I had been wanting to ride the vaunted Cervelo S1 for some time. Taking advantage of the Cervelo two-day test ride program, I was able to get quality saddle-time. I developed a good sense of the S1.In short: the bike is everything they say it is.
Setting the Stage
I am in the market for a new frame/fork set. I am looking for something to race and to ride the bike leg of the occasional triathlon. In terms of racing, it will mostly be crits, unless I can find some road races in my area.Because of the racing, I am not considering a carbon frame. I know that I will crash while racing. I cannot afford to replace a carbon frame. Alumimum makes good sense, but how will it ride? Will the unforgiving nature of the material be worth it?
I hoped the S1 would provide stiffness and crisp handling, without beating me up. The last time I rode an aluminum frame was in 1991. I expected that a lot had changed since then, but I did not expect that long-ago experience to influence my findings in any way.
I am currently riding a 1997 Bianchi Veloce, a steel frame in a near-classic geometry that weighs ~19 pounds. It is a compliant companion, very friendly on long journeys. I expected that moving from steel to aluminum would have a high impact on my experience. Differing materials and geometries would certainly highlight characteristics of both rides, creating fecund environment for compare/contrast commentary.
I picked up the bike from the shop on Friday, returned it on Sunday, and in-between rode 100+ miles on the frame. I rode (roughly) 15 miles on familiar roads and hills on Friday, making sure the fit was adequate and familiarizing myself with the componentry. On Saturday I rode 87 hilly miles on a mix of familiar and unfamiliar roads.
Review
The ~16.5 pound S1 gave me a ride experience that was both thrilling and satisfying. It met my expectations for stiffness, and it exceeded my expectations for handling. As to comfort, I was surprise by how well I felt after my extended ride.Stiffness and Efficiency
My ride had well over 5,000 feet of climbing that was mostly rolling hills, with the occasional steep-and-long climb. There were a few areas of straight-and-flat to try some sprints.
In both climbing and sprinting I had the satisfying sensation that my rear wheel was trying to sneak under me. As I applied pressure to the pedals, the rear of the bike leaped forward. It was similar to unexpectedly hitting the throttle on a motorcycle—when you feel the machine jump forward under you.
That's a nice feeling with a bicycle.
Power, when standing on the pedals, was transfered. Rather than slogging up a hill, standing was an opportunity to increase cadence and maintain it. The bike wanted to go. The only limit was me. How hard could I push myself? How long could I endure? The equipment was not going to let me down.
The S1 gives you confidence to challenge yourself. You get responsiveness for your efforts, and the feedback is unambiguous.
Handling
The S1 is responsive, but not twitchy. It responds to your commands, but it does not exceed them. While the bike's efficiency personified would say: "Come on, I can do more, allonz-y!" The bike's handling would say: "This is what you want; this is what you get."
The bike turns on a rail, not shying from line you choose, but it does not try to jump the rail to a more aggressive line. I would have liked to have taken some time in a parking lot doing turn after turn, learning its limits. I suspect that it is like a sports car in that the limits of my skill and fear would be reached before I reached the S1's limitations.
The biggest surprise was with descending. I did not expect the S1 to be as smooth as it was. It rivaled my Bianchi in this respect. It was never twitchy, nor was it sluggish. It was balanced and predictable—something you want at 40+ miles per hour.
Comfort
The S1 is aluminum. I expected to suffer. I didn't—for the most part.
During the rides I did not shy away from road chatter, minor holes, bumps, and general debris. I wanted to know what this bike would feel like in the long-term. When I hit a bump, would I feel my spine compress? Would I be launched from the seat? Risking a flat was the least of my worries.
After 87 miles the only issue I had was with my pinkies, which got numb from the road shocks. I consider the reachy-ness of my position to be a contributing factor. I know that the 3T aluminum bars likely contributed as well. The bars were well-padded, but I still experienced the tingle.
The rest of me, however, did not have that "been through the wash cycle" soreness I have heard about (and experienced). I did not get numb-tush, nor did I experience any shocks. In fact, the rear of the bike seemed to dampen the worst of the shocks.
During the last ten miles of my ride I thought about how remarkable it is that Cervelo struck a balance between material stiffness and compliance. I was tired from the effort, but I was not abused by the ride. That is a testament to the engineering prowess of the Cervelo team.
Summary
The bottom line is that I will buy an S1 frame. I was thoroughly impressed by the ride, and it fits my requirements for a lightweight, efficient, race-ready frame.
I will transfer my Campagnolo Chorus groupset over to the frame and give her Campagnolo Shamal wheels for competition (Zondas for training). She will be a flier.
My only quibble is with the paint. In my heart I want a white-and-black frame (like the Cervelo R3). Unfortunately, the front of the S1 is awash with red. So, the S1 is not my image of my dream bike.
That will need to wait for another day, when the kids are out of college!
UPDATE: I ultimately did not purchase a Cervelo S1. I decided on a BMC Racemaster (SLX-01). It is the better bike for me. That review is forthcoming!
A Note About Fit
My measurements indicated that I would be between a 54cm and a 56cm frame size, and that Cervelo recommended that I ride the larger size frame. the shop set me up on a 56cm frame, but it was uncomfortably "reachy."The shop traded out the stem from a 110mm stem to a 100mm stem. While this improved the reach, I would have been better with an even smaller stem. I am most comfortable riding on my brake hoods. The 100mm stem made me comfortable on the bar tops, but still a bit reachy on the hoods.
It was a relatively quick fit, however, and I was content to ride with the setup I had.
I should also note that I brought my own pedals and seat. At least two of my main contacts with the bike would be familiar.
A Note About Components
My focus for the test ride was on the frame/fork, not the bike as a whole. That written, I need to comment on the components and my experience with them.I currently ride on Campagnolo Chorus 10-speed with a compact crankset. This bike was outfitted with Shimano Ultegra SL components. I am not a fan of the Shimano.
True, the tuning was a little off—the high limit on the front derailleur was not set properly, resulting in several over-shifts and loss of chain, but that was within expectations of a new bike assembled for a test ride. It was not a fault of the components.
I fully realize that near-religious wars exist on newsgroups and forums about the Campy/Shimano divide. I will only offer a two observations.
There was nothing I particularly liked about the groupo. More to the point, I hated the shifters and the "thin" sound and feel.
For brevity's sake, I was never comfortable with maneuvering the brake lever for some shifting operations. As to the sound and feel, throughout my rides I had the sense that the bike was only tentatively trimmed—that at any time the gears would slip. Again, I realize that this is perception and personal preference. Based on this experience, however, I can safely say that my tent is pitched squarely within the Campagnolo camp.
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