richphoto

OK, well. Here is the deal.
I spent a couple thousand miles last summer riding again after about a 18 year break. I chose to buy an in expensive bike to keep the wife happy and also make sure I was going to like riding and want to continue.
I bought a cheap Lemond Chambery, a 2005 model with full Ultegra, then added some ssc sl wheels.
While this bike served me fine, I never liked the stiff, harsh ride of aluminum frames. I don't have a great back and on Century's last year it would just kill me.
I also think the size ( a 57) might be a bit large. I am 5'11 and have a 32 inch inseam.
Now, onto Carbon.
I have a source to get an amazing deal on Ridley, have read nothing but good about the Excaliber ( just can't stand the graphics) I think retail ,on a Dura Ace Excaliber is about $3900.00 for which I can get around $2700.00 shipped.
Now, its unfortunate that I love Cervelo's looks and everything I have read about the ride, came close yesterday to buying a R2.5 with alomost no miles on it, but then read all the bad things about its problems with the lugs separating and the recall ( this bike was not a recall serial number ). I got cold feet worried that it could come apart and I would have no warranty, its about the same price as a new Ridley equipped a bit better FSA carbon wing and stem.

Now all that said, I am considering just building a R3 ( not sure on size, but guessing a 56, maybe a 54). Granted the frame alone is $2600.00 unless someone who reads this knows of a better price?
I then would ether strip my Lemond of the Ultegra or get a deal on Dura Ace.
So, I am happy to take anyones thoughts here. What would you do?

The next questions is Gears.
Where I live I have almost non stop hills, If I start with new Dura Ace, I am looking to gear it for hills and not speed on the flats. What Cassette and Chain ring gears would you recommend?
Keep in mind I am trying to step away from a triple on the Ultegra I rode all last year and go Double. I thought I had read somewhere that I could get some hill gears close to what I had on the standard Ultegra triple.

I found this forum to be very helpful and I thank anyone who has some advice.
also to sum it up.
I will never race.
a few Century's a year and one double probably, an almost every weekend 50 -70 miles, and about 2 weeknight all hills rides
.
Thanks

clutchy

personally i'd build the R3 with SRAM force and get their compact 50/36 with an 11-26 cassette. Gives you the top and the bottom and it appears to be a great group.

whatever you decide to do i'd go with a compact.

I have a ton of hills and I wish I had one...



GVHbikes.com has the group for $1k, the cheapest I've seen. Good Luck!! shimano makes a compact too called the r700.

richphoto

I can't get a deal on Sram like I can with Dura Ace though. also I am looking at a good Carbon bar and stem like the FSA if anyone can reccomend?

asgelle

It sounds like you know the answer better than anyone here could. Based on you experience, do you think you need a bigger or smaller high gear? How about the low gear? With that range set, how does the spacing look? Would you be comfortable with the wider spacing of a double or the closer spacing of a triple? You can work through different combinations with a gear calculator like the one here, https://sheldonbrown.com/gears/, but you're the one who knows how you ride and what gears are comfortable, no one else can answer that for you.

alraicercsu

Get the R3 and get the dura ace, but get a compact crank. The shimano one seems fine, or pick up an FSA SLK or K-Force compact crank. Then use any rear cassette, I personally would do a 12-25 you won't miss the 11 that much on descents.

richphoto

yes i would choose a FSA compact over the Shimano R700.
SRAM looks interesting but I think it needs some time to prove itself. Some reviews have been good others still favor Dura Ace and Campy.

Funny how no one talks much about Ridley, but now that I am in the $2600.00 frame area there seem to be a few good choices, looks like the 07 Orbea Orca ( probably a more plush ride than the R3 ) is getting great feedback. I like the Eddy Merckx carbon frames but just can not find much info.

richphoto

yes i would choose a FSA compact over the Shimano R700.
SRAM looks interesting but I think it needs some time to prove itself. Some reviews have been good others still favor Dura Ace and Campy.

Funny how no one talks much about Ridley, but now that I am in the $2600.00 frame area there seem to be a few good choices, looks like the 07 Orbea Orca ( probably a more plush ride than the R3 ) is getting great feedback. I like the Eddy Merckx carbon frames but just can not find much info.

anyone recomend a good Carbon bar and stem other than FSA?
also a good seatpost, I realize that this might be of more importance on the R3 due to the pretty compact frame.

DesFlurane

I have a DuraAce R3 with a Shimano R700 crank and BB. Couldn't be happier.

botto 

i wouldn't, and i know i'm not the only one.

DrPete 

Nope, you're sure not. The R700 is a superior crank to FSA in terms of shifting quality. If I had had the cash available when I bought my last crankset it would've been the R700, but I cheaped out with FSA. Having tested both, the R700 really is better.

jamiewilson3

+1000 on the R700 over the FSA compact. It is like driving a Mercedes vs a old VW Bug.

But if you are stuck on the FSA, I have a used FSA carbon pro elite w/ FSA platinum plus ISIS BB with about 1500 miles I would love to sell you, sucker. Very light and tons of carbon bling. I also offer a 50% buyback return program free with purchase. Let me know!

teterider

Just so you know, your Lemond was too large for you and likely caused the back pain by being to far stretched out, and/or also too far behind bottom bracket which placed strain on the back and also requires back muscles to do more work.
Do not fall into any traps of what the bike should look like from this forum. Make sure you get the right size. Fit to the top tube, not the seat tube (you likely should start testing with about a 56cm top tube) and have the stem at whatever is most confortable.

Oh, and others have said, get the compact drivetrain setup.

briscoelab

Amen to that... FSA cranks just shift like trash. I had an SLK compact that was just constantly a problem. BB issues, shifting issues.... ugh. I now just run it on my corss bike, becuase it makes me happy that I'm grinding it into dust Although with 46/36T non FSA chainrings, it shifts a lot better. I've heard the K-force cranks are a bit better. But for the price, they are heavy. If you wany a compact I'd say just take the small weight penalty and get an R700. They are cheap and of good quality. You will still be ale to get your R3 stupid light if that's your desire. Otherwise, stick with the DuraAce and get a 12-27 for the hills.

DocRay

If you choose compact, I'd agree that the Shimano cranks are better. I'm seeing a few SRAM builds, but they are avoiding the SRAM cranks. If you want Campy, the new 07 compacts are an excellent design with a 12-25 cassette.
My FSA SLK ISIS shifts perfectly, but others have had QC issues with FSA and external bearings. I really like the ceramic bearings for the ISIS. FSA quietly upgraded the chainrings on the SLK mid season, the new titanium-colored ones are heavier and shift much better.

For CF bars: this all depends on what you're looking for drop and ergonomics, but FSA or Easton are good bets, I really like the new Kuota Katch design.

The R3 is a better frame than the Ridley, but you will not get one for less than $2600 -Cervelo has strict rules on resellers and they will not honor the lifetime warranty unless the bike was bought at MSRP. Avoid Ebay, there are many scammers selling Cervelos that are not dealers and the warranty is void.

If you have back issues, the Cervelo geometry may not be right for you, it is quite stretched out with 73 degree head and seat tube angles, you may need one size smaller.

BladeGeek

The Orca is stiff and light...not as light as the R3 though. The Orca is very plush. It is really surprised me because it is light, stiff but not harsh. The R3 and Orca are both very good frames.

garysol1 

So true. I never knew I had back problems till I tried to fit on a Cervelo. My R2.5 was a torture rack for me. It felt great till about mile 30 then it was like a switch went off and I would just have to get off the bike due to my lowerback. By no means take this post as trying to talk you out of the Cervelo. The R-3 is a fantastic bike from everything I have heard just make sure it fits YOU before you plunk down the cash.

Silver Litz

Cervelo will not honor the lifetime warranty unless the bike was bought at MSRP???? I do NOT think Federal Commerce folks would allow that to fly. I believe the Feds cracked down on manufacturers dictating retail prices decades ago.

garysol1 

They will honor the warranty to the original owner who purchased it from an authorized dealer. Price paid makes no difference.

clutchy

^^ isn't cervelo a canadian company? i'm sure the rules still apply though b/c they sell here...

krazyderek

I have read almost nothing about ridley's, but i thought like, cannondale's they were built with stiffness and efficiency in mind? That said cannondale probably make some of the best aluminium frames. As for carbon, i really like my cannondale synapse, it might be something to consider, it has stock options for cannondale carbon compact cranks. I have a hard time thinking of the R3 as a more comfortable bike, but CSC used it over the soloist for paris roubaix so..... Apparantly the super thin seat stays work the comfort magic, but it's still a stiff efficient bike. You might also like a trek pilot, i beleive they still have a type of suspension built into the seat stays.

As for gearing, go compact, 50-36 (or 50-34 if alot of your hills are steeper then 8%) with a wide range cassett, like the infamous 11-26 or 12-27.

DocRay

I just checked the site, you're right. They changed this for 2006-7.

Silver Litz

If the sell in the US, they have to obey US trade rules for US sales.

richphoto

Ok, well now that I have it narrowed down to an R3.
I am having a hard time on frame size/
I did the Wrench science calc as well as Competitive cyclist.
I am not a racer, just Century's and allot of hill climbs and weekend 50-70 mile rides.
seems like a 54 and a 56 in the R3 are not so far apart as they sound. I am guessing with stem length and seat adjustments they probably both would fit well.
although a size 54 shows up in the calc's I am guessing they are looking at more of a racer style rider.

I can get a deal on a 56 because its in stock but I won't be able to on a 54.

any suggestions?

Nacho Speedee

I just got a Ridley Damocles will full SRAM Force, compact crank and 11-26 cassette. LOVE IT! FSA seatpost and stem too. The gear range is great for a place with monster climbs -- but still allows me to push hard on the flats. A few riding partners have the Excalibur and love it. Super stiff frames and light. My Damocles with pedals and Williams wheels comes in at 16lbs.

merlinextraligh

As for gearing, what is the lowest gear your using on your current bike? and is that low enough for you to maintain a good cadence?