Cervelo S1 or Kellys URC6.9?

Beettle

Im a relativley new cyclist who is about to make my first big investment in a bicycle. I compete in a few triathlons a year and this is my main reason for cycling (ie not road racing)

Which bike should I go for?

Full carbon Kelly URC 6.9 with 105 shimano for around €1,750

or

Cevelo S1 with 105 for around €2,100

my head is wrecked and i cant decide, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Lumen

Would you not be better off buying a proper tri bike?

I think the S1 has a reversible seatpost to give your a more forward saddle position, but the ride is reportedly a bit hardcore. When I spoke to Slane Cycles last year about it they were not keen to sell one for this reason, and have since removed it from their website as a built option (though they still have the frameset).

Beettle

for the sake of a few races i thought a tri bike would be waste as im not exactly an elite competitor.

most of my cycling is done in a group so again didn't think this was a good option outside of racing.

i thought the S1 would have been good for both?? but if as you say its a rough ride I could be better off with a full carbon

Quigs Snr

I have a 2010 S1. Its definitely a harsher ride than my R3 SL. Its a very, very stiff frame and not that light. On the other hand, it looks pretty, seems quite aero and is a popular choice with the triathletes.

It is noticeably harsher than my R3 which in itself it well known for its lateral stiffness, coming first place of all the bikes in the pro peleton in a magazine test a couple of years ago, however, all of that being said, its not that the bike is uncomfortable. It is fine to ride, in fact in most road conditions its an absolute pleasure, CSC rode several Tours on them and it was their main bike up till 2004, continuing to be used in the spring classics (and winning) up until recently.

The Kelly's is a decent machine too. I guess it depends, the specs are more or less the same. Do you want the slightly smoother, probably the same weight (considering the superior fork on the Cervelo), all-carbon Kellys, or do you want the Aluminium, big brand name, bling, bling Cervelo ?

I must confess if I had only one bike I don't know which I would go for. I only got the S1 because its the same setup and geometry as my race bike. The S1 is prettier but you are buying it to ride not look at. They both probably weigh about the same overall (Cervelo likely to be slightly heavier in the frame, but does come with a very light fork), whilst the Kellys is going to be a little more comfy for longer rides on bad roads.

Heres my one built up, shortly before ploughing into the tarmac like a meteorite several times over xmas (thankfully without the zipps on)



Of course it would not be boards if someone did not come along shortly to recommend the planet X with full Dura Ace 7900 for something like 1399 sterling. Any minute now..

DirkVoodoo

Quigs Snr wrote: »

[URL="[IMG]http://porkpie.boards.ie/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=850&pictureid=4251[/IMG]"][/URL]

Of course it would not be boards if someone did not come along shortly to recommend the planet X with full Dura Ace 7900 for something like 1399 sterling. Any minute now..

I was going to say Planet X, maybe upgrade the wheels and get a set of clip on aero bars.

Nice photo Quigs, is your bike cross chaining when resting though? Big ring, big ring!

Lumen

Beettle wrote: »

for the sake of a few races i thought a tri bike would be waste as im not exactly an elite competitor.

Fair enough, I misunderstood "main reason for cycling"

A road bike with clip ons will be fine if you're not bothered about being ultra-competitive.

The Cervelo is nice but there are loads of other ways to spend €2k.

shapez

Beettle wrote: »

Im a relativley new cyclist who is about to make my first big investment in a bicycle. I compete in a few triathlons a year and this is my main reason for cycling (ie not road racing)

Which bike should I go for?

Full carbon Kelly URC 6.9 with 105 shimano for around €1,750

or

Cevelo S1 with 105 for around €2,100

my head is wrecked and i cant decide, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

No sure who is quoting you 2100 for a S1 with 105 groupset. You can certainly get an S1 with a SRAM Force for less than 2k.

I have two Cervelos and absolutely love them. I got a 2007 model for my winter bike and loved it so much I got the 2010 model for racing. Now I'm by no means a small guy, I'm 6'2 and about 90kgs, and this bike is rock solid. Point it at a corner and you just glide through it. The Cervelo is aerodynamic as it is and perfect for triathlons if you put your aerobars on it.