Cervelo’s latest feast for the eyes |
Shapely chainstays won’t lack stiffness |
Access ports on each side for gear cable installation |
Gear cables tucked out of airflow |
The newest frame in Cervelo’s road line up, the S3 has already tasted success with Fabian Cancellara’s bronze medal ride in the Olympic mens’ road race. Designed to improve on the aerodynamics of the SLC-SL, the S3 has reshaped chain and seat stays and, perhaps most importantly in terms of aerodynamic penetration, re-positioned gear cables that enter the frame directly behind the handlebar stem, thus keeping them well out of the airflow.
Key to the success of the installation is the provision of internal stops for the outer gear casings, avoiding the need to run the casings through the length of the frame and thus saving some 200g. The stops are accessed for cable installation and maintenance via access ports in the sides of the downtube, which have their own tiny cover plates secured by screws.
Quoted weight is 990g as standard; the white ‘Olympic’version weighs a little more but looks fantastic.