I finally going to get a carbon bike and I have wanted the Cervelo RS 51 cm, although I have never ridden one. I am 5'6",120lbs, and currently ride a 51cm Quintana Roo Caliente. The guy at the bike shop was trying to convince me to buy and Orbea Onix. I would also like to know how you think these bikes compare and what other bikes you all recommend. Thank you for your input.

don't let the shop guy steer you toward one brand. he may be right but after all it's your bike and you should get whatever is best for you. test ride the bikes your interested in.

the RS is super versitile and everyone i know who has one loves theirs. a local physical trainer and professional bike fitter i ride with rides an RS.

personally i ride the S1 b/c it's stiff and a great ride. it's nice not having to worry about all of the carbon problems. set up with the same components it's only like a lb heavier than carbons. i'm small though and never count grams and all that.

test ride, test ride, test ride!! get fitted for size before you take it home. hopefully you can get to a cervelo dealer in person.

Hi,

I recently went from an 07 Orbea Onix to a 09 Cervelo RS.  The RS is lighter, stiffer and more comfortable than the Onix.  The Onix was a decent enough ride, but the RS is in a different league.  If you've got the dosh to build it up with good components, I would have no hesitation in going for the RS.

 

Agree with John about one thing. Don't buy any bike without test riding it and multiple other bikes for comparisons. Don't buy based on reputation of a particular company or advice of others.

Test ride, test ride, test ride:
Before you test ride the RS, ask the shop to fit you for the correct stem length.
Ride the RS with your saddle, and pedals. If you have a great set of wheels, use your wheels.
Also, test ride with the OEM wheels.

 Well I'm one of those that is buying a bike without test riding it. I ride a Specialized SL2 S-Works and a great bike it is but a little too twitchy for my liking. Now I'm putting together a Cervelo SLC-SL and on the finishing stages without having test riding one before hand. When I first got my Specialized I couldn't decide between it and a Cervelo RS-SL I think it was or something like that. Anyhow I went with the Specialized because of it being very snappy when I test drove it. Now that I have had it for 8 months, I decided I wanted a Cervelo.

Not liking the 2010 models I decided to buy a 51cm SLC-SL frame, with Campy Record/Super Record 11 components and put it together myself. Will I like the ride?? Well that remains to be seen but from all that I read before taking the plunge is that it's a great bike. I only hope so and if I don't like it then I'll probably sell it and look for something else. What's the moral of the story? The moral of the story is that go with what you really want. If you like a particular bike but end up going with something else, that other bike may still be in the back of your mind. For me I wanted the Specialized first and if I would have gone with the Cervelo the Specialized would have been on the back of my head.

Now that I know what the S-Works is all about I can happily move on. Get the bike that you really want and don't worry too much about the ride and this and that. I've come to the conclusion that they all offer something that the other one does not. If the SLC is a very stiff bike like everyone says then I'm sure won't be as smooth as my Specialized but I'm hoping that it's not as twitchy on the descents either. I guess you win some you lose some. Is there such thing as a perfect bike? Maybe there is and hope to find it one day. I also went with the Specialized and SLC because of the bling factor ;-) Well hope this makes since.

I agree with all the comments suggesting test rides. I rode a lot of bikes before getting on an S1 for the first time. I knew right away this was the bike for me. It got my adrenaline going more than any other bike and put a smile on my face at the first power stroke out of the saddle. I'm not saying the S1 is the best bike in the world, it was just better than the other bikes I rode and I knew I would have a lot of fun with it. Also, if you get a sense from the bike shop that test rides are a hassle to them or they would rather not allow it, then you're in the wrong shop. Makes sure you buy from a shop that encourages test rides and seems objective to brands and more focused on what you are looking for in a bike.

OC Socal:

 Well I'm one of those that is buying a bike without test riding it. I ride a Specialized SL2 S-Works and a great bike it is but a little too twitchy for my liking. Now I'm putting together a Cervelo SLC-SL and on the finishing stages without having test riding one before hand. When I first got my Specialized I couldn't decide between it and a Cervelo RS-SL I think it was or something like that. Anyhow I went with the Specialized because of it being very snappy when I test drove it. Now that I have had it for 8 months, I decided I wanted a Cervelo.

Not liking the 2010 models I decided to buy a 51cm SLC-SL frame, with Campy Record/Super Record 11 components and put it together myself. Will I like the ride?? Well that remains to be seen but from all that I read before taking the plunge is that it's a great bike. I only hope so and if I don't like it then I'll probably sell it and look for something else. What's the moral of the story? The moral of the story is that go with what you really want. If you like a particular bike but end up going with something else, that other bike may still be in the back of your mind. For me I wanted the Specialized first and if I would have gone with the Cervelo the Specialized would have been on the back of my head.

Now that I know what the S-Works is all about I can happily move on. Get the bike that you really want and don't worry too much about the ride and this and that. I've come to the conclusion that they all offer something that the other one does not. If the SLC is a very stiff bike like everyone says then I'm sure won't be as smooth as my Specialized but I'm hoping that it's not as twitchy on the descents either. I guess you win some you lose some. Is there such thing as a perfect bike? Maybe there is and hope to find it one day. I also went with the Specialized and SLC because of the bling factor ;-) Well hope this makes since.

 

Ooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrr, you could take a test ride and save yourself a lot of time and money. OC Socal, you owe me 3 minutes and 34 seconds of my life back!

AndyM:

Hi,

I recently went from an 07 Orbea Onix to a 09 Cervelo RS.  The RS is lighter, stiffer and more comfortable than the Onix.  The Onix was a decent enough ride, but the RS is in a different league.  If you've got the dosh to build it up with good components, I would have no hesitation in going for the RS.

What he said (unless it is Andy MacDowell, then what she said).

Like others said, you could test ride it, but that is not always as easy as everyone makes it out to be. I think you will hear a lot more people raving about the RS than the Onix.

 

supermark:

OC Socal:

 Well I'm one of those that is buying a bike without test riding it. I ride a Specialized SL2 S-Works and a great bike it is but a little too twitchy for my liking. Now I'm putting together a Cervelo SLC-SL and on the finishing stages without having test riding one before hand. When I first got my Specialized I couldn't decide between it and a Cervelo RS-SL I think it was or something like that. Anyhow I went with the Specialized because of it being very snappy when I test drove it. Now that I have had it for 8 months, I decided I wanted a Cervelo.

Not liking the 2010 models I decided to buy a 51cm SLC-SL frame, with Campy Record/Super Record 11 components and put it together myself. Will I like the ride?? Well that remains to be seen but from all that I read before taking the plunge is that it's a great bike. I only hope so and if I don't like it then I'll probably sell it and look for something else. What's the moral of the story? The moral of the story is that go with what you really want. If you like a particular bike but end up going with something else, that other bike may still be in the back of your mind. For me I wanted the Specialized first and if I would have gone with the Cervelo the Specialized would have been on the back of my head.

Now that I know what the S-Works is all about I can happily move on. Get the bike that you really want and don't worry too much about the ride and this and that. I've come to the conclusion that they all offer something that the other one does not. If the SLC is a very stiff bike like everyone says then I'm sure won't be as smooth as my Specialized but I'm hoping that it's not as twitchy on the descents either. I guess you win some you lose some. Is there such thing as a perfect bike? Maybe there is and hope to find it one day. I also went with the Specialized and SLC because of the bling factor ;-) Well hope this makes since.

 

Ooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrr, you could take a test ride and save yourself a lot of time and money. OC Socal, you owe me 3 minutes and 34 seconds of my life back!

LOL...have some carrot juice. I think that'll add a couple of hours.

I work at a shop that not only has cervelo but trek, pinarello, colnago, orbea and bmc.  I can tell you that all of them ride great.  They are all different though.  Test ride all that you can.  Buy what works for you.  I have a Orbea Onix and a R3 sl.  The cervelo is stiffer and feels quick.  The orbea is better for the long haul.

Agree. I'm not that familiar with all the different Orbea models, but if you're looking at an RS, remember that this bike has completely different geometry to any other Cervélo. Specifically, it has a longer head tube and longer seat stays. This means that the handlebars can't go as low and the ride should be more comfortable. If this is the kind of geometry you want, competitors would include the Giant Defy series, Specialized Roubaix series and I'm pretty sure Trek has a similar one.

Test ride, then I am sure you will get an RS.

jbtaylor:

I work at a shop that not only has cervelo but trek, pinarello, colnago, orbea and bmc. 

Careful what you say, you may get a marriage proposal;-)

By the way, are you single? I have this friend who is really great and........

 I agree with the other replies. Get the one 'you' like and, for the most part, disregard most of the input from the expert at your bike shop.