Originally Posted by pharding

The new Cervelo S3 suffers from a major design flaw with the very odd chain stays that are too broad to accommodate many spoked wheels. Go to this page for details
https://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=S32009
Some wheels by major manufacturers, including Campagnolo, Mavic will not fit at all, and if the rider is too heavy many more "big name" spoked wheels will not fit. The list of wheels that will actuaaly work with the bike is extremely short. The only Zipp wheels that work is the Zipp 900 disc wheel.

What a STUPID design error!!!!!!!!!! I foresee a major recall and gross embarrassment for the most egregious bicycle design error in recent memory. It looks like Cervelo spent all of their money on aero testing with nothing spent on rider testing.

My Cervelo S3 purchase is on hold until Cervelo fixes this serious design flaw so that I can use rear wheels with spokes.

Originally Posted by pharding

That is because Cervelo already has produced many thousands of them that are in transit to dealers. A very small number of these have been recently delivered. What else can Cervelo do, but rationalize a really bad mistake that will cost a small fortune to fix? A fix for an error of this magnitude is very time consuming and very expensive. Just like Bush did with the war in Iraq you just rationalize a horrible blunder and hope that truly stupid people believe you. Meanwhile Cervelo is scrambling to fix this disaster to salvage their creditability with cycling enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by pharding

No manufacturer would intentionally limit their flagship high end road bike to light riders with very few compatible wheels.

Originally Posted by pharding

My Cervelo S3 purchase is on hold until Cervelo fixes this serious design flaw so that I can use rear wheels with spokes.

Originally Posted by pharding

What is at issue here is the design and build quality of the production version. Cervelos have a reputation for substandard finish and build qualities. If the S3 frame-set price is going to be at the high end of cycling frame-set prices then maybe they should have all of the qualities of high end frame-sets, including a decent finish free of flaws. Apparently aero design innovation does not extend to overall engineering and manufacturing excellence. This fiasco will only add fuel to the fire fanned by Cervelo critics.

Originally Posted by pharding

The new Cervelo S3 suffers from a major design flaw with the very odd chain stays that are too broad to accommodate many spoked wheels. Go to this page for details
https://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=S32009
Some wheels by major manufacturers, including Campagnolo, Mavic will not fit at all, and if the rider is too heavy many more "big name" spoked wheels will not fit. The list of wheels that will actuaaly work with the bike is extremely short. The only Zipp wheels that work is the Zipp 900 disc wheel.

What a STUPID design error!!!!!!!!!! I foresee a major recall and gross embarrassment for the most egregious bicycle design error in recent memory. It looks like Cervelo spent all of their money on aero testing with nothing spent on rider testing.

My Cervelo S3 purchase is on hold until Cervelo fixes this serious design flaw so that I can use rear wheels with spokes.

Originally Posted by veggiemafia

So you were going to buy a $4500 frame you knew to be poorly manufactured and with substandard finish and build qualities ]

Originally Posted by botto

wrong forum.

Originally Posted by patentcad

I think Cervelos have outstanding finish and build qualities. You are a troll/whackjob.

Originally Posted by veggiemafia

So you were going to buy a $4500 frame you knew to be poorly manufactured and with substandard finish and build qualities and now you're waiting for a year until they change the chainstays to pay $4500 for the frame that will be manufactured and finished in the same method albeit with wider chainstays?

Originally Posted by veggiemafia

Dude, that's what he said, I'm already pre-jealous (not to mention pre-Ruing the Friggin Day) of your S2.

I think Cervelos are great.

Originally Posted by Flatballer

Incorrect.

He's 6'1" 180 lbs (80kg, 13 stone).

He weighs more than I do.

Originally Posted by veggiemafia

Originally Posted by pharding

That is because Cervelo already has produced many thousands of them that are in transit to dealers. A very small number of these have been recently delivered. What else can Cervelo do, but rationalize a really bad mistake that will cost a small fortune to fix? A fix for an error of this magnitude is very time consuming and very expensive. Just like Bush did with the war in Iraq you just rationalize a horrible blunder and hope that truly stupid people believe you. Meanwhile Cervelo is scrambling to fix this disaster to salvage their creditability with cycling enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by patentcad

Let's just face it, you're too fat for this bike and it just kills you.

Originally Posted by pharding

I actually made the silly assumption that one could use high end wheels with spokes on a Cervelo road bike. Maybe Cervelo will repackage it and label it a P3.5. They will undoubtedly bring out a new and improved S4 for 2010 and give the unfortunate souls that actually bought the seriously flawed 2009 S3 a $2,000 discount. They call a win win. They sold some people badly flawed 2009 bike and made money on that. For 2010 they sold the same stupid people the new and improved version for $2,500 with the coupon and they made on that transaction also. Cervelo wins twice with a major design error. People buy Cervelos regardless of how sh1tty they make them.

Originally Posted by SushiJoe

Wow, 3" shorter and 5 lbs. heavier than I am. :ee k:
NOTE: (and 10x the rider! )

Originally Posted by pharding

I actually made the silly assumption that one could use high end wheels with spokes on a Cervelo road bike. Maybe Cervelo will repackage it and label it a P3.5. They will undoubtedly bring out a new and improved S4 for 2010 and give the unfortunate souls that actually bought the seriously flawed 2009 S3 a $2,000 discount. They call a win win. They sold some people badly flawed 2009 bike and made money on that. For 2010 they sold the same stupid people the new and improved version for $2,500 with the coupon and they made on that transaction also. Cervelo wins twice with a major design error. People buy Cervelos regardless of how sh1tty they make them.

Originally Posted by PlatyPius

...That said, I'm kinda pissed. We have a few of those coming in (with the "Rings" paint job) soon. The wheel limitation will make them pretty much unsellable for us. Our customers tend to be older, wealthy, not-so-skinny types who want the latest and greatest from the #1 Hyped brand in the US.

Originally Posted by aloysius

It does seem like a bummer that you can't throw a sturdy training wheelset on that bike. You probably want to train on the frame that you race, and you might not want to train on your deep carbon wheels.

Originally Posted by pharding

My point precisely. Except for those wealthy cyclists that are blindly in love with Cervelo, this really hurts their creditability. How can one believe the Cervelo marketing hype about aero design, if spoked wheels by major wheel manufacturers will not fit their flagship road bike? I thought that Cervelo was very proud of their research and testing. If Cervelo is a stand-up company they will address this in a professional manner and issue the first ever recall in recent history for an entire frame-set.

Originally Posted by botto

more.

Originally Posted by pharding

The new Cervelo S3 suffers from a major design flaw with the very odd chain stays that are too broad to accommodate many spoked wheels. Go to this page for details
https://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=S32009
Some wheels by major manufacturers, including Campagnolo, Mavic will not fit at all, and if the rider is too heavy many more "big name" spoked wheels will not fit. The list of wheels that will actuaaly work with the bike is extremely short. The only Zipp wheels that work is the Zipp 900 disc wheel.

What a STUPID design error!!!!!!!!!! I foresee a major recall and gross embarrassment for the most egregious bicycle design error in recent memory. It looks like Cervelo spent all of their money on aero testing with nothing spent on rider testing.

My Cervelo S3 purchase is on hold until Cervelo fixes this serious design flaw so that I can use rear wheels with spokes.