Originally Posted by
operator
The rival brakes are only better than stock shimano because they come with swissstops pads. Put those same pads on the shimano's and they will stop just as well.
I love unsubstantiated stuff like this on bikeforums. You think they're better, but you have no idea why but you will still say that they are. Good job.
The geometry changes in 2011 pushes the R3 closer to that of a 2010 RS. If you're looking to race, you wouldn't even bother looking at the R3 and head straight for the R5. The weight difference in stock bikes with Sram kit is extreme from 2010 range. A 58 R5 with red comes in at 14.8lb's without pedals. A 54 R3 with rival comes in at 16.5 without pedals. Which again, is significantly lighter than the 2010 RS.
You'd be stupid to buy the 2010 RS if
a) you fit the R3
b) you like how it rides geometry wise
c) minimal price difference
The RS is carbon for the cheap, old geezers and people with zero flexibility who can't handle race geometry. It was Cervelos first bike that wasn't designed to be raced from the outset then sold to consumers. It's a slow bike, meant for slow people.
If you ask me, your comments and claims are as unsubstantiated as it gets.
You're claiming that if you want to race you should fork out an extra $2,000 for the R5 over the R3??? What a joke! For what? The R3 and R5 have the exact same geometry. You are also comparing the weights of a 58cm bike w/ Red and a 54cm bike w/ Rival. How does that equate to the R3 not being as worthy of racing as the R5? I'd be completely surprised if you couldn't get the R3 under 15 lbs with a new set of wheels and maybe 1 or 2 Red upgrades. It would be just as good of a racing bike as the R5, while at the same time saving you thousands of dollars. Hell, I suspect the R3 is probably more impact resistant to boot. I'm sure the higher modulus/lighter weight/thinner CF structure used in the R5 will be more brittle. Is the R5 a "better" race bike? I guess it is, but certainly not a better value.
And your last statements aren't even worth mentioning...