island rider

I currently own an RS, I like the bike, but I don't love it. I phrased it once as feeling too "tall" on the bike and that the bike was big. (Bear in mind that I was measured and fitted, and it all seems right). I was told that what I am feeling is probably wanting to be in a more aggressive position on a bike that is not built for it.

I have been thinking of getting a Scott. I have really liked the Addict for a while, but I am also curious about the CR1. I am wondering if the CR1 is the RS of the Scott line. I know they have the Speedster, but that seems a competely different animal. I am not sure I will ever be able to ride the two back to back, as there are not too many around here who sell Scotts. I can look at the geometry for answers, but have no idea how that translates into actual feeling on the bike.

Right now I am thinking getting the R3 and having the shop strip off the 105 and put on Force or Rival, or just buying the frame and bulding it up. Mostly because I like the color of the 3 rather than the 2. That said, I really love the look of the R1!

Seattle Forrest

What are you going to do with your RS?

makeitso5005

For the most part you can achieve the same aggressive position on almost any road bike. Just a matter of adjusting or swapping the stem to accommodate the longer reach for the lower position. Get a 17 degree stem, flip it, and put it right on top of the headset. If you still feel "too tall" then you're right, you need a more aggressive frame. But it sounds more like you just want to buy something vs fixing what you have to your preferences. In that case there's really no "Fred" Cervelo or Scott. "Fred" is the rider.

bryceman

The CR1 used to be in the same position as the Addict. I think in 2009 they changed the geometry to be less aggressive as the Addict. As a result, if you went with an older model CR1 it would not be Fred to me. The new ones still aren't as relaxed as say a Roubaix though. If you like the feel of it, get it.

island rider

I'll probably keep it for those days that I want to take a long leisurely ride taking in the countryside as I roll past. Essentially giving myself the choice between the sports coupe and the sedan on any given day. No need to sell for a loss on a bike that will be perfectly fine in several years and can be set up as a comfort cruiser.

That is, unless the right person wants to buy it...

island rider

I think it is the latter category. I am one small spacer off the headset, and stem is flipped (can't remember the degrees) and still feel that way. It doesn't just feel like my hands need to be lower. There is something else to it. I thought that you could basically adjust any one frame to feel more or less aggressive, but there is somethine else. Maybe its my proximity to the top tube or how far back the seat tube is pitched? Or maybe it's all in my head.

For the record, there is never any such thing as a "fred" anything in my book, but there is a greybeard around here who likes to post on RS threads that it is the "fred" cervelo...

jrobe

I think this is more in your head than anything. The Cervelo RS is certainly not a "fred" anything. It is a high end race bike that has been ridden in many pro tour races by some great riders in very aggressive positions.

I own a R3 but I could easily live with an RS. As I recall there is about 20mm difference in the head tube and 10mm in the chain stay. This difference should be pretty easy to adjust with adjustments in the front end. This shouldn't require a major "new bike" expense.

What is your current saddle to bar drop?

island rider

Never felt the need to measure the drop. But it's not quite as severe as many I have seen.

I should learn, never use the work "fred", it evokes the wrong thing. We all know that the RS was used in Roubaix... The pro riders can ride whatever they want however they want, but there must be something to this geometry thing or the manufacturers would not spend so much of their time tinkering with it.

I think it is something along the lines of being able to adjust components etc. to make a bike "fit" right, but that you need to start from a geometry that "feels" right.

Maybe I'm off base. Maybe I just want a shiny new (matte) bike. Who knows.

The real question is more of an SAT question: RS is to R3 as Cr1 is to Addict. True or False?

Racer Ex 

Yep. Longer headtubes, which also bring the bars back a touch. 20mm is actually quite bit BTW.

That pros might ride a Roubaix at Roubaix or an RS instead of an R3 has much to do with them spending a great deal of time on the tops in the cobbled sections, and the longer seat stays normally provide a bit softer ride. There's a lot of special set ups that are peculiar to Roubaix that you won't see for the rest of the season.