cheeseflavor

I'm looking at both of these bikes, and was wondering if anyone has experience with both that they'd be willing to share. Specifically, comparing the two, which would be better as an all-around bike that would be both fast and comfortable (for the occasional century as well as 40-50 mile rides).

Thanks!

Steve

ryanhulce

You can't go wrong with either as most on here will tell you.

Ride both and buy the one that fits you the best.

MONGO!

Ride them both and the decision will make itself.

cheeseflavor

As it stands, I rode the Tarmac last week on a 10 mile test run and liked it enough I put a deposit on it. The one I'm looking at is the SL with the Dura-Ace group and Mavic Ksyrium ES wheelset. It was quick, stiff, light (14.8lbs without pedals), but with a very compliant ride, very comfortable.

I'll be test riding the R3 this week.

Thanks for the input!

Steve

998

cheeseflavor, I have a Tarmac and I just bought an R3SL which I'm hoping to pick up today. Weather permitting I'll be able to take a good long ride on the R3SL on Wed. I'll try to remember to post my comparison.

cheeseflavor

That would be great. Thanks for your input!

Steve

bassplayinbiker

I think cervelos are much better bikes.


....but no one asked me

kster

I've never ridden a Tarmac but I own an R3. As others have said, you should ride both and then decide.

Regarding the R3, it's a very light, stiff frame but yet still comfortable for longer rides. I did a hilly 50 mile club ride on sunday and still felt great at the end.

USCswimming

Well I have had my R3 for about 4 months now and I can say the frameset is awesome. If you throw down big wattage the bottom bracket is incredibly stiff. The crazy thing is how stiff the BB is vs. the overall weight and how comfortable the frame is. I, personally, don't think there is a better combo.

The only negative experience I have had with the cervelo is the wolf SL forks snapping clean off in a very very low speed crash. The frame held up great but the forks didnt fare so well. I ended up putting an Easton EC90 SLX fork on there and I like it a lot although it did change the overall ride of the bike a bit.

I recently sold my Ksyrium ES's cause I think they are a bit overrated/over priced. I just picked up a set of Shimano Dura-ace SL's with the Hutcinson Fusion 2 "road tubeless" tires. I swapped out the FSA crankset upon purchase of the R3 as well. This combo has been incredible! This thing corners like mad now.

I was down to the exact same 2 bikes and went with the bike I could get a better deal on. You can't go wrong with either build.

garysol1 

Really, in what way?

garysol1 

They are both fine bikes. I am a previous Cervelo owner and had a less than stellar experience with the bike and the way the company handled things. Before my Cervelo broke I had nothing but praise for it but after fighting with Cervelo I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. The bike in question was the older 2.5 that broke before they had the recall. I have owned my Specialized S-Works Tarmac now for over 2 years. I have never owned a bike this long and to be honest, there is NOTHING out there right now that I would rather have. After 2 years I am still that satisfied.

jrobe

I haven't compared the two but my new R3 is a great bike for long rides. I have done several 80-100 milers with no problems. I bought mine in the Twin Cities at Penn Cycle this spring. What a joy to ride.

vic32amg

I went thru 2 Specialized bikes last yr first a Tarmac Comp , then a S-Works Tarmac, both oawsome bikes and the s-works was a beast. BUT then I switch to my cervelo and its so much smoother, and stiffer around the BB, I never tried a soloist but I heard those are the Sh1t! I will say the new S-works Roubaix is one SSWWEEEEEET looking rig, but I know nothing of how it rides and climbs.

grahny

R3 FTW... although I've never sat on any specialized bike ever. I replaced my soloist team w/ the R3 and so far can't imagine owning any other bike. Even though I've only been riding it for a week, I feel like I've been riding it for years. The thing handles so well it's amazing - incredibly stable compared to the soloist on long downhills... power transfer/acceleration is instant... the ride is comfortable.... simply an outstanding frame.

cheeseflavor

I live about 5 miles from the Penn in Minnetonka. How was your experience with them overall? Were they helpful with the purchase?

Steve

jschen

I absolutely love my R3. Ten months after having bought her, I love her as much as (if not more than) when I first got her. As you may recall, I bought the R3 to be my climbing bike, not too worried about comfort on really long rides since I'd have my Specialized Roubaix Comp, but found it to be amazingly comfortable. The Roubaix was ever so slightly more compliant, but it just wasn't as lively feeling on the climbs or as unflappable on the descents. It didn't take long for me to realize that I no longer had a use for my Roubaix, which now serves as my sister's race bike.

That said, the guy I trust most at my LBS recently bought the Tarmac SL S-Works for himself and tells me that he loves it.

MIN 

What does that Tarmac SL cost? R3 is $3800, no?

mcoomer

I am the only person that thinks that's a helluva negative? I wonder if there was already a problem there.

jrobe

"I live about 5 miles from the Penn in Minnetonka. How was your experience with them overall? Were they helpful with the purchase?"

I bought mine at the Penn in Woodbury (I live in Eau Claire, WI). They were fine. I had a Powertap installed on it and they built me up a wheel and did a good job. I changed out several parts (wheels, Ultegra cranks instead of the stock FSA, stem, etc.) and they gave me fair trade value. They wouldn't deal on the bike itself (probably common on a bike like this) but they gave me a good price on the Powertap and some of the parts I bought. I was satisfied. They were the closest Cervelo dealer so I didn't have much choice.

USCswimming

Well I agree that its a negative and really pissed me off when I went down. But I personally like the ride of the wolf SL forks better than the Easton EC90 SLX forks but I would be hesitant to ride the wolfs again. I guess what really pissed me off is the shop wouldn't even try to get them warrantied for me because I was involved in a "crash". Well if you saw the forks, you would wonder how carbon could snap clean off like that on both sides. There may have been a defect to start with but who knows. Well regardless every single company will have something like this happen from time to time so its nothing on cervelo, atleast in my mind.

Even with this happening, I still recommend the R3 to anybody. The frame is really that good.

DocRay

I've seen a hard crash of an R3 without any fork damage -he ran into the back of a car.
Wolf Sls are made by Alpha Q. However, CSC does not use Wolf forks, they use the Alpha Q competition forks, which are heavier.

Anything is comfortable for 50 miles. For 100+ miles, the Tarmac is cushier, but will not climb as well. But, you are comparing two bikes with very different geometries.

See this thread:

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/ph...ghlight=tarmac

cheeseflavor

Thanks to all for the input. I'm test riding the Cervelo tomorrow. That will be the clincher.

Well, that and the inevitable 2nd test ride of the Tarmac

Take care,

Steve

998

Here's my promised review. Picked up my new R3SL Monday evening and had the chance to do a 59 mile ride yesterday. Old bike: 05 Tarmac Comp, Ultegra shifters, Ultegra rear der., 105 brakes and front der. I took the Mavic Kysrium SLs I had put on my Tarmac onto the R3SL along with the saddle and pedals so that much is identical between the two bikes. The R3SL is Campy equiped. All the hype about the R3 seems to be true. The R3SL is superior in every way I can think of. It is most obvious is on bad roads. The R3 absorbs the bumps and imperfections in the road yet the rear wheel remains planted. At first it feels kind of strange. Get on the power even when going over a rough spot and the rear stays planted and you shot forward. This is even more noticeable when climbing on a road with rough spots, you don't feel the loss of power. Handles quicker than the Tarmac and holds a line better in corner and it is more responsive to mid corner line changes. R3 hands down.

rogster

Hey 998, mentally, you would like to believe that the R3SL is an improvement. For that kind of dough, you have to. Great choice btw. Got any close-up pictures ? Campy Record ?

998

Rogster, I was certainly hoping it would be a big difference, it certainly was a chunk of change. I did expect it to be better than the Tarmac Comp and I certainly wasn't disappointed. I am pretty impressed by just how much better the frame is compared to the Tarmac. No pictures though. And yes, Campy Record. I figured if I was going to shoot, I might as well empty the clip.