competitive from an aero standpoint. But that’s really only true IF YOU REQUIRE AN AERO ROAD FRAME.
I know very little about that Blue bike. I have to confess that I really like the AR frame and I have the feeling that Felt does a good job designing their bikes. The main reason I chose the S2 is that Cervélo is a leader in the design and manufacturing of road bikes. I think that their knowledge about aerodynamics and carbon is probably the very best in the industry. I have had the opportunity to discuss aero bike design and construction in person with both owners of Cervélo and also with some of their engineers. In a few words, I trust Cervélo.
Rappstar… You left me thinking and I wonder ho DOES NOT requires a road aero frame? Even the best sprinters and climbers can benefit from a reasonably light and relatively comfortable aero frame. 
Sergio
I think it’s a tossup between between the S2 and the AR frameset with lower end components (AR4) and you probably ought to add the Blue AC1. The big appeal, of course, is that you are talking about an aero road frame. And all three of those frames are apparently quite competitive from an aero standpoint. But that’s really only true IF YOU REQUIRE AN AERO ROAD FRAME.
I know very little about that Blue bike. I have to confess that I really like the AR frame and I have the feeling that Felt does a good job designing their bikes. The main reason I chose the S2 is that Cervélo is a leader in the design and manufacturing of road bikes. I think that their knowledge about aerodynamics and carbon is probably the very best in the industry. I have had the opportunity to discuss aero bike design and construction in person with both owners of Cervélo and also with some of their engineers. In a few words, I trust Cervélo.
Rappstar… You left me thinking and I wonder ho DOES NOT requires a road aero frame? Even the best sprinters and climbers can benefit from a reasonably light and relatively comfortable aero frame.
Sergio
I don’t know much about the Blue, but I have some good knowledge of the Felt, as I was sponsored by them when it was being developed. I promise you can trust them too. The AR4 is a great, great bike - and cheaper than the s2 (marginally). Anyone looking at one should look at the other. Blue has a great reputation, and I believe their road frame has good wind tunnel data. But that’s all I “know.”
In terms of who can benefit from an aero road frame, yes it probably is EVERYONE. There are some challenges though if you set aero above certain stiffness and ride quality parameters. They are not insurmountable. But they are not necessarily entirely able to be overcome either. There are some things - even with carbon - that you can’t yet do. I think you’d be hard pressed to make an aero frame, for example, that equaled the vertical compliance of a non-aero frame. So that’s a big factor in many of the Classics races. CTT did not use S frames for Paris Roubaix, for example. And I don’t know if you ever could make the best aero frame be as good as the best stiff/compliant frame. You really do seem to have to optimize for one or the other.
So that becomes a factor on the type of racing you are doing. If you are a GC contender, the comfort & stiffness that’s available in non-aero frames so far has trumped the aero edge. That may change. But it hasn’t YET.
As a P2C owner, I’m a huge Cervelo fan but IMO the best “bang for your buck” aero frame road bike is the $1995 Kestrel Talon with SRAM Red from that site that all the bike snobs love to hate.
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$4k for a race bike? I dunno, if you’re a young athlete, I don’t see how this makes much sense unless mommy and daddy have deep pockets.
gbot… these kids race against other kids that have similar priced bikes. They race in and out of their countries against similarly armed kids so it makes sense to ride an S2.
The top bike was already raced to finish 6th last month in the ITU Junior Continental event (racing against the very best Junior girls of the American continent) in a selective race for the Singapore Junior Olympics. It was also used to finish 2nd a few days ago at the Junior Duathlon Nationals. The bottom bike will be raced at the nationals in a few more days against other S2s and probably S3s and many other bikes of similar cost. The male Junior rider can put out enough power to benefit from the stiffer S2.
In these particular cases it is not about daddy and mommy having deep pockets because many or most of the bikes of the opponents were bought by sponsors or State Government money. As a matter of fact, the top bike was bought by me but the money was later reimbursed by the State Government. I agree with you that most kids that age should be riding an S1.
Sergio
I think the question of ‘best bang for the buck’ is a function of which market you’re talking about (i.e. newbie triathletes, roadies, pro’s, etc). For the beginning racer, the S2 is probably not the best deal.
+1 on the CAAD 9. One of my buddies rides that particular frame (with upgrades where it counts… deep dish wheels). Definitely more than competitive for Cat 4-5 road races.
Heck, I ride a Specialized Allez with the 105 grouppo on board, and (with proper wheels), it’s a fantastic frame/bike for $1200 (last year’s, not this year’s).
That being said, I’m building up an R3 to serve me in the future in 4’s road races… but I’ll be hanging on to the Allez for crits and road riding.
I’m all for looking cool… and if you have the cash, by all means, go for it. Just be prepared for the bill when you go down…
…Yes the S1 is a great bike but it is not as stiff as the S2. Some riders can feel this difference and some don’t. Those that don’t feel the difference should keep riding their S1 but those that do should ride the S2…
Some people “feel” the weight difference between frames, too, but that doesn’t mean it actually affects them more. Frame stiffness is essentially a marketing ploy – it has negligible effect on bike performance.
I’m a Cervelo fan and all, but the S2’s only real advantage over the S1 is slightly better aerodynamics, and if that’s the deciding factor I’d suggest the (much cheaper) P2. On the other hand, I suppose we could try to factor in the psychological advantage to riding carbon fiber, but that’s hard to do under the heading “best bang for the buck.”
Generic aluminium frane + carbon fork, Shimano wheelset and a 105 build = bang for your buck.
The S2 is a thing of beauty but…jeez, $4k? Not if I´m paying.
My new crit build is a ´93 Cannondale R800, lightly used. Came complete with 105 brakes, crankset, FR and RD, carbon fork, headset, bottom bracket, all for €74. The final build should come in around €250 (8-speed) and will be posted on here. Maybe it´s a bit apples and oranges but that, at least to my shallow pockets, offers a bit mor BFYB than the S2…