[Nixster]

I was on the ToC last weekend and looking at some of the extremely desirable bikes people were riding.  While I like my 2011 Cannondale Supersix and it has many fine qualities, including light weight, I confess my head was turned.  I have been thinking that I’d like something a tad more comfortable however the Cervelo S3  looks like a good fit for me in a 51, looks great in the flesh and is aero too.  Allegedly it’s also comfortable to ride, up there with their R3 cobble machine.

I’m not after an endurance bike, I’m not keen on discs and I know how tyres count more than most other things in the comfort stakes.  I want something fast but not overly aggressive in fit or stiffness and this seems to fit the bill.

So, bottom line, will it be more comfortable (on 25mm tubs on my carbon wheels) than my Supersix?  (By comfort I mean vibration transmitted through to the rider, I can achieve exactly the same riding position on it.)  What are your thoughts, voices of internet wisdom?

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[Nixster]

As I said, I understand that

As I said, I understand that tyres are the biggest single contributor to vibration absorption. FWIW I run my tyres at around 70psi front 80psi rear at a weight of 58kg for me and 7kg for the bike.  This is a touch higher than 15% drop pressure but I find snakebites a problem at lower than this.

As any engineer will tell you, all parts of the load path will contribute with the least energy absorbed by the stiffest element.  I’ve run different wheelsets, tyres, seatposts and saddles in my frameset and all have affected vibration in one way or another.  Introduce damping into the equation and it is quite possible that different framesets will absorb vibration to different degrees.  Was hoping to hear from someone who has experience of riding one.

Whether anyone can reliably tell the difference is debatable but annecdotally lighter riders are more sensitive to this kind of variation than heavier ones.  

Yes, a test ride will be the way to go.  Will need to get my saddle and wheels on to be sure though!

[BBB]

Most of people wouldn’t tell

Most of people wouldn’t be able to tell the the difference between various frames in a “blind” test, as some anecdotal evidence suggests.

It’s your tyres that are meant to deal with vibrations. If they don’t, you you’re running them too hard (100PSI?).

[allanj]

I think it is pretty

I think it is pretty comfortable for an aero bike, not sure about being as comfy as an R series.  I wouldn’t imagine it would be significantly comfier than a supersix with the same wheels and tyres etc.  Sounds like you need a test ride! 

[Author]

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