Cervelo S2 - To buy or not to buy

Jim Stynes

To me this seems like a good enough deal, maybe a couple hundred off would be more realistic. I will be doing a mixture of short sprint triathlons, hilly courses to long 140mile sportives. So the bike needs to be an all rounder.

The shop thats selling it is not too far from me (25mins in a car) which is another plus. I am 6ft and 90kg so probably need to get rid of a few kgs!! But looking at 56cm frame, which is what my Felt is. Anyone have an S2 or know anything about them?
http://www.slanecycles.com/cervelo-s2-bike-ultegra-6800-mavic-cosmic-carbon-sls-2012-p-25341.html

Brian?

Savage. Buy it.

dermabrasion

Cervelo's are pure bike. I have been on them a while now, and will not change. But, you are asking 2 different things: 20K TT and 160K sprotives. The S series are absolutely right for racing and also for tri. They are not endurance bikes though. The long day in the saddle is the R series. Looking at what Garmin-Cervelo do, they ride the S5 for hilly TT and Farrar rides them for sprint finishes. But mostly, they ride the R5 and wheeled out the R3 for the spring classics.
My advice, (and I am a similar size to you) is the R3 or R5. These are race bikes, designed to tough days and climbing.

Jim Stynes

That's what I was worrying about, that basically I will be too restricted on the s2 for just my triathlons. Love the look of it though. The wheels look the part but could be a pain in the ass in the wind.

Also have my eye on this
http://www.slanecycles.com/bianchi-infinito-bike-ultegra-compact-blackwhite-55cm2012-p-21012.html

happytramp

Was checking out the Wilier bikes in bike hub in Howth yesterday, god they are sexy.

http://www.wilier.it/it/catalogo/road-bike/zero-9/

cantalach

The R and S series are all proper race bikes. But whereas an S series bike is all about speed, the R series also makes for a very good all-day bike.

Leaving aside though the discussion on R vs S, I wouldn't have thought that €3,700+ is a particularly good price for a 2012 S2. For that money, Bike24 will sell you a 2014 S3 w/ Ultegra: http://www.bike24.com/p265934.html

Or a 2013 R3 w/ Ultegra and Fulcrum carbon wheels for €2,700: Bike24: http://www.bike24.com/p244692.html

Arguably the best deal of all is a 2013 R3 w/ 105 for just €1,500: http://www.bike24.com/p264617.html

Jim Stynes

Liked the sound of that 2013 r3 but the bike looks terrible in my opinion. That's a good site though, never heard of it before! Will be calling into from time to time. I don't mind paying an extra hundred off my LBS as it will mean if anything goes wrong then they are easy to call in and see but I don't want to be ripped off either! I got him down to 2900 last time I called, if i could get it down to 2750 I would buy the bike there and then. Im a little hesitant as I was saying as I don't want to be planning long sportives on a bike that is not made for that kind of thing. However, most of my events this year will be sprint or olympic distance triathlons. Cheers for the feedback lads, giving me lots to think about.

BofaDeezNuhtz

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Liked the sound of that 2013 r3 but the bike looks terrible in my opinion.

Boom Team colours for an extra ton. Job done next!
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?product=19872;dbp=28;page=3;content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,173,157;lang=2

€3,700 for a 2012 S2 geddafuggg oudda here Slaneys :eek:

cantalach

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Liked the sound of that 2013 r3 but the bike looks terrible in my opinion.

I thought that too, based on the photo. But a mate of mine went for that deal and I've just seen the bike in the flesh. It looks absolutely fantastic.

Raam

The R3 are awesome bikes, I have one from 2009. It rides great. If you like the S2, go for it. I think it's nice.

Quigs Snr

Much is made of the comfort difference between the Cervelo S series and R series. I have an R3SL as well as an S2 and an S5 (and a couple more as well). I must say that I never noticed the difference.. the S5 I havent properly tested yet but the S1 I used to have was noticeably harsher but that was made of aluminium... the s2 and r3 ? I cant tell the difference. .. maybe if I was riding Paris Roubaix on the cobbles ? Certainly I cant tell the difference on Irish roads.

Lumen

Would you not be better off with a dedicated tri bike for triathlons? If you have a road bike already...

paddydriver

Agree with dermabrasion re the S's - I have a Soloist from ~08/09 and it is a hard bike. Ultra responsive and a pleasure to ride, but not for a long day out. I got mine for a very good deal from a family member so happy with it. The R would be a more comfortable bike.

All said, really nice bikes but just do research before buying.

Jim Stynes

I like the look of the bianchi bikes as well so it's not 100% mind made up on the cervelo. With a budget of 2500-3000 what would be best for an all rounder bike I.e triathlon sprints and long sportives. I would also be tempted to buy a good frame and start looking for deals on groupsets etc and try build a cracking bike. Any cheap S-Works and Dogma frames knocking about haha

Craig06

I bought a lapierre xelius 200 with ultegra 6800 recently. Very stiff but unbelievably comfortable. Also with the tube shapes cross winds just whistle over the bike and it doesn't move an inch. Does it have to be an aero bike? If so try the felt AR range maybe?

Max_Charger

Jim Stynes wrote: »

With a budget of 2500-3000 what would be best for an all rounder bike I.e triathlon sprints and long sportives.

With those very very different needs and that budget I'd be looking at getting two bikes tbh. For the amount of time you'll actually spend on the saddle between the two, I'd be looking at a good second hand tri bike for around 1k and a nice new comfy carbon for 2k for the long spins. A horrible compromise will have to be made between speed and comfort if you try buy a bike to do both.

Jim Stynes

Might not bother with the S2 now, I was down in their shop today and the fellas weren't very helpful at all. Didn't want to let me sit on the bike for fear that i was getting measured up to go buy it elsewhere, I explained that I would want to sit on the bike to see how it feels. I even said to the fellas if they were going to buy a car would they not want to sit in it. Two of the lads were quite rude as well, every question seemed like a hassle. Not nice people to deal with, wouldn't negotiate with the price at all. I asked could he even come down 100 quid and he seemed to have dug his heal in at this stage. He said that his prices won't be beaten anywhere!

I apologised for making them think that I was going to get measure up to buy online, which I honestly hadn't even thought about it in that way. When I was driving down the road after though I was raging that I even apologised, I am the customer and they were meant to be helping me. I was standing beside a fella who was in looking to buy 5 bikes and the assistant manager wasn't helpful at all to the fella, who was asking some normal questions. This is a few times that I have heard about slane's staff having an attitude problem. They must sell a lot of bikes if they don't need to be helpful and reasonable with customers off the street. To be fair to them, they have an unreal selection of bikes and some cracking deals but I wont be back due to their poor service and lack of basic manners!
Rant over.

Don't know what bike to go for now. Chainreaction don't have much of a selection.

pelevin

It'll eat at you I'd say if you don't let them know how you feel, & if your version is an accurate reflection of the reality even just send them an email expressing your pretty understandable anger, where do they get off or whatever. They're bound to have a pretty easy Contact option or e-mail at their site.

Jim Stynes

I mentioned it to someone who works in a bike shop down the road and he laughed and said he knows exactly what they are like. They seem to have a reputation for getting their backs up straight away whenever someone tries to negotiate with them. They do a lot of internet orders so they probably make enough off that and they don't have to deal with ppl face to face. Not that it will make a difference to them but I certainly won't be back or recommending them to any of my mates.

fat bloke

That's shocking "service".

If Dublin is an option for you go to Hollingsworth Kilmacud. I bought a cervelo R5 there. He'll certainly let you sit up on a bike!!!

For what it's worth I think that silver finish r3 is awesome looking. Was only admiring one in the Tour of Oman today (recorded).

brayblue24

fat bloke wrote: »

If Dublin is an option for you go to Hollingsworth Kilmacud.

+1

markens2

I just got one on Friday. Had it out for 100k on Saturday and it was amazing. I'm a similar size and weight to you. I got the 2013/2014 model. It's blue and black with 105s and Shimano r500 (to be changed). I paid 2500 for it. Great service. If you want to try it out and take it for a spin you're more than welcome. I'm in Kildare.

barleyman

+1 on the R3 - I would actually purchase the limited edition R3 Black with sram force - i see it retails around the €3k mark

This bike is actually a 2013 R5 resprayed and re-badged as an R3.

http://jedi-sports.de/Custom-Made-Bikes/Road/Cervelo-R3-R5-Sram-Force-22-C-Dark-Edition-LIMITED-2014::5128.html

In relation to Slane Cycles i have purchased a number of frames/parts from them and have found them a pleasure to deal with and extremely helpful. I was recently looking for a 11mm space for my rotor cranks and rang 3/4 dealers in the south and none could help me, I then rang Slane Cycles on a Saturday and they had the spacer out to me free of charge on the following tuesday (i'm in SW Ireland).

Anyway, best of luck with whatever bike you choose to purchase.