Cervelo(s)? Man, must suck to be you! lol :beer:

Yes P3C, SLC, SLC-SL, R3-SL

and I just ordered an R3 for Brandy

Enquiring minds want to know what will vireo buy next? Colnago Master Molteni - yeah that's right real men ride steel.

I just sold my aluminum bike, Have CF, Ti and a CF/Ti mix. I believe my next project will also be steel.
But I do gotta ask, why all the models? And how do you decide which of the bikes (SLC, SLC-SL, R3-SL) to ride? The P3C is obvious.

This is a fair question.

In 2007 while getting ready for Race Across America I wanted a TT bike and a road bike. So I got the SLC and the P3C.

In 2008 I wanted to replace my Scott CR1, my primary climbing bike, so I got the R3-SL which was 180 degree different ride AS IS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER!

I also wanted a bike to replace the SLC with something lighter and stiffer for all around (climbing, rolling, flats etc.) so I got the SLC-SL. It is stiffer it is lighter than the SLC. I was going to sell the SLC but then just kept it. I had already spent the money and I actually like the ride better than the SLC-SL.

If the S3 is what they say it is I will consolidate and sell the SLC and the SLC-SL.

Two thoughts:

(1) As others have said, if you're considering these two brands, you should probably widen your search to include others. One recommendation, if custom Ti appeals to you, is Spectrum Cycles. http://www.spectrum-cycles.com/ Absolutely first rate bike - every bit as fine as the other excellent ones mentioned, and you'd be fitted by Tom Kellogg, the man himself, during a trip to his workshop ("the Barn") in eastern PA. I love mine and freely admit to being a drooling stooge for his bikes.

(2) Going with the Seven (or other custom-made frame) provides greater flexibility in fitting the bike to your riding style. While Duke of Kent is correct that you may have a "normal" physique such that an off-the-rack bike might be made to fit just as well as a custom frame, a custom maker will typically discuss with you how you like to ride and incorporate those ideas not only into the selection of components, but also into the manufacture of the frame itself (using tubes with different shapes and thicknesses, etc.). While you'd be able to adjust the Cervelo to accommodate, for instance, a more relaxed, upright style of riding, you'll have less flexibility with the Cervelo than with the custom, because adjustments to the Cervelo would take the form of different component choices only, all based on a frame that has aggressive racing in its DNA. With the custom, not only will all the components and their setup match your style, but the frame itself will do so as well.

Duke's point is a good one, though. If your own body type and riding style are such that they match an off-the-rack frame (most people are), then you can usually get such a frame for less money and use the extra cash on better components (or prostitutes and whiskey, for that matter). Of course, if the bling factor of the custom appeals to you (and that's also a perfectly valid reason for buying a custom bike), then little of the discussion above is relevant to you, and you may want to go that route. Your best bet is to sit down and think clearly about what you want before making a decision. I'd also talk to a few people about it. I have little experience with other custom builders, but Tom Kellogg at Spectrum (and Jeff Duser, his business partner) are very approachable on this subject. The LBS where you'd buy the Cervelo and have it serviced would be another source of information.

Either way, I envy you -- bike shopping is fun! Enjoy yourself, and good luck with your choice.

Ooops didn't answer all your questions.

The R3-SL is climbing specific and rough road applications. The last 200 miles of the 508 has really bad roads.

SLC and SLC-SL are my primary Ultra bikes and fast group rides.

P3C obvious? I don't do TT's or Tris so maybe it's not so obvious. I will be doing some flatter (less than 12,000 feet of gain) double centuries this year on it. I rode it for 248 miles of the 508 this year.

They have cleaned up the Internal cabling they come into the top tube not the downtube, changed the seat stays more like the R3, and they changed the chainstays not like any of their other bikes. Same weight, but more comfortable they say. We have a 56cm in our window display. It is too big for me and I won't be able to demo...yet.

been there. done that. moved on.

I have crashed my C40 numerous times in the last 6 years. One in particular was a high speed descent in the rain. Just as I thought to myself maybe I should slow down BAM!! I went down. I thought for sure the frame was wrecked. It flipped end over end sideways and landed with the handlebars cocked all the way against the top tube. It was spectacular to watch. I got up, straighten the levers and rode the remaining 130+ miles of my training ride on it. My left hip was hamburger.

Two weeks later I crashed it again at about 30 mph when I hit a rock in the bike lane that I couldn't see because I didn't have lights, it was dark and I was about 12 miles from home during a 150 mile training ride. I thought I can make it home. Front wheel locked up I endo'd and the bike did whatever behind me. Another spectacular crash. I rode another 5 miles to get somewhere where someone could pick me up. The Colnago Carbon Fork was fine the frame was fine. My right hip was now hamburger.

Oh and that same bike I always take the short cut out of the local Starbucks patio and take the bike down the stairs (3) to the sidewalk. I've been doing that for years.

Not all carbon frames are "fragile". Let's dispell that myth right now.

You should really try looking at BikesDirect; the components are great, and the geometry is comparable.

- Mike

Just Kidding - Seven

yes sir.

I was in the opposite boat... I got rid of my R3 (had an R3-SL for a short period too) after riding the Lynskey R320 (all components equal). Frame geometry had more to do with it though as the R3's are still great frames IMO. The ride quality itself between the R3's and my Lynskey are very similar, but the Lynskey seems to handle better. Both are comfortable over any terrain. Both climb as well as I can make them, but I'd even give the climbing edge to my Lynskey. The R3's felt 'stiffer' when out of the saddle climbing compared to my R320, but I've yet to see that feeling translate into anything positive (or negative for that matter).

For my Orbea's sake, I'm hoping you are right. I'm pretty rough on bikes [when I'm not sidelined by injuries/illness].

I'm glad that it worked out for you.

We have a Ghisallo here that if I pick it up by the headtube and roll it over on it's side (while still in the air) it would lilt like a flower.

don't call me sir. i work for a living. ;)

I've heard those are like noodles - made for the WW who wants a 750g Ti frame for some odd reason (some people are easily distracted by bright shiny objects).

Question for the OP - were the bikes covered under the auto insurance policy or did you have a separate bike insurance policy? Any hassles with the claims process?

This is why people say BF is full of ******ed poseurs:lol: Majority does not make anything right.