vinuneuro

The green is such a stunner. I'm surprised it isn't a more popular choice.

Posted on WW:

CarloM

So full disclosure: I own a Cervelo S3 so I'm not a hater on the brand. Right after I purchased mine, I came across the Hambini video where he roasts them for their excessive acceptable tolerance for their BBright bottom brackets, and how if yours is out of what he considers acceptable tolerance, but still within Cervelo's acceptable tolerance, you can get bottom bracket creaking.

Of course I saw the video after my return window was closed, so I just hoped and prayed mine was within a good tolerance. So far, several months down the line, all quiet on the western front. Since I've never had BB creak, I wondered if I would know what it even sounded like.

Fast forward to Monday. I drove out to a shop about 15 miles away that had a bunch of gravel bikes I was interested in testing: Aspero, 3T Exploro, and I even got to ride a Pinarello Grevil in my size!

Rode the beautiful gold Aspero, it is stunning in person! It's gold but as you can tell, has a neat little color shift in certain light. Looks gorgeous in natural sunlight as well!


Was so looking forward to the ride! Took it out to the large parking lot, hopped on and...bottom bracket creak.

Wow. So that's what that sounds like. Now at least I know what to listen for in my S3 but again (knock on wood) all is good on that front. But was very disappointed that even though Damon Rinard (who according to Hambini was responsible for the tolerance change) had moved from Cervelo to Cannondale, apparently the relaxed acceptable tolerance he introduced is still impacting new bikes. I'm not sure when this frame was built or passed through QC (if it was during or after Rinard's departure from the company) but wow was that disappointing to discover.

Hmmm

I love a slammed stem aggressive gravel bike!

CarloM

A lot of colors (not just Cervélo's) don't photograph well. Or, rather, the photo may look good...but doesn't do it justice when compared to how it looks in person. The gold Aspero is a prime example. I thought it looked fine in photos, but stunning in person. If it wasn't for the BB creak...I might be riding it right now instead of the Revolt.

gus6464

I saw that video too and it is absolutely bonkers what Rinard deems acceptable in terms of tolerances. Cannondale BB30 frames were already absolute **** in regards to creaking and now with this guy at the helm it's going to get worse.

CarloM

As now a former owner of a SuperSix, I’m pretty much done with that brand. Most of the other manufacturers have a model or two that I’d love to own, but I think I’m done w Cannondale especially with Rinard heading it up.

Chi_Z

just glue in an alloy BSA shell and call it a day

Helldorado

I purchased a brand new 2020 Aspero (with the SRAM Apex 1x build) six weeks ago from my local Cervelo distributor. 300 miles into it a loud creak (I'd call it more of a squeal - like a flock of birds continuously following me) developed. The LBS can't fix it. They still have it in the shop, waiting for another mechanic to have a go at it.

What are my options at this point? A Hambini bottom bracket? It's too loud to ignore...I just cannot do it.

melikebikey35

If it's a squeal, then my guess would be a shot BB bearing (not the BB shell, itself). The standard Cervelo BBs (and headsets) have terrible bearings in them, so it only lasted 300 miles isn't that surprising.

I'm using a BBinfinite in my Aspero and R5, and have been very pleased with them. They are also cheaper, and easier to get a hold of, than a Hambini, so I'd go that route.

mstateglfr 

Is the noise occurring only when you pedal or do you hear it at all times while moving? Is the noise made when its in a repair stand?...its easy to determine where the noise is coming from when using a repair stand.

tdilf

Cervelo isn't known for their great attention to detail around bottom bracket tolerances (hopefully you got lucky). If it is premature bb wear (due to bad bb tolerances) a new bb will probably not last much longer than your first one.

Helldorado

Only when I pedal. In the shop, we disengaged the chain from the front chainring, essentially allowing the bottom bracket to spin on it's own - that's when it squeals. I hope the master mechanic can figure it out - he's working on it as I type this.

Helldorado

If that's the case then it's going on sale. I'll need to disclose the problem to the potential buyers and hope that one of them is hard of hearing and doesn't care about squeaky bird-like noises when (s)he pedals.

But if that's the case, I'm done with carbon bikes. Titanium here I come. Gonna take a while to save up that kind of $$, tho.

Sad.

TrackSmart

I imagine that the frame would be eligible for warranty replacement if you are the original owner and 'normal' fixes don't resolve the bottom bracket issue. Cervelo supposedly has a "lifetime" warranty on frames, so your six-week-old bike is surely covered.

So I feel your pain -- and you should not have to be without your bike -- but I don't think its time to panic just yet. Anyway, I hope you get to enjoy your bike again soon. And that you get an appropriate resolution to your problem (including potentially a new frame if needed).

gravelED

I have a Wheels Mfg thread together BB in mine, it's been completely trouble and sqeak free for about a year now.

mstateglfr 

If it is within cervelo's tolerance, then it isnt a warranty issue because it meets their standards.
if you decide to sell it, you could list that it meets cerveloxs standards and let the buyer beware.


...of course that would be a messed up thing to do, but it is effectively what Cervelo will have done to you, assuming the shell is within their tolerances. Always interesting to phrase things differently. You can easily see what and who is the bad apple of the bunch.

Helldorado

Thanks for that advice. Yesterday I emailed Hambini to ask him what BB he makes that would fit my bike. He emailed me back to ask what the current crankset I have is (it's the SRAM Apex1). Lets see what he recommends. The Great Hambini!

TrackSmart

It's your money, but those are some crazy expensive bottom bracket adapters from Hambini £155.00 to £195.00 (i.e. $200 to $250). If you want a thread-together bottom bracket solution, check out Wheels Manufacturing options, which cost 1/3 as much ($60-$80) and are very nicely engineered.

Frankly, if your frame is within tolerances, you won't need anything even as fancy (and heavy) as the Wheels Manufacturing option -- nevermind the Hambini option. For instance, I have an inexpensive SRAM PF30 to Shimano BB adapter on my gravel bike, which I've removed and even moved to a second frame (after crashing and destroying the first frame). The first frame was metal with a metal shell. No issues. The second frame was carbon with a carbon bottom bracket shell. No issues. The only thing I used for installation was plain old grease. The adapter doesn't thread together or anything. It's just two lightweight pieces of plastic with a friction fit. The adapter cost $30 and weighs about 30 grams (i.e. way lighter than the thread-together options).

Compare that to the Hambini adapters, which might be well-engineered (?), but cost £155.00 to £195.00 (i.e. $200 to $250). And his bottom brackets weigh double/triple/quadruple what the simple adapters weigh. Frankly, other than getting the "privilege" of purchasing from a Youtube-famous engineer, I don't see any value in it. Especially for a gravel bike (vs. a race machine used by an actual racer where every quarter-of-a-watt drivetrain loss counts).

Again, it is your money, so no skin off my back. Just letting you know about your other options.

Helldorado

Understood and agreed. Plus, Hambini just emailed me back to say that he has no BB that will fit my bike - he'd have to machine one de-novo. I'm waiting to hear back form my LBS to see what they can do.

dwmckee

I am curious if you have looked into the Token BB options as well. They are very high quality and supposedly pretty tolerant to BB shell irregularities.

Helldorado

Quick follow-up on my "problem" new Aspero. LBS called me a few days ago to tell me that the bottom bracket is actually fine; it's the rear wheel hub that's defective. They disassembled it and the bearings are shot, the seals all torn up - basically it was a bad hub from the get-go. The bike only had about 500 miles /six weeks on it and I never crashed or rode it in the wet. And I weigh 182lbs, so not a Clydesdale..

On the positive side: I'm relieved that the bottom bracket is OK.

On the negative side: no one wants to replaced the rear wheel. My LBS called Cervelo and were told "The wheels are not our problem, it's an Alexrims problem." Because the bike came with a set of Alexrims Boondocks 7-D wheels.

So the LBS calls Alexrims who tells them "That's a Cervelo problem - call them. They warranty the bike, not us."

Shift-blaming. Bad customer service.

Should I just cave and replace the wheel-set myself with something better, which I was already planning on doing before the original rear hub died? The thing is, I was going to keep the old wheels for winter riding, but now I got no rear wheel.

I shoulda bought a Trek instead.

tdilf

I think the LBS still has to figure out the warranty issue (that is if this is where you bought the bike originally) - it's not on you. I think the Aspero is an interesting bike and if you like how it rides/fits this is just a little bump in the road.

softreset

When I worked at my LBS we had a similar issue with BMC GF01s when they came with Shimano DA C24s. BMC referred to Shimano, Shimano to BMC.

Ultimately, Shimano caved and warrantied them, but it was a huge hassle and a whole lot of effort from both the customer, the service manager, and the shop owner.

So that finger pointing with wheel warranty coverage is definitely not just a Cervelo thing.

Chi_Z

what could go wrong with a brand new DA c24? they are pretty much bombproof and the hubs are easily self serviceable

softreset

Two different sets developed multiple small cracks at the spoke nipples. I agree, they're pretty durable, but these are the exception. Interestingly enough both were on demo bikes that were ridden on a paved bike trail over the course of 8-months, so they weren't exactly exposed to adverse/ill-advised conditions.