20,000 Miles and Onwards…

So my Cervelo R3 rolled 20,000 miles!

By today’s standards it’s a dated bike, I like to think of it as a classic! I got it back in October 2010…wow! To be honest it was a cross training tool back then as I was much more focused on running and then triathlon. It was only in the last 3 years that the bike has edged out the running shoes and wetsuit. I have since sold my Tri Bike and wetsuit and a pair of running shoes now lasts six months rather than two! 

Ready for ride #1 Miles 0

The Cervelo has changed during that time and it’s interesting (at least to me) to see the progressive changes over time. In fact all that really remains is the frame, headset and handlebars! Here is a quick mind dump of things that I can remember.

The bike came with a stock mechanical Shimano Ultegra 10 speed Groupset in time I added a Stages Power Meter. The bike obviously came without pedals and so I installed SpeedPlays. When Garmin sent me a Vector2 Pedalset/Power meter I converted over and removed the Stages. Eventually I upgraded the entire Groupset and now it’s running a mechanical DuraAce 9000 11 speed with a 34/50 and 11/30 gearing. Plenty of teeth for climbing!

Originally the bottom bracket was a standard English Shimano model, this was changed to a Hawk Racing BB, less friction and more speed! Additionally Hawk Racing pulley wheels replaced the standard DuraAce wheels in the rear derailleur.

The original wheelset were stock Fulcrum Racing 7, these got changed to Fulcrum Racing Quatros and since then upgraded to either DuraAce9000 C-24s for climbing or 3T OrbisII 50mm deep wheels for the flat stuff. I used to ride Scwable UltremoZX 23mm tires, this changed to Scwable OnePro 25mm tires in time. More recently I have ordered a pair of Clement Strada LGG 25mm tires as the OnePros need replacing. I have become a fan of Clement tires since using them for Dirty Kanza and all my other gravel rides and also for CX racing last season.

The bike came with a zero setback 3TCycling seat-post, which was immediately changed for a 25 setback post. That post cracked a year ago and so it was replaced.

While these are small changes in themselves the biggest change has been to my position. I started with a 3TCycling 90mm Arx stem. I am riding the same make and model stem but it is now a 120mm and I am thinking of pushing that out to 130mm. After 7 years I finally got the steerer trimmed too!

The stock Fizik saddle was 86d after one ride, I gutted it out with a Selle Italia one that matched the frame but not my ass for another couple of years until finally converting over to an ISM Prologue. In fact all my bikes have this saddle. Good enough for 227 miles and 29,000’ of climbing!

It still has the original Serfas bottle cages that I mounted

The Garmin mount has been replaced with a Cycliq DuoMount.

Approching 21,000 miles later…

I hesitate to put this down here and it will probably jinx me but I have managed to never crash it and it actually only has a couple of minor blemishes in the clear coat!

I am constantly on the lookout for something new and alas I cannot afford my dream frame, a Cervelo RCA which is won’t see any change out of $10,000 for the frame and fork alone!

Whatever I find it’s got a lot to live up to!