Cervélo’s R3 is without doubt one of the best racing frames currently available. It’s a heady mix of aggressive geometry and super-low weight, all wrapped up in a whip-fast-handling machine. In taking the R3 into the disc era, Cervélo has been careful in trying to retain that character.
The R3 Disc’s rear end has been redesigned; the slender seatstays now flow all the way into the seat-tube, giving a much wider, stiffer platform than the existing R3’s monostay design. The seatstays and chainstays are asymmetric, with the disc side’s seatstay joining the chainstay behind the thru-axle, with the mech side’s seatstay meeting in line with the axle.
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By using a custom spec FSA SL-K chainset with a 5mm offset to ensure the correct chainline, the R3 has managed to maintain short 405mm chainstays rather than having to shift to the 415mm recommended by disc brake manufacturers. This should help retain the bike’s race-ready handling while keeping the improved braking offered by discs. The rear chainstays look particularly minimal and the R3 wears flat-mount standard callipers.
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On the road the R3 feels every inch as rapid and nimble as its rim-braked cousin, and at 7.94kg for this Ultegra-equipped model it’s not exactly a heavyweight. On rolling, twisty terrain the R3 Disc is a blast, it’s quick to accelerate and sharp to turn, but the most surprising aspect — given its racy credentials — is the increased comfort.
By eschewing standard brakes and redesigning the back end, and plugging in a disc-specific fork, Cervélo has been able to switch to wide HED Ardennes Plus disc wheels and fit slightly larger 25mm Continental Grand Sport tyres. This adds a layer of cushioning that’s most welcome on poor surfaces.
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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