consultauto

My birthday is coming up and decided I was going to treat myself to a new ride, surprisingly wife is ok with it. I have narrowed it down to two bikes, Cannnondale EVO Red or Cervelo S5 Rival. The wheelset will be Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL. I weight 210# don't plan on racing, I ride about 150 miles per week, club rides, solo rides ,etc. The Cannondale has the classic lines, the S5 looks different in a good way. I can get the EVO for 5,500.00 tax included with the wheel upgrade, the S5 $4900.00 Wheel upgrade,plus a Retul fitting included in the price. Which one would you choose? The classic lines of the EVO or the Aero lines of the S5.

Broid

Evo, no question. I think the Evo is a better "all around" choice considering the type of riding you seem to do. You cannot believe and will never cease to be impressed by how comfortable a ride you will get with the Evo. Although I may be a bit biased...

ericm979

Ride them and see which one feels best to you. What we think isn't important- you're the one who is going to ride it.

generalkdi

I'd pick the EVO I think it's pretty much the best all-around bike. Never tried any of those 2 though.

jmX

I'd guess the S5 is faster on solo rides and could probably be turned into an ok time trial rig if you had to. The evo might be nicer if you more do group rides.

Since I'm a 99% solo rider I'd get the more aero bike (I'm ok with how ugly the S5 is...the function is what is beautiful to me).

DGlenday

Evo

VA_Esquire

Get fitted....then go from there. Getting pissed with all these telescope spacers on bikes to have someone "fitted".

adriano 

get fit. high bars will always be slow and handle poorly.

bianchi10

personally, EVO hands down

Lexi01

Another vote for the EVO

kayakdiver

I'd swing a leg over, ride each for an hour and then decide..... Either one will never be the reason you got beat in a town sprint.

rushbikes

The answer is to get the bike that makes you most excited to ride it. They're both sweet rides. I'm more of an Evo kinda guy, but you'll find just as many passionate about the S5 as the Evo. Also, I really like Red.

At 210lbs, I'd ask around if your weight factors into the equation at all. And definitely take them both for a ride to see which excites you most. I'd also take a look at the SL4 - my personal fave. Whichever you decide, make sure you get a good fitting.

helicoptor

if its between those 2 i would go for the EVO, just because the S5 is so ugly to me. look at this pic of it on this site https://www.artscyclery.com/Cervelo_S...ge-CV2S5R.html I think i may be sick.

idc

My vote goes to the Evo, easily.

hiyer1

I ride the exact S5 you're talking about - down to the wheelset...It is an amazing ride, but so is the EVO red (industry's highest stiffness:wight ratio).

If you're doing a lot of climbing go with the EVO. If you want a very original, head-turning ride, go with the S5. Its photos don't do it justice, in person it looks gorgeous (I get compliments everyday).

But, the EVO also comes with the top of the range drivetrain - that's definitely worth something.

Edit: It should also go without saying - go with the ride that fits you better

I <3 Robots

IMO...like others mentioned...its going to come down to fit.

One other note...the EVO will be ~3lbs lighter than the S5. I weighed a 54cm SRAM Red S5 Team with Cosmic Carbone clinchers and it came out to 16.5 lbs. Also weighed a 56 EVO SRAM Red and it was 14.1. I would imagine the S5 Rival with the Fulcrum T's will be a bit heavier. These weights are without pedals and cages.

I think a better comparison would be the R3.

The EVO and S5 are kind of apples to oranges.

zigmeister

How many people that are responding actually ridden an EVO? Probably none. My LBS has only had 2 of them so far on the floor. They don't like you going outside the parking lot either with them. So, I don't plan on buy an EVO anytime soon anyway.

The S5, is a little whacky looking IMO, the geometry, headset, that wheel arch in the back, just weird/crazy looking.

I have a Supersix BTW, but I'm really a big fan of the Scott Foil, Specialized Venge designs. They are proven great all around bikes with aero, stiff properties.

Since I race, I will take stiffness all day long over some bump absorbing that EVO claims, many pros call it Dead feeling. CDale marketing try to twist/spin that idea into how it just floats and absorbs the bumps, yet is very stiff, of course, no stiffness test data to back it up either that I've seen. Yay, it weighs 14lbs with the Red setup...Okey...dokey.

Meh, just get yourself a Chinese open mold S5 frame for 1/3 the price and build it up yourself. You probably won't know the difference anyway.

Rodimus_Prime

Spending 5k on a bike that you dont race or really ride that much from your mileage description seems a bit silly. Even more silly to have all that aero stuff on for "club rides". If your going to spend a crapload on something for enjoyment use get a bike with Shimano Di2, way quieter than noisey red and better performance

jwill87ta

The S5 is bad. Just real bad.

ColinL

I haven't. My LBS that carries Specialized, Cannondale and Cervelo have never had a supersix evo or S5 on the floor. If they have a bike over $3k on the floor, it's usually a Cannondale or Specialized FS mountainbike.

I've ordered bikes from them before. If it's a model they don't stock, they ask for a non-refundable 10% deposit. If you end up hating the bike, the money becomes store credit or applied to a different bike as you see fit.

Anyway. I'd like to have this problem, but I doubt the S5 Rival has something in it that would make me value it over a bike with Red.

bikerjp

If I had 5k to spend on a bike for solo/club rides, I think I would get a nice steel or Ti frame with the best group I could get. I'm too fat and slow and would look like an idiot on either an evo or that s5 which is fugly imho.

rushbikes

Words of wisdom.

EvenKeel

No, these are the words of wisdom -- quoted by yourself, no less.

dejansen

The best fit wins out but if I were in your shoes, I would hope it would be the EVO.

K.Katso

Why even bother asking? This forum is owned by Cannondale, don't you know?