i apologize if this has been asked before. i did a search and couldn't find an answer specific to my question.

if the S3 was still offered by Cervelo and it was the same price as the S5 Team, which would you choose? i realize some people might pick the S5 because its newer looking, maybe a better way to ask the question, is which bike would you choose for an upcoming race?

 thanks for your input.

 

S3. Looks much better and was used to win on grand tours

If the S5 is so good, why do I keep seeing R3's under the pro teams even on the TT's (Peter Stetina Tour de Romandie 2012 stage 5)

Has an S5 been near the front yet on a grand tour?

S3

S5 for sure

Stephen:

Has an S5 been near the front yet on a grand tour?

 

I'm pretty sure Thor Hushovd was riding an S5 while wearing yellow at last year's TdF

besides, I'm pretty sure none of us here are competing in a grand tour anytime soon, so why should that matter?

 

 

Is the carbon layup on the S3 not more like the S5 VWD? So, does that complicate it. I know I love my S3, and really like the S5, but, I would not ever sell the S3 for an S5 Team.

gimme_some:

I'm pretty sure none of us here are competing in a grand tour anytime soon, so why should that matter?

 True but we all buy Cervelos cos they are good enough to do that if we ever wanted to 8-). mine is used on fast club rides and I'm beginning to do Time Trials on it, so the ability to go fast and handle well is appreciated

I think from the quick S5 team ride I've had that its stiffer (didnt notice any better aero but it was a short ride) and maybe not as comfortable on longer rides. if I was going for a pure TT bike maybe the S5, but for comfort, handling, looks, weight. In short the S3 is a much better all rounder than the S5

It seems like to me it depends on the stage.  The reason I think some guys don't ride the S5 because it depends on the stage.  Telansky rode the S5 for I think most of the stages in the race they just ran.  If its a mountain stage or TT  not a flat TT I think some riders might see the benifits of R vs S.  I love my S5 I have never ridden the S3 but they are both great bikes I don't think you could go wrong with either.  I live in a fairly flat area with a few climbs of less than 2 miles.  I only ride long climbs 7 to 16 miles a couple times a year when I go out of town so the S5 made sense to me.  I will tell you one thing I had an S1 before and it for me anyway has been a huge jump.  If your looking for weight then the S5 is not the way to go it is alittle heavy and I think the S3 is alittle lighter.  JMHO good luck on your choice.

Def S3.

eyecycle:

Is the carbon layup on the S3 not more like the S5 VWD? So, does that complicate it.

Yes, but what does that matter? Layup is just a tool for the engineers to get the frame properties they want. It's the resulting frame properties we ride, not the layup.

I loved my S3, and it's hella fast, but I'm just a littel faster on my S5. I like faster. ;-)

I agree its about faster. S5 consistently faster in testing. Love my S2. Love my S5 more.

d_1234:

eyecycle:

Is the carbon layup on the S3 not more like the S5 VWD? So, does that complicate it.

Yes, but what does that matter? Layup is just a tool for the engineers to get the frame properties they want. It's the resulting frame properties we ride, not the layup

Yah. S5 Team is a more advanced bike than the S3. Bettah.

Interesting article in the most recent Bicycling magazine by none other the Jens Voigt: despite all the advancements in technology over the last two decades, only two riders in the most recent Paris-Nice TT beat Sean Kelly's time over the same course 20 years ago. Voigt's conclusion: the bike basically doesn't matter, the engine makes the difference. The differences between the S3 and the S5 most likely do not translate to differences in a road race with the intrinsic effects of being in the pack and tactics etc. Keep working hard and buy whatever bike takes your fancy (depending on trial rides and fitting).

S3! When I got mine this winter, I had the option of getting the S5, but when I saw that the LBS had an S3 frame hanging from the ceiling of his shop, I couldn't resist. The shape is classic, the aero benefits are good enough for me . This is the bike that got me into Cervelos in the first place! I would love to see them bring this frame back into production.