If you are looking for a high level endurance road bike that sacrifices little, and delivers more than you would expect, the Cervelo C3 SRAM Force 1 Bicycle has to be near the top of your test ride list. Although we cannot sell Cervelo bikes online, you can come into our Boulder, CO showroom for fit and sales assistance from our expert staff.
When can add the SRAM Force 1 single ring, wide range drivetrain with hydraulic disc brakes to the Cervelo C3 line-up, you bring simplicity and efficiency to a bike that already exceeds expectations. Cervelo has carried many technologies and design cues from the R Series frame development to the endurance lineup of the C Series. The geometry, frame and fork clearance, and ride characteristics have all been engineered for long hours on the bike, on pavement, gravel, or mixed terrain. Flat mount disc brakes and thru-axles provide the control and confidence you need to push boundaries. You can easily run 28mm tires with fenders, and cable routing is internal and future proof.
The reality is that the C3 is the bike many riders have been asking for from Cervelo ever since the release of the R3, when some early (but not realized) testing with the design indicated a cyclocross model to come. Now, with fantastic options for lightweight, high performance hydraulic road disc brakes, and an evolving understanding that not all cycling enthusiasts have a secret desire to race, or even just limit daily riding to paved roads, the C Series steps in to deliver incredible performance, comfort, and capability. ... Read More
The Squoval tube shapes found in the C3 SRAM Force 1 were developed for the R Series road bikes. The combination of square and oval shapes were combined into a tubeset that is lightweight, torsionally stiff, vertically compliant and more aerodynamic than many "aero" road bikes. Squoval tubes resist bending and torsion, and when the carbon is laid up properly, compliance is built in. Any rider who has spent time on an R3 can attest to the incredible ride quality and performance. The carbon disc thru-axle fork design uses a 1½;” to 1⅛” tapered steerer to deliver more strength where it is needed- without gaining weight, and best matches the stiffness and deflection of the 12mm thru-axle for stable disc brake power, wheel tracking and cornering feel. Strength and impact resistance has been bolstered with Kevlar around the bottom bracket junction, as well as in the lower part of the downtube. Cervelo also includes a removable downtube rock guard for protection from impact from loose rocks.
Geometry has been engineered for a balanced riding position and stable, responsive handling fromh a tall headtube, increased fork rake, longer chainstays, more relaxed headtube angle, and an increased bottom bracket drop. The design tracks well, corners more like a road bike than any other gravel bike we have ridden, and never feels edgy despite the taller headtube. Combined with the tubeset's superior ride quality and compliance of the thin, arcing seatstays, the geometry provides the rider with the necessary confidence to descend on gravel, whistle through the corners on pavement, and power through numbing miles on gravel roads that run straight as the eye can see. Cervelo is an engineering company at its very core, and every frame and bike design starts with an essential understanding of what the rider intends to use it for. Then the frame engineered and designed to meet and exceed those expectations. The frame and fork of the C3 are a perfect example of this process.
SRAM's Force 1 Hydraulic group has been a hit with cyclocross riders, and now it is breaching the endurance and gravel markets as well. Many SRAM devotees love the simplicity of the single chainring crankset and wide range cassette, as well as the performance of the Force hydraulic road brake calipers. For the crank, you get an 11-speed 44T Force 1 version, spinning on a PF-30 bottom bracket. The right shift/brake lever controls the rear shifting and braking, while a matching brake only hydraulic lever on the left side powers the rear hydraulic brake caliper. With no front derailleur, the Force 1 rear derailleur handles all the shifting action along the PG-1170 11-36 cassette via the PC-1170 11-speed chain. The road specific disc calipers are Force Flat Mount versions, capable of handling 160mm rotors; in this case front and rear 160mm SRAM Centerline X versions. These brakes deliver exceptional stopping power through the 12mm thru-axle HED Ardennes Plus LT Disc wheelset. Rear wheel spacing is 142mm. The 25mm (21mm internal) Plus rims are Tubeless Ready compatible, and carries the stock Continental Grand Sport 700x28mm tires effortlessly.
FSA provides the front of the cockpit, with the alloy Energy Compact bar and SL-K stem. The Fizik Antares VS Saddle is mounted to an FSA SL-K carbon seatpost. Geometry and components are specific to frame size, which runs close to standard for most cyclists. Keep in mind the taller headtube reduces overall standover height, even with the sloping toptube design. Our take on the C3 is straightforward. If you are looking for a fast, performance oriented endurance bike with disc brakes, it is an ideal choice. For those who want to ride harsh, aggressive gravel or trail and require tire volume over 30mm, this is not your best option. Yes, there is some specificity in bike options. Cervelo has mastered aero, aero road, and road race. Now the considerable talents and experience of this engineering company have mastered performance endurance with the C3 and the mechanical drivetrain/hydraulic disc brake combination in this C3 SRAM Force 1x11 bike. It offers a great balance of features, capability and cost effectiveness with tremendous versatility and overall riding potential, especially if you favor the ruthless efficiency of a 1x drivetrain with that loses some top-end speed capability, but makes your life and shifting choices simple.
