New build and short review - Cervelo R5
03-30-20, 10:50 AM
#51
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Hambini has be taken with a grain of salt. When it comes to his knowledge - he obviously knows a lot about BBs. But I dont trust his overall conclusions about brands for a few reasons.
For starters, he has proven himself to be very petty and not above faking stuff when challenged. That whole faked "Flo legal letter" fiasco just makes him look like a 15 year old asshat. Also, for his alleged aero wheel test, he doesnt have a single photo of all the wheels in a chamber? I simply dont believe that he did those tests but that he faked the numbers entirely. A lot of his bile against ST, Don Rinard, etc is because his methodologies were challenged.
The second part is that he has realized that shock value sells. His videos from a few years ago very professional and information-driven. And had hardly any vieweship. Ever since he has started the whole trash talking, his viewership has soared. At this point, it is a shtick. By cussing like a sailor and making unsubstantiated attacks disguised under the veneer of engineering, he comes across as a Guy Who Tells It Like It Is. He isnt. He merely appeals to those who like the overly simplistic idea that bike companies are all sitting there getting rich by fooling customers with marketing (the truth is a lot more nuanced than that - while marketing is a big part of what companies do, i also do not doubt that they are indeed making an effort to make the best product possible).
Fundamentally, here are some specific issues with his conclusions:
- he is basing all his spewing about manufacturing tolerances based on viewing a few problem frames only - for an engineer, he sure seems to lack an understanding of the phrase "statistically valid sample size".
- the only data he provides to back up his claim about frames is some alleged NDT that he claims is done - and there is no proof of that. Given his history, i would doubt anything he says without proof.
- He is using his expertise in machine-made metal tolerances to pass judgement on what is appropriate tolerance in carbon, and using that as an excuse to bash various companies - also an invalid approach. Yes, carbon has less precise tolerances than metal. No, that isnt a surprise to anyone (or shouldnt be), and shouldnt be used as an indictment of QC of the various brands. Being an engineer in one area doesnt make him an expert on all aspects of engineering.
That is not to say that all his points are invalid. Some BBs are indeed more prone to creaking - but that's not necessarily a sign of shoddy manufacturing. But in the grand scheme of things, there are LOTS of people who are happy riding Trek, Cannondale, Cervelo, etc. I used to find his videos entertaining even when i didnt take his conclusions seriously - now he's just getting boring/tedious with the forced cursing and showing that C*ntish Sh*tbag scale (that was funny the first time and maybe the second time - after 15-odd repeats, not so much).
For starters, he has proven himself to be very petty and not above faking stuff when challenged. That whole faked "Flo legal letter" fiasco just makes him look like a 15 year old asshat. Also, for his alleged aero wheel test, he doesnt have a single photo of all the wheels in a chamber? I simply dont believe that he did those tests but that he faked the numbers entirely. A lot of his bile against ST, Don Rinard, etc is because his methodologies were challenged.
The second part is that he has realized that shock value sells. His videos from a few years ago very professional and information-driven. And had hardly any vieweship. Ever since he has started the whole trash talking, his viewership has soared. At this point, it is a shtick. By cussing like a sailor and making unsubstantiated attacks disguised under the veneer of engineering, he comes across as a Guy Who Tells It Like It Is. He isnt. He merely appeals to those who like the overly simplistic idea that bike companies are all sitting there getting rich by fooling customers with marketing (the truth is a lot more nuanced than that - while marketing is a big part of what companies do, i also do not doubt that they are indeed making an effort to make the best product possible).
Fundamentally, here are some specific issues with his conclusions:
- he is basing all his spewing about manufacturing tolerances based on viewing a few problem frames only - for an engineer, he sure seems to lack an understanding of the phrase "statistically valid sample size".
- the only data he provides to back up his claim about frames is some alleged NDT that he claims is done - and there is no proof of that. Given his history, i would doubt anything he says without proof.
- He is using his expertise in machine-made metal tolerances to pass judgement on what is appropriate tolerance in carbon, and using that as an excuse to bash various companies - also an invalid approach. Yes, carbon has less precise tolerances than metal. No, that isnt a surprise to anyone (or shouldnt be), and shouldnt be used as an indictment of QC of the various brands. Being an engineer in one area doesnt make him an expert on all aspects of engineering.
That is not to say that all his points are invalid. Some BBs are indeed more prone to creaking - but that's not necessarily a sign of shoddy manufacturing. But in the grand scheme of things, there are LOTS of people who are happy riding Trek, Cannondale, Cervelo, etc. I used to find his videos entertaining even when i didnt take his conclusions seriously - now he's just getting boring/tedious with the forced cursing and showing that C*ntish Sh*tbag scale (that was funny the first time and maybe the second time - after 15-odd repeats, not so much).
Well said!
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03-30-20, 10:52 AM
#52
just having fun
Front shifting.
SRAM's electric group looks really clean, I personally don't like the multiple batteries thing, but it's not really a big deal in practice.
I had a SRAM bike, the ****ting was lousy (not just slow, people could hear you shift a block away) and the FD had a mind of its own, to put it mildly. I'm starting to get a little older, and that gives me a license to complain more.
SRAM's electric group looks really clean, I personally don't like the multiple batteries thing, but it's not really a big deal in practice.
I had a SRAM bike, the ****ting was lousy (not just slow, people could hear you shift a block away) and the FD had a mind of its own, to put it mildly. I'm starting to get a little older, and that gives me a license to complain more.
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03-30-20, 04:06 PM
#54
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03-30-20, 04:10 PM
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I had an R3 SL for many years, until a driver ran a light and sent it to bike heaven. I remember not having any desire for a new bike while I had it, just loved it too much. R5 is basically my dream bike. I have a C3 now, and it fits my riding personality better. But god damn the R5 is sexy. The disc version has clearance for 28 mm, and if I had a do over, that's what I'd go with. No complaints about the C3 though.
03-30-20, 04:29 PM
#56
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03-30-20, 08:09 PM
#57
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I had an R3 SL for many years, until a driver ran a light and sent it to bike heaven. I remember not having any desire for a new bike while I had it, just loved it too much. R5 is basically my dream bike. I have a C3 now, and it fits my riding personality better. But god damn the R5 is sexy. The disc version has clearance for 28 mm, and if I had a do over, that's what I'd go with. No complaints about the C3 though.
https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...ajor=1&minor=1
Green?
https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...ajor=1&minor=1
03-30-20, 10:36 PM
#58
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Thank god neither of those is my size. Really like the green too. Buying that frame and a complete Di2 group would be cheaper than my C3, and I got it for the price of mechanical. Looks like they have everything but 58.
03-31-20, 04:43 AM
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Frankly I find most bike manufacturers like bad paint, with ether all-black or weird earth-tones ruling the day now. A lot also use awkward accent lines.
03-31-20, 11:08 AM
#60
just having fun
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03-31-20, 11:10 AM
#61
just having fun
That... is a fair assessment. The bikes are lovely to ride, though, and there's usually a paint job available that you can like.
Frankly I find most bike manufacturers like bad paint, with ether all-black or weird earth-tones ruling the day now. A lot also use awkward accent lines.
Frankly I find most bike manufacturers like bad paint, with ether all-black or weird earth-tones ruling the day now. A lot also use awkward accent lines.
Everything is earth tones and it's putting me to sleep/
03-31-20, 11:34 AM
#62
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That... is a fair assessment. The bikes are lovely to ride, though, and there's usually a paint job available that you can like.
Frankly I find most bike manufacturers like bad paint, with ether all-black or weird earth-tones ruling the day now. A lot also use awkward accent lines.
Frankly I find most bike manufacturers like bad paint, with ether all-black or weird earth-tones ruling the day now. A lot also use awkward accent lines.
As to earth tones and accents, I have the original C3, it's gray with a white down tube, and brown accents that look like rust or clay or something. It looks better in the flesh than in photos, and it grows on you a bit when it's yours. But it's nothing you'd ever love. Like the teal above, or the green at Excel.
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03-31-20, 02:34 PM
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03-31-20, 03:12 PM
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The R5 that looked like that with a red top tube was kind of hot, though.
It seems like every Cervelo has an uncut steering tube poking up over the stem. Glad it's not just me.
It seems like every Cervelo has an uncut steering tube poking up over the stem. Glad it's not just me.
03-31-20, 03:18 PM
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With the way things are going (spending an awful lot of time at home), I expect that I'll get my steerer trimmed and top cap flush before too long - it's on the list. The only thing that has kept me from doing it so far is the brake line routed through the fork - I really don't want to disconnect it and I'm not sure if I have enough elbow room to trim it if I don't.
03-31-20, 03:24 PM
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Re steerer stubs, at my age you never trust a fart, never waste an erection, and never trim a steerer.
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03-31-20, 03:39 PM
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Red and black is a good combination and the owner of the LBS had that R5 setup for a while on the Saturday morning rides. I dig the way it looks.
As for the uncut steerer, yesterday was the first time this year I got on my R3 from riding my other bike. I couldn't believe how upright it felt. I'll definitely take a spacer out and have the LBS cut it down.
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03-31-20, 03:45 PM
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03-31-20, 04:23 PM
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03-31-20, 04:59 PM
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With the way things are going (spending an awful lot of time at home), I expect that I'll get my steerer trimmed and top cap flush before too long - it's on the list. The only thing that has kept me from doing it so far is the brake line routed through the fork - I really don't want to disconnect it and I'm not sure if I have enough elbow room to trim it if I don't.
03-31-20, 07:23 PM
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03-31-20, 09:37 PM
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