2014 Cervelo S3: Lighter And Stiffer Than Ever Before

Cervelo’s S3 is back and completely redesigned for 2014.  The new S3 combines the lightweight and comfort of their incredibly smooth R-series bikes with the stiffness and speed of their S-series lineup. The result is a bike that, in Cervelo’s words “Climbs, corners and sprints like a pure road machine.  Only faster.”

The new S3 is full of surprises.  While it’s a lower-cost bike than the higher-end S5 it’s stiffer: 23% stiffer in torsion at the head tube and 19% stiffer at the bottom bracket.  At 1100 grams, the S3 frameset is also 100 grams lighter than the S5 frameset (the complete Ultegra 6800 build weighs in at 16.5 lbs).  While the S5 still reigns supreme in the realm of aerodynamic advantage, the difference is tiny; the S3 has a mere four-watt increase in drag over the S5.

Lending to the S3’s impressively smooth ride are these highly compliant seatstays (greatly slimmed down compared with the previous S3), a feature borrowed from Cervelo’s award-winning RCA.  The ultra-thin stays offer enough compliance to reduce the bad vibes while maintaining frame stiffness and efficiency. Combine this with increased clearance for 25c tires and you get one smooth ride!

Another feature worth noting:  the S3 features Cervelo’s Future-proof Cable Routing, which consists of interchangeable cable stops (ICS) that allow for clean and easy internal routing of electronic, cable or hydraulic systems.If you’re in the market for a new road bike this spring, this machine should absolutely be on your short list. We have several Cervelo S and R series bikes in stock with both mechanical and electronic drivetrains for you to choose from.

Would you like to take one out for a test ride?  Just swing by the shop with your shoes, pedals and helmet. We’ll take care of the rest!