Bikesport Michigan Online - 2008 Bikes

2008 Cervelo R3 SL

2008 Cervelo R3

More than one magazine has called the 2008 Cervelo R3 the “ultimate road bike”. Men’s Health magazine wrote, “…the most perfect bike to ever grace the tarmac.” The $5000 MSRP (our price will vary, contact us at (313) 278-1350 for details) R3 very light hovering around 15 lbs. One R3 we built was under 12 pounds. The weight is only part of the story. The comfort, stiffness and durability are the rest of the story.

The R3 has incredible durability and a full lifetime warranty to match. This is the primary road and climbing bike for the top professional on Team CSC, the same bike used by them in the Tour de France. The ride quality is remarkable: The blend of stiffness and ride comfort is so impressive it feels like science fiction. This is the bike used on the most difficult climbs in the major stage races like the Tour de France (not a custom, one-off version of the frameset only available to the pros) and the bike that has also won two Paris-Roubaix bicycle classics, the notorious “Hell of the North” known for its awful roads and cobblestones. The current R3 may be the only stock bike available for sale to the public that actually won Paris Roubaix. Previous Paris Roubaix wins (before the R3 won the event two years running) were done on custom, one off, highly modified bikes. Paris Roubaix was won (twice) on a stock R3 frameset.

The R3 uses unique technologies and frame designs such as Cervelo’s “Sqouval” shaped down tube which partially accounts for the bizarre mix of comfort and stiffness. This is the first time in the bike industry the most comfortable road bike we sell is also the stiffest road bike we sell. Another factor in the R3’s amazing ride is the proprietary R3 seat stay. These flat, leaf spring like molded carbon fiber seat stays hover over the massive, girder like chain stays and work together to make back of the bike feel soft while it remains rigid. Like many Cervelo design cues this has gone on to become a much immitated (but never copied) feature.

The R3 uses an oversized seat post and seat tube for additional comfort, durability and stiffness.

The Cervelo R3 is one of very few real, top professional bikes we can own. This is the actual frame the guys on CSC are riding. If you are looking for a no compromise, super high end road frame the R3 may be the strongest candidate.

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