No doubt better and more versatile. My 2019 Trek Madone SLR makes for a surprisingly comfortable Randonneuring bike, especially if the aerobars are installed. Speaking of Randonneuring, perhaps take a look into that scene as I don't think it's been covered on GCN. LEJOG is next July. I bet Hank would be up for it.
i owner of 2015 BMC TMR01... this bike still very fast and comfy. not many bikes was on market without changes for that long period.. BMC TMR01 was on market more than 5 years
Those bikes where aero by themselves, but did not consider the whole system of rider, bottle and so on as do modern ones. So in that sense and objectively, they where worse.
People don't want to give GCN props because it's so mainstream and popular, but the content of late has been fantastic. Still bringing fresh material on an arguably limited topic of discussion.
Honestly I find that so impressive. There's only so much you can cover with the topic of cycling. I won't be surprised if they hire a bunch of people to dedicate time to think up video ideas.
Ironically you nailed it Simon in closing comments. How much has the bike industry improved bikes in the last 12 years considering in particular, the massive price increase for the top of the line TdF level bikes? I owned a late model Cervelo aero bike with electric shifting and disc brakes briefly and sold it to default back to rim brakes and mechanical shifting with more round tube sections and feel nothing in speed difference for the kind of rides I do which is ride with fastest guys in town. The 5 seconds difference and thanks for doing the experiment 3 times...is noise in the cosmos...nebulous to those that don't race for a living. Honestly the marketing of this stuff as a lure to upsell gullible consumers is pretty insulting to those that really understand the tech which I do as a mechanical engineer. Will close and say, Simon this is one of the best episodes of GCN I have seen. Really well done. Why? Because it is based on truth and not marketing in a global society now mired in false narratives. Thank you for this honest video and cheers from America.
Five seconds is the difference between making the Strava top 10 and not for a lot of my segments. I don't need a new aero bike for that. I just put aero bars and wheels on the old aero bike
Built up, my first Soloist SL was $12k in 2008. You get a much better bike for $14k now. That's not much inflation either...or a $4000 power meter which is what a crank based power meter cost back then🥴
My 2009 Cervelo RS still a great bike. 5000 miles already this year. External cable routing, threaded BB, and rim brakes. Super easy to maintain, lightweight, fast, and compliant.
Just goes to show that if all the "12% more efficient than previous model" and "saves 20 watts at 40kph" marketing claims were true, the newer bike should be practically riding itself with all those cumulative gains over the last 10 years.
My 2009 Cervelo S3 still wins crit races in 2023. 2010 HED Jet 6 black and 7970 10 speed Dura Ace Di2. The other people in the race are mostly riding 2020s S5s, Pinarello dogmas, Trek SLR7s and the like. I guess you could almost say it's not about the bike?
@@gcn A few reasons: 1. it was my race bike for a few years so only got ridden on Saturdays. Then a break from racing, then when I started again, it became a dedicated / flat / rolling terrain crit bike, only used once a week. It's 13 years old but only 1.5 years old in riding time. 2. It just works, and works well. Don't see the point in fixing something that isn't broken. 3. The plan is to paint it as part of my "learn to paint bike frames" journey, so I'll have a chance to update it aesthetically, keeping it fresh and customised to my taste. Not something I'd be willing to do with a similar bike of today that would cost around $10-15k!!
The reality is that YOU would be faster on the new bike. I have a Soloist SL. With a fully matched fit and similar depth wheels, even my 2022 Domane is faster so I really just leave my Soloist on the wall because the ride quality is total trash with nothing better about the Soloist to get me to ride it anymore.
cool! I still have a steel road bike with downtube shifters that on one climb, I set a personal record at that time. I since then had ridden a carbon merida scultura (which I rode for traimning one summer) which was definetly lighter, more aero, and better. I could not beat my time. It felt sketchy to ride fast; it was just not as comfoatable to ride out of the saddle. Just saying that body position can be more important than the type of bike.
My 2009 S3 is now my winter road bike, and I am talking winter as in Canada! … I replaced the original Campy 11 speed with the last Super Record 11speed … the original 404’s, replaced by 303’s … it’s still a near perfect ride experience … simply put, Cervelo was ahead of it all with aero evolution. Great video guys! Thanks!!
In late 2019, I was given by our shop a 2020 Specialized Tarmac Pro Force eTap with 50mm Roval Wheels 700x28c tubeless to ride for two years. It was a major redesign of the Tarmac, claiming more aero and yada yada yada. At right about 15.5lbs, the bike was very lightweight for a disc brake bike as well. I used a Stages power meter on that bike. My main ride up to then was my fully bespoke Waterford R-33. A custom hand built frame using TruTemper S-3 Super Steel, an Enve 1.0 carbon fork, a Shimano R8000 Ultegra mechanical/rim brake group, and an assortment of lightweight alloy wheelsets. Weight was right at 17lbs including Speedplay USA Stainless Zeros, and a Specialized power meter by 4iiii. I was offered to purchase the Tarmac well below dealer cost at the end of the two years. I gave it back, because after looking at my data, I was just as slow on the Tarmac as I am on the Waterford, but the Waterford is much prettier, rides better, and is a lot easier to work on. It’s still my number one bicycle. Earlier this year, I rode my steel Waterford in the eTape San Antonio event (met The Jensie!), and at a refuel stop, a lot of people were complaining about the “rough pavement”. I mean REALLY complaining about the chip and seal pavement. I thought to myself “seriously?…I hardly noticed the pavement” Then I looked at their bikes.. all super aero and probably super stiff carbon machines with deep carbon rims. This out of shape old man also dropped those much younger guys shortly after that stop, and didn’t see them again, so maybe they were just more out of shape than I was at the time.
I sold my 2016 S3 this spring, I had a bit to many bikes. That one was exactly 7kg and every time I rode it, I felt "shit this is such a fast bike" and it was an absolute joy to ride. Nice video!
That s3 frame is an absolute beauty, so is the 10 speed sram red groupset. I still use a set of tdf edition of sram red 10 speed on my allez sprint and it’s just amazing
I would really like to thank you guys for the information you provide. I have been cycling since February of 2023 and in that time my cross country coach passed away and we only got to ride together once. Since then, I inherited his trek madone gen 4 and have been coming to this channel for information. I have ridden that bike once and saw my time go significantly down from my first duathalon. So again I would like to thank you guys for being the coach I could not have when it comes to cycling.
Many thanks - excellent, I've a 2007 CerveloSLC but didn't fully unerstand the context of the bike with the other models. I've got some heavy Continental tyres, sacrilege - but comfy.
I was a mechanic at a Cervelo dealer back when the Soloist and the S3 were big deals. I regret not buying either one. The Soloist was one of the fastest bikes I had ever ridden at the time. Even just taking them out for little spins after assembly or tuning up a customers bike.
The soloist in the CSC livery is still one of my favourite looking bikes. I had to get one when it came out and could only afford to run it single speed for years. It’s now sat on my turbo trainer and it still gets my heart racing when I look at it. I wish there was room for such new and innovative bikes now days.
The best video/project to make with such a 2010s super aero bike is to update it with modern components that make real performance improvements: 1) modern light, aero wheels of max rim width for the bike, with modern fast tires of matching (i.e., a little thinner) width with latex tubes or tubeless, 2) aero cockpit, 3) waxed chain (marginal performance gain but huge maintenance improvement, and you have Silca onboard!). Then, compare it against a modern super-bike taking into account performance (flat, climb, brake), comfort, maintenance, and price.
I have an '07 Cervelo P2-SL Tri bike that I've converted to a road bike. I love it, it feels fast and smooth, and overall seems like the ultimate aluminum frame. Plus the airplane wing tube profiles, horizontal top tube, and rear wheel cutout looks awesome. It's built up with a Dura Ace R9100 groupset and pretty much everything bolted to the aluminum is carbon, including the non-adjustable carbon fiber seat post from a carbon Soloist frame.
As an avowed Cervelo fanboy and owner of 2 of their bikes (2004 Super Prodigy, still a fun - and surprisingly light - bike to ride, and a 2022 Caledonia) I thank you for making this video. Super interesting comparison and it shows just how good even their 'older' bikes still are.
Simon, I'm just a little surprised that you didn't throw out a handful of zingers for Dan like... "So Dan, if you're bike was so ahead of its time and so very tricked out, then why don't you have any real big wins to brag about ?" The only reason I could see possible for not poking fun at Dan would be that you discussed it prior to the filming of this video and Dan said the only way he would loan his bike out was if you didn't bash him at all. All kidding aside, a great video Si ! You're upbeat attitude is absolutely infectious! 😎
Own the 2009 Cervelo S2 - the one Dan rode in Qatar. Rode it for 14 years, now it's on my Kickr. It's been better than almost all my friends bikes for such a long time until just recently. This year, got a Cervelo Soloist. It's marginally heavier but so much more efficient. Even on climbs, it throws itself up the road. It's also vastly more comfortable and discs are night and day better than rim (hate to say it). Still love my S2 to death. It's not all about weight anymore.
I bought a 2009 RS last year. It always felt special. Now I know why. Thanks for the video! ❤ It gets a complete rebuild right now and will be back on the road soon
I’m sure it would be hard to get hold of but this video makes me wonder about a similar test of Dan’s bike against one of the equivalent professional spec bikes of the same era to see how far ahead of the curve it really was!
I’m openly bias as I was involved with Cervelo in the early days .. First with the Soloist (Alu) and then the Soloist Carbon. R.2.5 with red tint Zipp 202’s for climbing was a dream. Thanks to Tom V I had the very first 58cm Soloist SLC-SL out of the mould which took me to many titles and including Nationals. Adding P3 to the stable line up with Zipp Sub 9 also gave me many ITT and TTT wins. Capped always with Castelli kit and later development of Cuore with Hugo which today I saw crossed the line first in Paris in the Womens Road race with Team USA … wow, what fun era I’ve had.
Built mine with the first SRAM Red mechanical, DuraAce C24 wheels and other light components. Crazy light bike and super comfortable. Still ride mine all the time all these years later. No creeks it is still a great bike. Just about manages 25mm tyres…
Great video GCN! I've never owned a Cervelo, but I definitely recognised the soloist as a bit of a phenomenon at the time, so it's pretty good to see how well it's stood the test of time! Very interesting to hear Dan Lloyd's comments regarding the bike too.
Great throwback on start of the aero bikes. I still have my first Cervelo aero bike, the SLC-SL from 2005 I think. Riding is also about how the bike makes you feel and Cervelo aero bikes adds that extra something to make you ride those extra miles. Just love it.
I still ride my slc-sl which I got in 2009 on sale. I'm still as passionate about it as I was then. It's been subject to some upgrades, di2, aero handlebar etc. Great bike!
@@gcnI just got a mint condition soloist slc sl which I’m building up with dura ace 9100 rim brake mechanical group and Enve 4.5. Superior braking and I should be able to get 25-28 tyres to soften the ride.
I still ride my 2009 S1 with a lot of the original components (some are getting switched out this year as things have worn out) but I am still the fastest on descents. It rides beautifully, and why would one change out perfection. Sure if I had 13k to drop, I would snag a brand new, top Cervelo, but then again, I am happy!
If you are the original owner and still have proof of purchase or registered the bike back then... Go check your seatpost for cracks under the collar. If it is cracked, you can get a new bike/frame from Cervelo ;). I got a choice of an S2 frame, S2 full bike or S3 frame for 600e back in 2016. I regard this as the optimal year for a road bike as it was just before all the cables went in to the tubes and handlebars along with disc brake wheels. It rides totally different to all of the first generation S1/2/2!
Also, interestingly (to me, anyway) is that aero appears more important than weight. Even though the Canyon is heavier/beefier, it's modern aero components are still faster than the lightweight Cervelo. Fun video. Especially loved the interview w/ Dan at the end. Thanks, guys!
I had the Soloist, the Soloist Carbon and the S3. All unbelievably quick and ahead of the game. The SC, however, was unridable over 40 miles, for me. The S3, was much friendlier to the budding amateur. However, i achieved most of my success on the R3-SL.
Still got my 2012 R5 VWD which I’ve owned since new and rides beautifully, and a fantastic 2009 RS which I picked up off eBay for 800 quid. The RS is so sublimely comfortable that it’s my go-to bike now, over my 2022 Giant TCR.
I bought this bike 2nd hand last year (cheaply). If it was good enough for pros 13-14 years ago, then it'll be more than good enough for me now. Loving it!
I still have the S2, not mentioned, which I bought new in 2009 and was the last one available in the UK so probably 2008 or 2009. It was produced somewhere between the Soloist and S3. I cleaned up the front end cable issues mentioned by installing Sram Etap. It's a great ride but quite stiff and I regularly enjoy riding it during Spring and Autumn.
At 13:50 I was reminded how happy I am that Si didn't chuck on some of Lloydy's old white shorts for this test... would love to see a series of different changes being made to this bike to modernise it and see what makes the biggest differences & whether its possible to close the gap between modern and retro (first step, lose the tubs!)
Still riding-and hanging with the youngsters-my 2009 S2. Ridden many newer bikes over the years since, but always went back to the S2. Fitted with SRAM AXS mech 2 years ago. Should be good to go for many more years!
Cracking looking bike, that S3. I think the cable routing is clever, certainly neater since it lacks the Shimano washing line which STILL featured then. Super nice!
That was fun! Legend Thor Hushovd of course also took the rainbow jersey on one of these babies back in 2010… I have the privilege of owning a Cervelo S3 from 2015, and now also a 2023 Scott Foil RC…The Scott is better at everything I would say, except speed… Crazy how fast that S3 is, even by today's standards…
Love that Lloydy was so humble about how his bike helped him. He's a very decent rider by any standards. But it is true that modern bikes are better. Sort of at least. Blooming interesting video. TY:)
I have and ride two road bikes, SL6 Tarmac and a 2009 S2 Cervelo. Both bikes are fitted with good carbon clincher wheels. I ride at the same cadence on both bikes, the S2 is always in a bigger gear than the Tarmac.
Really good video. I have a rim brake Spesh sl6 which I love riding and inspite of my mates banging on about disc brakes- I can’t justify spending £5-6k for not much gain? Also think it looks much better than modern bikes
I had an S3 with full SRAM Red that I sold when I gave up racing. A huge regret... what I would do to get that bike back for my Sunday road rides. Killer on the flats and descents and climbed like a dream. One of the best bikes I ever owned.
What this video showed (to me) is that in the last decades marginal gains + aero makes you faster by very little. At 43 I'm all about ease of maintenance, comfort and when going uphill, I'll take my lightweight 2019 Trek Émonda SL5 rim brake any day over an aero bike. I'm not aiming to beat anyone but my own records 😅.
LOVED this video. Definitely a Dan Lloyd super fan (and a Si one too!) so just an absolute treat to watch. Would love to see more comparison tests. Maybe a bonus one can be to see how many pull-ups Dan can do with the 6.6k added 😂
I own both the Cervelo S3 and the RS. Between the two of them, I was convinced that I could never buy a faster ,more comfortable bike. This attitude kept me on these bikes right up to 2022. That year I spent a few months in Girona, Spain and experienced my first "modern" bike (a Basso Astra with Sram Force Etap). I rode the Basso from town to Rocacorba and back. Despite the increased weight of the Basso, I rode a bit faster and far more comfortably than on the Cervelos. Like your experience, Si, it wasn't significantly faster but it still was faster.....and at least a kilo heavier. What!!!!! So now, I ride all three and appreciate each for it's strengths. The Cervelos still feel fast, stable and light but the Basso remains the faster (but heavier) choice. I still ride the Cervelo when climbing and it's never let me down.
Although many items in the test are not controlled like you said it was a very good comparison. I compare my MT bike to my road bike just to have data to show my wife and state my case that I need a new TT bike. I am also one of the 4 fans of Dan. But I like all presenters on GCN. Cheers
Currently on a 2016 Cervelo S5 with the HED jet 6 wheels and DA Di2 and have ridden it in comparison to some newer bikes and it hits an incredible sweet spot between this earlier S3 and the newer disc brake bikes. Would LOVE to see an aero test between the earlier S5, the gen 2 S5 and a modern disc brake aero bike!
I’m still riding my SLC-SL! I love it. I also have the gun metal grey aluminum soloist team - this bike def feels a little harsh, but still certainly nice to ride with lower tire pressure. AND I have a now retired Cervelo Eyre road frame from I think 1997? I believe it was their first road frame with the iconic aero downtube
I don't comment much on GCN Videos, although I really enjoy the content. This one sparked some thoughts that, I think, are worth sharing. I currently own two Road Bikes; 1 2008 Cannondale Six13 1 with the stock Mavic Aluminum Wheelset but with upgraded 11 speed Ultegra and a 2009 Cervelo S3 with 10 spreed Ultegra and I feel the difference nearly immediately. I've been a cycling enthusiast most of my life from BMXs to Road Bikes and wanted to race when I was younger but the it was cost prohibitive for my parents. That said, the take away for me in this video is that sometimes the perfect bike is the one that you have. My only desire in a new road bike would be some of the modernizations that have occurred like hydraulic disc brakes and wireless/electronic shifting. I perfectly comfortable with the fully mechanical group sets and rim brakes that my bikes have but I just can't justify the expense of a bike that comes with the modern enhancements and the quality that I search for. I'm not one to buy a bike and trade it in two years later but the cost of bikes are like cars nowadays and my kids are far more important than my enthusiasm for the act and sport of riding my bicycle. Keep up the great and thought provoking content and it has been a pleasure seeing GCN grow over the years with the launch of GCN+ and all of the other stuff. GCN is like Bicycling Magazine and Velo News all wrapped into one - nostalgic 80s reference for me - and an additional sprinkle of go fix your bike because you can do it and hears how and what to know.
I sill own a P2SL aluminum Cervelo. With 23 mm tires and the aluminum frame. It's a beauty but its definitely not about comfort. I had to loosen the rear brake because the frame would flex and rub when pushing up a hill. Since then, I had bought a carbon endurance bike, such a joy to ride. As for the Cervelo it's on the trainer.
why not sharing the data? "5 sec quicker", without any context, is a bit lackluster. How long was the flat section and the climb? how much time difference in those? At least give us the length of the runs to put those 5 seconds into perspective. Apart from that, great video. I still rock a 2006 R3 and love it; I don't feel that I am missing out on anything. Beautiful machine. cervélo was really in it's own class back then.
One of the best GCN vids I've watched, thank you Simon & Dan + all in team GCN. Looks like cycling had it's carbon plate Nike 4% (cheater shoes) back in 2008 and the rest is very expensive fluff, erm tech
5 seconds up a climb is much more significant in road racing then how many seconds aero. Just think as a racer going 100 percent how many times you have gotten dropped by a few seconds up a climb and never recovered the front group. 5 seconds aero sitting in the draft is negligible because your only going 70 percent of effort. Only matters in solo breakaway or tt. From a practical standpoint lightweight still matters.
I rode the S3 for years! If didn’t crash it, I’d still be riding it. I loved it! I ride the F12 now and I feel it shares a lot, it was easier to overcome the loss.
Thank you for a good video. I think it illustrates the marginal gains that have been made. New, aero bike are slightly faster, but I still like my older bikes.
I’m a bit late to the party on this one - I’ve only just watched. You mention at the end about ‘if you have experience of similar comparisons’; I have one of Mario Cipollini’s 2005 Liquogas Blanchi FG Lites, a 2007 928 Lugged, a 2018 Specialissima and 2020 XR4 disc. They all ride remarkably differently. The FG Lite is all alloy with foam filled tubes. It’s surprisingly smooth - especially given the thickness of the seat stays - bespoke to the world’s best sprinter (at the time). It’s also monstrously fast, particularly under power. The 928 climbs like it’s riding on a cloud, but the handling is really twitchy - riding it up Alp d’Huez last year was one of my best ever rides. Riding it down before hand was one of my worst. The Specialissima is 6kg on the nose. It climbs like a stabbed rat and it picks up speed like nothing I’ve ridden - but it’s then a noticeable effort to keep it at speed. My favourite of the four? The XR4. It’s the heaviest - 2.2kg heavier than the Specialissima - and while it’s noticeable when the road heads upwards, it’s just so fast on the flat, and so stable on descents that I just find it the most confidence inspiring. It also gives me absolutely no question that shimano electric shifting is better than campy cable (I hate that the brake lever doesn’t shift gears on the campy) and disc brakes are worth every gram of the weight penalty vs rim brakes on carbon rims. Will I add either of Bianchis current flagships? Nah. Whilst I’d love a combination of the XR4 ride and the Specialissima weight, I just can’t see the value proposition.
I have a 2020 Emonda SLR with Disc Brakes, 55/42mm carbon wheels, aero handlebars, eTap. And a 2013 Litepeed L1R with Zipp 404/303 and mechanical DA 9100. I raced both of them this year, there is a zero percent difference between them in the real world. They're both really nice to ride. The biggest difference is the aesthetics of fully integrated front ends. Functionally, unless you are descending a mountain pass, they're the same.
I have a R3 SL. I’ll never forget the first rides. It just kept getting better. Smoothest I’ve ever been on. Like Simon in the video, it was hard to believe. That year SRAM Force was top of the SRAM road line, but have upgraded to Red, ZIPP 303s. Still ride it. Newer bikes aren’t that much better. How about a climbing bike video? I’d love to see the comparison. Pretty sure the bike in the background in the video portion of GV was a R3 SL.
I can absolutely tell the difference between my not-aero-at-all ‘15 Trek Emonda (rim brake mechanical 11s Ultegra), my “nodding in the direction of Aero” ‘22 Emonda (hydraulic disc 11s Ultegra), and my ‘23 Emonda (disc 12s Di2 Ultegra). The cleaner cockpit and newer frame/fork shapes-not to mention the superior wheelsets-not only feel faster, but my Strava segments seem to confirm it, particularly when I’m pretty sure I’m not in as good a shape as I was 3 years ago when the ‘15 was my primary ride. Aero gains are great gains!
if i ever buy a Cervélo the first thing i’m doing is taking a full-color professional photograph of it and asking Daniel Lloyd and Dr. Emma Pooley and Oscar Pujol (all of which were bicycle-riders of the Cervélo Test Team) to sign it. (Why not “sign the bike itself”? Because the-bike-needs-to-be-washed-eventually right? Their signatures will eventually wipe-off if i have them sign the-bike-itself).
I had a Cervelo aero frame and a Specialized Tarmac S Works. The Cervelo was noticeably faster on flats. My first impression was how I could feel the bike cut through the wind. The narrow head tube and the aero downtube were so different from the Tarmac, which had a wide head tube and thick downtube. I specd both bikes with identical parts and the Tarmac was just 1 lb. lighter. The S Works climbed better and felt more comfy as you could imagine.
This is actually a great business success story - small obscure Canadian brand changes the industry. The logo is, 15 years later, on the TdeF winners bike
Do you think aero bikes are better or worse than they used to be? 🚲🤔
No doubt better and more versatile. My 2019 Trek Madone SLR makes for a surprisingly comfortable Randonneuring bike, especially if the aerobars are installed. Speaking of Randonneuring, perhaps take a look into that scene as I don't think it's been covered on GCN. LEJOG is next July. I bet Hank would be up for it.
Worse, I wrench my own stuff, and for all of the nonsense involved to swap a bearing now, just to go a small bit faster, forget it.
Better for sure. All hidden cables, cleaner cock pits, Wheels meant for wider tires etc.
i owner of 2015 BMC TMR01... this bike still very fast and comfy. not many bikes was on market without changes for that long period.. BMC TMR01 was on market more than 5 years
Those bikes where aero by themselves, but did not consider the whole system of rider, bottle and so on as do modern ones. So in that sense and objectively, they where worse.
People don't want to give GCN props because it's so mainstream and popular, but the content of late has been fantastic. Still bringing fresh material on an arguably limited topic of discussion.
Honestly I find that so impressive. There's only so much you can cover with the topic of cycling. I won't be surprised if they hire a bunch of people to dedicate time to think up video ideas.
Ironically you nailed it Simon in closing comments. How much has the bike industry improved bikes in the last 12 years considering in particular, the massive price increase for the top of the line TdF level bikes? I owned a late model Cervelo aero bike with electric shifting and disc brakes briefly and sold it to default back to rim brakes and mechanical shifting with more round tube sections and feel nothing in speed difference for the kind of rides I do which is ride with fastest guys in town. The 5 seconds difference and thanks for doing the experiment 3 times...is noise in the cosmos...nebulous to those that don't race for a living.
Honestly the marketing of this stuff as a lure to upsell gullible consumers is pretty insulting to those that really understand the tech which I do as a mechanical engineer.
Will close and say, Simon this is one of the best episodes of GCN I have seen. Really well done.
Why? Because it is based on truth and not marketing in a global society now mired in false narratives. Thank you for this honest video and cheers from America.
Five seconds is the difference between making the Strava top 10 and not for a lot of my segments. I don't need a new aero bike for that. I just put aero bars and wheels on the old aero bike
Built up, my first Soloist SL was $12k in 2008. You get a much better bike for $14k now. That's not much inflation either...or a $4000 power meter which is what a crank based power meter cost back then🥴
As an engineer, you should also know that 5 seconds is probably 15(a short ride too) with matching fits🥳
@@veganpotterthevegan🥱
@@veganpotterthevegan🥱🥱
My 2009 Cervelo RS still a great bike. 5000 miles already this year. External cable routing, threaded BB, and rim brakes. Super easy to maintain, lightweight, fast, and compliant.
My 2013 Cervelo S2 is a dream to ride. Thanks for doing this video!!
Just bought a 2022 Giant TCR. Mechanical 105 and rim brakes. I love it!!!
Just goes to show that if all the "12% more efficient than previous model" and "saves 20 watts at 40kph" marketing claims were true, the newer bike should be practically riding itself with all those cumulative gains over the last 10 years.
It'd be about 95 to 115 watts faster. Lol.
I been saying the exact same thing for quite some time 😭😂
its like the ad for laundry detergent, washing whiter than white, nowadays the clothes disappear in the washing machine
My 2009 Cervelo S3 still wins crit races in 2023. 2010 HED Jet 6 black and 7970 10 speed Dura Ace Di2. The other people in the race are mostly riding 2020s S5s, Pinarello dogmas, Trek SLR7s and the like. I guess you could almost say it's not about the bike?
It's great to hear that your 2009 Cervèlo is still going strong! What has made you stick with it for your racing?
@@gcn A few reasons:
1. it was my race bike for a few years so only got ridden on Saturdays. Then a break from racing, then when I started again, it became a dedicated / flat / rolling terrain crit bike, only used once a week. It's 13 years old but only 1.5 years old in riding time.
2. It just works, and works well. Don't see the point in fixing something that isn't broken.
3. The plan is to paint it as part of my "learn to paint bike frames" journey, so I'll have a chance to update it aesthetically, keeping it fresh and customised to my taste. Not something I'd be willing to do with a similar bike of today that would cost around $10-15k!!
The reality is that YOU would be faster on the new bike. I have a Soloist SL. With a fully matched fit and similar depth wheels, even my 2022 Domane is faster so I really just leave my Soloist on the wall because the ride quality is total trash with nothing better about the Soloist to get me to ride it anymore.
@aarondcmedia9585 my Soloist SL was $12k in 2008. A new one is $13k and comes with a power meter and aero wheels that don't totally suck.
cool! I still have a steel road bike with downtube shifters that on one climb, I set a personal record at that time. I since then had ridden a carbon merida scultura (which I rode for traimning one summer) which was definetly lighter, more aero, and better. I could not beat my time. It felt sketchy to ride fast; it was just not as comfoatable to ride out of the saddle. Just saying that body position can be more important than the type of bike.
back in 2013 I managed to score a great deal on this specific frameset, and I've been riding it ever since. It's a fantastic bike!
They are superb!
My 2009 S3 is now my winter road bike, and I am talking winter as in Canada! … I replaced the original Campy 11 speed with the last Super Record 11speed … the original 404’s, replaced by 303’s … it’s still a near perfect ride experience … simply put, Cervelo was ahead of it all with aero evolution. Great video guys! Thanks!!
In late 2019, I was given by our shop a 2020 Specialized Tarmac Pro Force eTap with 50mm Roval Wheels 700x28c tubeless to ride for two years. It was a major redesign of the Tarmac, claiming more aero and yada yada yada. At right about 15.5lbs, the bike was very lightweight for a disc brake bike as well. I used a Stages power meter on that bike.
My main ride up to then was my fully bespoke Waterford R-33. A custom hand built frame using TruTemper S-3 Super Steel, an Enve 1.0 carbon fork, a Shimano R8000 Ultegra mechanical/rim brake group, and an assortment of lightweight alloy wheelsets. Weight was right at 17lbs including Speedplay USA Stainless Zeros, and a Specialized power meter by 4iiii.
I was offered to purchase the Tarmac well below dealer cost at the end of the two years.
I gave it back, because after looking at my data, I was just as slow on the Tarmac as I am on the Waterford, but the Waterford is much prettier, rides better, and is a lot easier to work on.
It’s still my number one bicycle.
Earlier this year, I rode my steel Waterford in the eTape San Antonio event (met The Jensie!), and at a refuel stop, a lot of people were complaining about the “rough pavement”. I mean REALLY complaining about the chip and seal pavement. I thought to myself “seriously?…I hardly noticed the pavement”
Then I looked at their bikes.. all super aero and probably super stiff carbon machines with deep carbon rims. This out of shape old man also dropped those much younger guys shortly after that stop, and didn’t see them again, so maybe they were just more out of shape than I was at the time.
I sold my 2016 S3 this spring, I had a bit to many bikes. That one was exactly 7kg and every time I rode it, I felt "shit this is such a fast bike" and it was an absolute joy to ride. Nice video!
Nice to see them compliment the rim brake for a change 😊
Hahaha we're not that mean really 😉
That s3 frame is an absolute beauty, so is the 10 speed sram red groupset. I still use a set of tdf edition of sram red 10 speed on my allez sprint and it’s just amazing
I recently got a almost new 2012 s5 VWD for $2000. And I love it
Proud pre-sale Cervelo owner here. I still love, and occasionally ride my RS! Still beautifully comfortable even at 15 years old.
I would really like to thank you guys for the information you provide. I have been cycling since February of 2023 and in that time my cross country coach passed away and we only got to ride together once. Since then, I inherited his trek madone gen 4 and have been coming to this channel for information. I have ridden that bike once and saw my time go significantly down from my first duathalon. So again I would like to thank you guys for being the coach I could not have when it comes to cycling.
Many thanks - excellent, I've a 2007 CerveloSLC but didn't fully unerstand the context of the bike with the other models. I've got some heavy Continental tyres, sacrilege - but comfy.
I was a mechanic at a Cervelo dealer back when the Soloist and the S3 were big deals. I regret not buying either one. The Soloist was one of the fastest bikes I had ever ridden at the time. Even just taking them out for little spins after assembly or tuning up a customers bike.
The Soloist is still sweet.
@@gk5891 if I can find an AL framed one, I would buy it.
Same I managed a high end shop. I bought the SLC-SL used 14lb bike
The soloist in the CSC livery is still one of my favourite looking bikes. I had to get one when it came out and could only afford to run it single speed for years. It’s now sat on my turbo trainer and it still gets my heart racing when I look at it. I wish there was room for such new and innovative bikes now days.
The best video/project to make with such a 2010s super aero bike is to update it with modern components that make real performance improvements: 1) modern light, aero wheels of max rim width for the bike, with modern fast tires of matching (i.e., a little thinner) width with latex tubes or tubeless, 2) aero cockpit, 3) waxed chain (marginal performance gain but huge maintenance improvement, and you have Silca onboard!). Then, compare it against a modern super-bike taking into account performance (flat, climb, brake), comfort, maintenance, and price.
I have an '07 Cervelo P2-SL Tri bike that I've converted to a road bike. I love it, it feels fast and smooth, and overall seems like the ultimate aluminum frame. Plus the airplane wing tube profiles, horizontal top tube, and rear wheel cutout looks awesome. It's built up with a Dura Ace R9100 groupset and pretty much everything bolted to the aluminum is carbon, including the non-adjustable carbon fiber seat post from a carbon Soloist frame.
That, no ancient, Cervélo Test Team video series was instrumental in my continued fascination and stoke with road cycling... thank you Dan!!!!!!
Me too! Beyond the peleton was very well done.
As an avowed Cervelo fanboy and owner of 2 of their bikes (2004 Super Prodigy, still a fun - and surprisingly light - bike to ride, and a 2022 Caledonia) I thank you for making this video. Super interesting comparison and it shows just how good even their 'older' bikes still are.
Simon, I'm just a little surprised that you didn't throw out a handful of zingers for Dan like...
"So Dan, if you're bike was so ahead of its time and so very tricked out, then why don't you have any real big wins to brag about ?"
The only reason I could see possible for not poking fun at Dan would be that you discussed it prior to the filming of this video and Dan said the only way he would loan his bike out was if you didn't bash him at all. All kidding aside, a great video Si ! You're upbeat attitude is absolutely infectious! 😎
Own the 2009 Cervelo S2 - the one Dan rode in Qatar. Rode it for 14 years, now it's on my Kickr. It's been better than almost all my friends bikes for such a long time until just recently. This year, got a Cervelo Soloist. It's marginally heavier but so much more efficient. Even on climbs, it throws itself up the road. It's also vastly more comfortable and discs are night and day better than rim (hate to say it). Still love my S2 to death. It's not all about weight anymore.
The next gen S2/S3 is indeed so much better than the example on the video.
I put 10s of thousands of miles on my 2010 S2. Bought it new with Ultegra for $2500 (close out deal). It might be the best bike I’ve owned
@@rkan2 actually the opposite. They got heavier and quality went down they went to China made
I bought a 2009 RS last year. It always felt special. Now I know why. Thanks for the video! ❤
It gets a complete rebuild right now and will be back on the road soon
I own a 06 Soloist carbon , with 105 and aluminum wheels , 7.4kg , and the bike is amazing
I’m sure it would be hard to get hold of but this video makes me wonder about a similar test of Dan’s bike against one of the equivalent professional spec bikes of the same era to see how far ahead of the curve it really was!
I’m openly bias as I was involved with Cervelo in the early days .. First with the Soloist (Alu) and then the Soloist Carbon. R.2.5 with red tint Zipp 202’s for climbing was a dream. Thanks to Tom V I had the very first 58cm Soloist SLC-SL out of the mould which took me to many titles and including Nationals. Adding P3 to the stable line up with Zipp Sub 9 also gave me many ITT and TTT wins. Capped always with Castelli kit and later development of Cuore with Hugo which today I saw crossed the line first in Paris in the Womens Road race with Team USA … wow, what fun era I’ve had.
Morning SR, as usual great content and nostalgia. thank for being a voice for cycling.
Built mine with the first SRAM Red mechanical, DuraAce C24 wheels and other light components. Crazy light bike and super comfortable. Still ride mine all the time all these years later. No creeks it is still a great bike. Just about manages 25mm tyres…
Great video GCN! I've never owned a Cervelo, but I definitely recognised the soloist as a bit of a phenomenon at the time, so it's pretty good to see how well it's stood the test of time! Very interesting to hear Dan Lloyd's comments regarding the bike too.
Great throwback on start of the aero bikes. I still have my first Cervelo aero bike, the SLC-SL from 2005 I think. Riding is also about how the bike makes you feel and Cervelo aero bikes adds that extra something to make you ride those extra miles. Just love it.
Wow! Do you still ride the SLC-SL?
@@gcn I got an S5 about 10 years back but stll have my SLC-SL. Just couldnt let it go.
I still ride my slc-sl which I got in 2009 on sale. I'm still as passionate about it as I was then. It's been subject to some upgrades, di2, aero handlebar etc. Great bike!
@@gcnI just got a mint condition soloist slc sl which I’m building up with dura ace 9100 rim brake mechanical group and Enve 4.5. Superior braking and I should be able to get 25-28 tyres to soften the ride.
I still ride my 2009 S1 with a lot of the original components (some are getting switched out this year as things have worn out) but I am still the fastest on descents. It rides beautifully, and why would one change out perfection. Sure if I had 13k to drop, I would snag a brand new, top Cervelo, but then again, I am happy!
If you are the original owner and still have proof of purchase or registered the bike back then... Go check your seatpost for cracks under the collar. If it is cracked, you can get a new bike/frame from Cervelo ;). I got a choice of an S2 frame, S2 full bike or S3 frame for 600e back in 2016.
I regard this as the optimal year for a road bike as it was just before all the cables went in to the tubes and handlebars along with disc brake wheels.
It rides totally different to all of the first generation S1/2/2!
The S3 has a more classic geometry which makes the bike much more beautiful. It's a wonderful bike to look at. ❤
Also, interestingly (to me, anyway) is that aero appears more important than weight. Even though the Canyon is heavier/beefier, it's modern aero components are still faster than the lightweight Cervelo. Fun video. Especially loved the interview w/ Dan at the end. Thanks, guys!
I had the Soloist, the Soloist Carbon and the S3. All unbelievably quick and ahead of the game. The SC, however, was unridable over 40 miles, for me. The S3, was much friendlier to the budding amateur. However, i achieved most of my success on the R3-SL.
😊have a 2006 cervelo soloist. Done over 50k. The frame sadly is now completely shot and is more wobbly than a blancmange. But I still love it.
Still got my 2012 R5 VWD which I’ve owned since new and rides beautifully, and a fantastic 2009 RS which I picked up off eBay for 800 quid. The RS is so sublimely comfortable that it’s my go-to bike now, over my 2022 Giant TCR.
Thanks Simon.. a great history lesson for those of us who weren’t into cycling at the time.. and some good Dan Lloyd banter!
Kudos to you, that was excellent. I'm still riding my 2006 Soloist Carbon. I can't bring myself to sell it. The dura ace still shifts buttery smooth.
I bought this bike 2nd hand last year (cheaply). If it was good enough for pros 13-14 years ago, then it'll be more than good enough for me now. Loving it!
I bought mine at the end of 2019 (S3 Norwegian Edition). Still amazing at this day and Im still loving it!.
You can say exactly the same of steel bikes from the 80s or 90s.....Good enough for the pros then, good enough for me now...
Didn't know there was a Norwegian Edition,@@BubaQuintana
Weeeeeell, I'm not likely to go back to downtube shifting,@@peterwillson1355;-)
@@JakobThusgaardSpecial made for Hushovd's WC title in 2010!
Love to see it! Great teamwork and congrats on the W!
Dan's bike looks almost identical to my S5. ~2010 era road bikes are such classics.
I still have the S2, not mentioned, which I bought new in 2009 and was the last one available in the UK so probably 2008 or 2009. It was produced somewhere between the Soloist and S3. I cleaned up the front end cable issues mentioned by installing Sram Etap. It's a great ride but quite stiff and I regularly enjoy riding it during Spring and Autumn.
At 13:50 I was reminded how happy I am that Si didn't chuck on some of Lloydy's old white shorts for this test...
would love to see a series of different changes being made to this bike to modernise it and see what makes the biggest differences & whether its possible to close the gap between modern and retro (first step, lose the tubs!)
Still riding-and hanging with the youngsters-my 2009 S2. Ridden many newer bikes over the years since, but always went back to the S2. Fitted with SRAM AXS mech 2 years ago. Should be good to go for many more years!
My carbon soloist with Sram red mechanical and Zipp 404 tubulars is still bloody fast. And looks duper cool!
Cracking looking bike, that S3. I think the cable routing is clever, certainly neater since it lacks the Shimano washing line which STILL featured then. Super nice!
That was fun! Legend Thor Hushovd of course also took the rainbow jersey on one of these babies back in 2010… I have the privilege of owning a Cervelo S3 from 2015, and now also a 2023 Scott Foil RC…The Scott is better at everything I would say, except speed… Crazy how fast that S3 is, even by today's standards…
Just like in car racing, you can have the best car and still lose to a better driver. Sweet ride Dan.
I LOVE my 2010 Cervelo S3. Its light, it’s Aero and still looks great.
Love that Lloydy was so humble about how his bike helped him. He's a very decent rider by any standards. But it is true that modern bikes are better. Sort of at least. Blooming interesting video. TY:)
I have and ride two road bikes, SL6 Tarmac and a 2009 S2 Cervelo. Both bikes are fitted with good carbon clincher wheels. I ride at the same cadence on both bikes, the S2 is always in a bigger gear than the Tarmac.
Really good video. I have a rim brake Spesh sl6 which I love riding and inspite of my mates banging on about disc brakes- I can’t justify spending £5-6k for not much gain?
Also think it looks much better than modern bikes
That's awesome! Don't listen to your buddies, they are just jealous of the bond you have with you bike 😉
I had an S3 with full SRAM Red that I sold when I gave up racing. A huge regret... what I would do to get that bike back for my Sunday road rides. Killer on the flats and descents and climbed like a dream. One of the best bikes I ever owned.
What this video showed (to me) is that in the last decades marginal gains + aero makes you faster by very little.
At 43 I'm all about ease of maintenance, comfort and when going uphill, I'll take my lightweight 2019 Trek Émonda SL5 rim brake any day over an aero bike.
I'm not aiming to beat anyone but my own records 😅.
This was a good one Simon, especially being on Dan's Bike . Let's do your bike next👍🏼
Good wheel choice there,Si. I have the same exact set on my 2012 R5 VWD. So nice and light for sure.
Just bought a S3 today pick up Saturday ,still looks stunning ,and rim brake ,bike industry has definitely gone backwards.
How’s it riding. I’m looking for a size 51 but can’t find
I think that yes older bikes definitely hold there place, BUT new bike technology is just so dang cool😍
I still have this bike! Don’t ride it as much as my disc di2 canyon anymore but it’s still beautiful to look at and take out every now and then
The „freewheeling away“ is exactly the feeling I have in sportives when there are people on older round tube bikes with shallow wheels.
Love the insights. I just bought a 2nd hand 2017 R5 rim break frame. Cervelo dream coming true… :D
LOVED this video. Definitely a Dan Lloyd super fan (and a Si one too!) so just an absolute treat to watch. Would love to see more comparison tests. Maybe a bonus one can be to see how many pull-ups Dan can do with the 6.6k added 😂
THIS is one of the greats! 2 ex pros talking shop. Love it!!!
Brilliant film Si and such a good link to why we all Dan fans
Seeing that first Cervello TT bike, UCI thank you, many many Thanks!!!!
2012 S5 owner, this video will give me mental strength now while riding😂
Ive just bought a new 2024 propel .... and can't help but look over to my 2009 tcr advanced and think of how much lighter it is
I own both the Cervelo S3 and the RS. Between the two of them, I was convinced that I could never buy a faster ,more comfortable bike. This attitude kept me on these bikes right up to 2022. That year I spent a few months in Girona, Spain and experienced my first "modern" bike (a Basso Astra with Sram Force Etap). I rode the Basso from town to Rocacorba and back. Despite the increased weight of the Basso, I rode a bit faster and far more comfortably than on the Cervelos. Like your experience, Si, it wasn't significantly faster but it still was faster.....and at least a kilo heavier. What!!!!!
So now, I ride all three and appreciate each for it's strengths. The Cervelos still feel fast, stable and light but the Basso remains the faster (but heavier) choice. I still ride the Cervelo when climbing and it's never let me down.
Although many items in the test are not controlled like you said it was a very good comparison. I compare my MT bike to my road bike just to have data to show my wife and state my case that I need a new TT bike. I am also one of the 4 fans of Dan. But I like all presenters on GCN. Cheers
Currently on a 2016 Cervelo S5 with the HED jet 6 wheels and DA Di2 and have ridden it in comparison to some newer bikes and it hits an incredible sweet spot between this earlier S3 and the newer disc brake bikes. Would LOVE to see an aero test between the earlier S5, the gen 2 S5 and a modern disc brake aero bike!
Correction between the earlier S3 and the other bikes
Exactly, the rimbrake aero bikes around 2015-2018 were peak road bike, same speed as the latest modells recently, but lighter and cheaper.
I’m still riding my SLC-SL! I love it. I also have the gun metal grey aluminum soloist team - this bike def feels a little harsh, but still certainly nice to ride with lower tire pressure. AND I have a now retired Cervelo Eyre road frame from I think 1997? I believe it was their first road frame with the iconic aero downtube
Me too every week. Loads of upgrades over the years and lovingly maintained. Got me round a few Ironman courses and still turns heads.
Love cervelo but it’s all about the R series for me. Those thin chain stays make for a great comfortable and fast bike.
Imagining Lloydy watching this video slightly teary eyed. Mainly about the size of Si's glasses!
I don't comment much on GCN Videos, although I really enjoy the content. This one sparked some thoughts that, I think, are worth sharing.
I currently own two Road Bikes; 1 2008 Cannondale Six13 1 with the stock Mavic Aluminum Wheelset but with upgraded 11 speed Ultegra and a 2009 Cervelo S3 with 10 spreed Ultegra and I feel the difference nearly immediately. I've been a cycling enthusiast most of my life from BMXs to Road Bikes and wanted to race when I was younger but the it was cost prohibitive for my parents. That said, the take away for me in this video is that sometimes the perfect bike is the one that you have. My only desire in a new road bike would be some of the modernizations that have occurred like hydraulic disc brakes and wireless/electronic shifting. I perfectly comfortable with the fully mechanical group sets and rim brakes that my bikes have but I just can't justify the expense of a bike that comes with the modern enhancements and the quality that I search for. I'm not one to buy a bike and trade it in two years later but the cost of bikes are like cars nowadays and my kids are far more important than my enthusiasm for the act and sport of riding my bicycle.
Keep up the great and thought provoking content and it has been a pleasure seeing GCN grow over the years with the launch of GCN+ and all of the other stuff.
GCN is like Bicycling Magazine and Velo News all wrapped into one - nostalgic 80s reference for me - and an additional sprinkle of go fix your bike because you can do it and hears how and what to know.
I bought a S3 disc back in 2018. Love it!
I bought a 2015 Cervelo S3 to be re fit with new Ultegra, 4iiii PM and Winspace wheels...incredible.
I sill own a P2SL aluminum Cervelo. With 23 mm tires and the aluminum frame. It's a beauty but its definitely not about comfort. I had to loosen the rear brake because the frame would flex and rub when pushing up a hill. Since then, I had bought a carbon endurance bike, such a joy to ride.
As for the Cervelo it's on the trainer.
why not sharing the data? "5 sec quicker", without any context, is a bit lackluster. How long was the flat section and the climb? how much time difference in those? At least give us the length of the runs to put those 5 seconds into perspective.
Apart from that, great video. I still rock a 2006 R3 and love it; I don't feel that I am missing out on anything. Beautiful machine. cervélo was really in it's own class back then.
I agree with you colonel, I would have loved to see the actual numbers to give it all some perspective. Great video all the same.
One of the best GCN vids I've watched, thank you Simon & Dan + all in team GCN. Looks like cycling had it's carbon plate Nike 4% (cheater shoes) back in 2008 and the rest is very expensive fluff, erm tech
If there is a remake of this rim Cervélo S3, i would Buy it!
I would certainly love to see that!
There's plenty of used ones
5 seconds up a climb is much more significant in road racing then how many seconds aero. Just think as a racer going 100 percent how many times you have gotten dropped by a few seconds up a climb and never recovered the front group. 5 seconds aero sitting in the draft is negligible because your only going 70 percent of effort. Only matters in solo breakaway or tt. From a practical standpoint lightweight still matters.
I rode the S3 for years! If didn’t crash it, I’d still be riding it. I loved it! I ride the F12 now and I feel it shares a lot, it was easier to overcome the loss.
I still love being out on my 2005 soloist, with black anodized finish. Especially now I have managed to squeeze 25c tyres into it.
Thank you for a good video. I think it illustrates the marginal gains that have been made. New, aero bike are slightly faster, but I still like my older bikes.
That's the most important thing! What bike do you like the most 🙌 Ride the bike that makes you happy!
I’m a bit late to the party on this one - I’ve only just watched. You mention at the end about ‘if you have experience of similar comparisons’;
I have one of Mario Cipollini’s 2005 Liquogas Blanchi FG Lites, a 2007 928 Lugged, a 2018 Specialissima and 2020 XR4 disc. They all ride remarkably differently.
The FG Lite is all alloy with foam filled tubes. It’s surprisingly smooth - especially given the thickness of the seat stays - bespoke to the world’s best sprinter (at the time). It’s also monstrously fast, particularly under power.
The 928 climbs like it’s riding on a cloud, but the handling is really twitchy - riding it up Alp d’Huez last year was one of my best ever rides. Riding it down before hand was one of my worst.
The Specialissima is 6kg on the nose. It climbs like a stabbed rat and it picks up speed like nothing I’ve ridden - but it’s then a noticeable effort to keep it at speed.
My favourite of the four? The XR4. It’s the heaviest - 2.2kg heavier than the Specialissima - and while it’s noticeable when the road heads upwards, it’s just so fast on the flat, and so stable on descents that I just find it the most confidence inspiring.
It also gives me absolutely no question that shimano electric shifting is better than campy cable (I hate that the brake lever doesn’t shift gears on the campy) and disc brakes are worth every gram of the weight penalty vs rim brakes on carbon rims.
Will I add either of Bianchis current flagships? Nah. Whilst I’d love a combination of the XR4 ride and the Specialissima weight, I just can’t see the value proposition.
I have a 2020 Emonda SLR with Disc Brakes, 55/42mm carbon wheels, aero handlebars, eTap. And a 2013 Litepeed L1R with Zipp 404/303 and mechanical DA 9100. I raced both of them this year, there is a zero percent difference between them in the real world. They're both really nice to ride. The biggest difference is the aesthetics of fully integrated front ends. Functionally, unless you are descending a mountain pass, they're the same.
Remember being seven or eight seeing Thor Hushovd winning TDF stages on this bike. Being norwegian that bike has a special place in my heart!
I have a R3 SL. I’ll never forget the first rides. It just kept getting better. Smoothest I’ve ever been on. Like Simon in the video, it was hard to believe. That year SRAM Force was top of the SRAM road line, but have upgraded to Red, ZIPP 303s. Still ride it. Newer bikes aren’t that much better. How about a climbing bike video? I’d love to see the comparison. Pretty sure the bike in the background in the video portion of GV was a R3 SL.
I would have to see Si AND Dan riding these bikes together. Lovely video though. 😊
I can absolutely tell the difference between my not-aero-at-all ‘15 Trek Emonda (rim brake mechanical 11s Ultegra), my “nodding in the direction of Aero” ‘22 Emonda (hydraulic disc 11s Ultegra), and my ‘23 Emonda (disc 12s Di2 Ultegra). The cleaner cockpit and newer frame/fork shapes-not to mention the superior wheelsets-not only feel faster, but my Strava segments seem to confirm it, particularly when I’m pretty sure I’m not in as good a shape as I was 3 years ago when the ‘15 was my primary ride.
Aero gains are great gains!
if i ever buy a Cervélo the first thing i’m doing is taking a full-color professional photograph of it and asking Daniel Lloyd and Dr. Emma Pooley and Oscar Pujol (all of which were bicycle-riders of the Cervélo Test Team) to sign it. (Why not “sign the bike itself”? Because the-bike-needs-to-be-washed-eventually right? Their signatures will eventually wipe-off if i have them sign the-bike-itself).
Don't forget the kit!!
I had a Cervelo aero frame and a Specialized Tarmac S Works. The Cervelo was noticeably faster on flats. My first impression was how I could feel the bike cut through the wind. The narrow head tube and the aero downtube were so different from the Tarmac, which had a wide head tube and thick downtube. I specd both bikes with identical parts and the Tarmac was just 1 lb. lighter. The S Works climbed better and felt more comfy as you could imagine.
This was an interesting history lesson!
Yet another win for weight in the aero vs weight for climbing.
Like to see Ollie take Dan's bike up some climbs
Fascinating idea for a comparison and great video. Would have been interested to see the exact times of each run, average speed etc…
This is actually a great business success story - small obscure Canadian brand changes the industry. The logo is, 15 years later, on the TdeF winners bike