Today was test ride day for me at two different shops, looking for a road bike to replace my Marin Fairfax hybrid which I have used for the last year. First I rode a Felt Z5. This was very nice! A better ride than it's price would indicate in my opinion. Of course this was my first ever ride on a Carbon bike so I have to factor that in. All 105 (5700) including crankset and brakes.

I told them I also wanted to go ride a Cannondale Synapse at another shop. They had a Synapse Carbon 3 (marked down 2010 model). It might have been the stiff RS80 wheels, but I thought the ride on the Z5 was actually nicer. This is what the guy at the first shop had predicted and he was right. Just when I was thinking the Synapse might be too much bike for me right now, the sales guy says, "just for fun, go ride this" and pulls this Cervelo RS off the rack. Well, OK since I'm testing bikes today I might as well although it is way out of my budget I had in mind (you can see where this is going now and can probably just skip to the picture below). First ride, "wow, this is quite a bit better than either the Felt or the Synapse", it just is so smooth and fast and FUN to ride.

But I returned and told the salesman now I have a real reference point for how good a bike can be, thank you. After talking a while more and hanging around the shop he said, why don't you take it out again? OK, so I did. It was while returning on the way back from that ride that the bike spoke to me and said "you must have this bike!". None of the other bikes made me feel like that but this one really did. So to make a long story short we managed to reach a price we were both happy with, they proceeded to fit the bike to me, put the cleats on my new shoes (first time riding clipless) and I took it out a third time, now more comfortable and it just GOES when power is applied. I knew I had really found the right bike.

I hadn't even considered Cervelo, in fact didn't know much about them other than they are Canadian, but the bike really sold itself once I rode it a few times.

OK, here is the obligatory picture (flip it, I know, I know) Who can spot the missing part? I have already replaced it after taking the picture.

Congrats! The R models are a good deal with the current markdowns.

Also get some bottle cages worthy of your bike

Congratulation....
When we gonna race?

Welcome to the club. Sweet ain't they.

Any time 10 Wheels, but it will be like the tortoise and the hare. You will eventually wear me down.

missing part...are you serious?!?!? All I can see is you're rear wheel is missing the cap on the valve stem...should this be something obvious?

Reflectors and dork disc are gone too...gotta do that next year when I pull my bike back out. Only had it a week before I had to go back to school so I left the dork disc on just in case the shifting got screwed up and I wanted every second on it that I could get.

Jen,

How did you pass me so fast with posts? I started in 2005 and spend 8 hours per day, M-F, at work doing nothing for 40 hours per week but reading BF and posting, and you surpassed me in 3 months!

I feel so humiliated, I might have to resort to doing some work.

...and that's why the CAAD line was moved to asia

The only thing I notice you seem to be missing is nice looking bottle cages.

Start posting in 50+ you get triple points if you're way under age and female. Those old coots really appreciate it.

Congrats on the RS! I love mine... Do you mind sharing how much you ended up paying for it? Competitive Cyclist had some very awesome prices on 09's a few months back.

This.

Treat the addiction thread like Foo and you'll watch them meaningless numbers fly!

The missing part is the valve cap on the rear wheel - fixed now.

Paid $2750, sound like a good deal?

I do notice the missing dork disc now that you point it out. I would have preferred to have a small transparent one there but the RD is well adjusted and won't go past the largest gear.

The FD is remarkably precise, worlds ahead of the FD on my Marin Fairfax. I really like the trim where I can quiet any chain rubbing.

Valve caps?

That's fairly good. Not into the great territory yet, but very decent. Congrats and enjoy!

Yeah, that's like Foo with points.

I call it BF post doping.

The valve caps really are only to prevent the puncture of the tube when it is all bundled up. A lot of people just leave 'em off. I keep mine on because they are red and match my bike/tires. Although I noticed one cracked so they will both come off.

Leave the dork disc off. Unless you crash and bend the hanger you don't have much to worry about.

That salesman read you like a book!

Congrats on the new ride.

+1. That was a masterful sale. The salesman must be a "bike whisperer" who knew how to match bike with rider

Congrats on the new ride.

Nice bike. Id suggest a zero set back post. Looks like the seat is slammed forward.

I have absolutely GOT to go test ride a Cervelo...

Nice bike. I know some happy RS owners. I haven't used valve caps (or the nuts) since my first flat. Nothing was missing.

Good lord...

It's within about 1/2 inch of all the way forward. Next time I have it in the shop I'll ask them if that would be better.