copperfind

So I am thinking about picking up a Cervelo question is, I believe it is carbon bars and does have carbon seat post, not to mention full carbon frame. I know carbon is strong and frame should hold up, how about things like carbon bars and seat post with a clyde 265lb ish?

ill.clyde

Paging Dr. Isotope ... Dr. Isotope to the thread, stat

ill.clyde

It's funny you post this today ... My weight loss goal bike, in my mind, is a Bianchi Infinito CV in Celeste (of course) ... I've dreamed about a Celeste Bianchi since I was a kid (odd for most American kids, I know ... but I love the color and the history of the bike) ...

Anyway, as I approach my goal (at the halfway point) I'm starting to wonder if it's a misguided goal, and over the course of the past few days I'm wondering if a Titanium bike wouldn't be a better choice? They're called "Lifetime" bikes for a reason, and they have, from what I've read, all the ride qualities of Carbon without the worries of frame assplosion.

I dunno ... just thinking out loud, but I'm wondering if my Celeste dreams should be more of a muted silver type.

cyclist2000

I have a CF seat post on a couple of my bikes, no problem, if there were a problem, I would take them off all of my bikes.
I have one on my carbon bike since I built it up over 5 years ago, maybe 10. I have weighed 245 at times. I never tried CF handlebars, just too expensive, same with carbon wheels.

DrIsotope

@ 265lbs, I think the only worry you would have would be the wheels. Any model/trim you go for is going to have like 16/20 or 20/20 for spokes, and you're gonna want more than that. Beyond that, I just hope you like an aggressive riding position-- my stem is as high as it will go, and I have around 4" of saddle to bar drop.

copperfind

Thanks for the info... The bike I am looking at does have 20 spoke so that may be a concern... I am running a set of 24 spoke rimes now with about 500 miles on them, no issues so far but I would probably change the rims. My current bike probable has around 6" of saddle to bar drop, which I can ride in and out of the drops with little issues, maybe limited on long term in the drops but it is getting better.

cyclist2000

My Bianchi has Campy wheels that have 20 spokes in the front and 27 in the rear. I haven't had any problems with the low spoke count, after three years still true as the day that I got them.

DrIsotope

Pet peeve of mine: years as a measure of anything cycling. I have less than 30 calendar days-- which is (I think) 18 rides on my Ultegra wheels, but they still have 600 miles on them. The Kinlins on my Ritchey aren't even 8 months old yet, but have logged 6,000 miles. I don't own a component that has survived for 3 full years... because for me that would be over 30,000 miles.

dagray

I am 350 pounds and use the Deda 35mm diameter carbon bars in 46cm width.

squirtdad

I am biased as I am steel is real kinda guy.

Carbon can be really strong, but if you get a light race oriented carbon bike it WILL need a little more TLC than other options. things as simple as not using racks that hang the bike from the cross tube and being careful that bike does not fall and hit sharp, hard edges. Bars and post seem to tend to being over built so less issue than the frame. Warranties pretty much never transfer to second owner, so if you want any warranty you need to buy new.

Jason9142002

I've been looking at carbon bikes. I notice the saddle to bar drop and I wonder if I would be able to adjust to it. I would hate to spend $1700 and hate the position. But I feel like I wouldn't be able to judge it until I ride it enough. Tough call.

copperfind

The question is how much space is left on the steerer tube... If you have spacer below and stem at top then the options are a fork with longer steer tube, a stem with crazy rise or some type of funky 1 1/8 tube extension. Another option that may work in some cases is that some people can choose between 2 frame sizes that both can be made to fit... Myself on many bikes I can ride a 56 or 58. You can limit seat to bars drop by riding a larger frame size (as long as you can get proper fit). This would mean your seat post would not be raised as much and bars would start off a bit higher, lessoning the total gap.

DrIsotope

If you don't want a bike with an aggressive position, don't buy a bike with an aggressive position. Going to a larger frame to lessen saddle-to-bar drop is also going to increase the reach, which may or may not be something you can comfortably work around.

Remember, an R3 for instance is carbon everything-- the fork is carbon from the dropouts to the top of the steerer. It fits 30mm of stem spacers, no more.

copperfind

Reach is why I said (as long as you can get proper fit)... in my case I have a long upper body and have owned 56 and 58, rode both comfortably... On 56 I have to get a long stem for proper reach. If you want a newer more modern high end bike and the advantages that may go with that, like ride comfort then it can be worked around a bit. I am looking at an S2 and it looks like it will be a good fit but I have not got on one yet.

I am at my N+1 point and Im thinking the cervelo will become N and my current bike will be +1.

cyclist2000

I see your point but I don't keep track of the milage that I put one each of my bikes.

Erwin8r

If its calling to you, and you can afford it, go for it! N+1 is real... and it's cool getting shiny new bikes...

squirtdad

that is not a factor of carbon...it is a factor of the type of bike it is. race and go super fast bikes will be more this way

what ever the material look for bikes in the categories like endurance-cervello, endurance racing (bianchi), Doamaine (trek) Robaix and Venge (speciized) for bikes with a bit more relaxed geometry and taller head tube,

awesomeame

Just throwing it out there...Trek lists their carbon bikes with a weight limit of 275, including rider, gear, and whatever else. Unsure if Cervelo publishes anything, but might be worth a look.

Matt

copperfind

Well there is a point I did not consider... Current Cervelo brochure says S2 max combined 220lbs... May have to reconsider, it was such a good deal though.

Longfellow02

I've been looking at carbon bikes. I notice the saddle to bar drop and I wonder if I would be able to adjust to it. I would hate to spend $1700 and hate the position. But I feel like I wouldn't be able to judge it until I ride it enough. Tough call.


I'm in the same boat as Jason. I want to replace my hybrid with an endurance relaxed geometry road bike.
On my hybrid, the saddle and bars are same height. Rude awakening now that I'm testing Synapse. Domane and Roubaix. Drops of anywhere from 3 to 6 inches, without stem or spacer adjustments.

Grasschopper

Um...no no no...you clearly don't understand the N+1 concept. Sounds like you currently have 1 bike...so N=1. The correct number of bikes that every cyclist needs is N+1. So in your current situation that's 2. But when (not if) you get the Cervelo N will now = 2 and not 1. So your current bike isn't +1 isn't 1/2N.

Back to the Cervelo....you'll be fine on the bike...like was mentioned above the wheels could be the issue. Make sure the wheels are good for you and enjoy thousands of miles of riding. Personally my main road bike has been a Giant Defy Advanced since 2012 which I replaced the stock AL bars with Reynolds Ouzo Pro CF bars. Not a single issue with anything in several thousand miles.

squirtdad

Please note, I am not a carbon hater, but I am a steel lover. IMHO there are many advantages to a classic steel frame with quill stem for all riders.

The ride from a good steel frame is great.
Durability is unquestioned
a classic stem can be easily adjusted, even on a ride, to fine tune height and you have options to start high and lower.
The price of a production carbon frame is in the range of some well regarded custom steel frames (Domane is listed at ~2350 a Waterford r22 is $2375 as an example)


if you have your heart set in carbon......couple of thoughts:

most pictures show a huge drop because that's what marketing thinks that is what people are looking for....find out how much fork tube is available for setting up stem position. you can always start high and then rearrange spaces to lower and make final cut later if you want

this may be a bike to consider...carbon, a lot recent hype on durability based on build compared to other carbon builds, but has a design for a higher headtube

https://alliedcycleworks.com/allied-...lus-head-tube/
https://alliedcycleworks.com/allied-...lus-head-tube/

copperfind

Nah I understood it totally, my point was N=1 and N as I saw it is your primary bike... Hence getting #2 would make it N+1 but my current bike would then be secondary, so the new bike becomes N and the old one becomes the +1... Just my view on it.

Grasschopper

Looks over at my list of bikes....different view of it.

I mean...I don't have a gravel bike yet...or plus MTB....or a CX bike.....or a really nice Italian bike.....